The reigning European Athletics Championships marathon silver medallist, Maru Teferi beat a strong elite field at the 75th edition of the Fukuoka International Marathon held on Sunday (04) in Fukuoka, Japan.
The 30 year-old who was born in Ethiopia to a family of Ethiopian-Jewish background, and immigrated to Israel at the age of 14, took a strong deep elite field that had the 2012 Olympics marathon silver medallist, Abel Kirui and the race defending Champion, Michael Githae.
Teferi who holds Israeli records in both the marathon and half marathon and was also the first man to represent Israel in Marathon in Olympics, took the top honors in a new Israel National Record and personal best of 2:06.01 with the 26 year-old Vincent Raimoi, who was making his debut over the distance coming home in second in a life time best of 2:07.01.
The reigning Commonwealth Games bronze medallist who was also the defending champion, was forced to settle in second place in a new personal best of 2:07.28
The Oceanian Marathon Record holder, Brett Robinson, went again in history books as he cut off two minutes from his previous personal best by setting another Australian National Record of 2:07.31 and taking the fourth place.
Double world marathon champion, Abel Kirui finished a distant fifth in a time of 2:07.38 with last year’s third place finisher James Gitahi Rungaru finishing in sixth place in a new personal best of 2:08.21.
The first Japanese to cross the finish line was Kiyohito Akiyama who finished in seventh place with a new personal best of 2:08.43.
LEADING RESULTS
42KM MEN
- Maru Teferi (ISR) 2:06.43
- Vincent Raimoi (KEN) 2:07.01
- Michael Githae (KEN) 2:07.28
- Brett Robinson (ASU) 2:07.31
- Abel Kirui (KEN) 2:07.38
- James Rungaru (KEN) 2:08.21
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