Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich won the Nagoya Women's Marathon for the second straight year Sunday, in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 8 seconds.

The 2019 world champion crossed the line at Vantelin Dome Nagoya comfortably ahead of Tokyo Olympian Ayuko Suzuki of Japan, who finished second in 2:21:52. Honami Maeda was third in 2:22:32.

Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich crosses the finish line for her second straight Nagoya Women's Marathon win at Vantelin Dome Nagoya on March 12, 2023. (Kyodo)

Chepngetich, who also won her second straight Chicago Marathon in 2022, could not quite match her Nagoya race record of 2:17:18 set last year, but easily did enough to retain the title.

Following the relaxation of COVID-19 safety measures, cheering was allowed from the roadside for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Japan's Ayuko Suzuki finishes second at the Nagoya Women's Marathon in Nagoya, central Japan, on March 12, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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