Eritrea's Tewelde Estifanos triumphed while Hiroki Kadota came runnerup for the top finish for Japan in the Beppu-Oita Marathon on Sunday.
Estifanos, who broke away from Kadota ahead of the 33-km mark, crossed the tape in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 18 seconds on the 42.195-km marathon course from Takasakiyama/Umitamago in Oita to Oita City Athletic Stadium.
Kadota clocked 2:10:46, and countryman Hiroyuki Yamamoto was third in 2:11:48, holding off defending champion Abraham Kiplimo of Uganda who finished fourth in 2:12:23.