FUKUOKA – Ukraine’s Dmytro Baranovskyy took full advantage of the cold weather to win the Fukuoka International Marathon with a personal-best time on Sunday.
Baranovskyy pulled ahead of the leading group with 10 kilometers to go and went on to cross the finish line at Heiwadai athletics stadium in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 29 seconds on a windy, drizzly day in southwestern Japan.
Julio Rey of Spain, silver medalist at the 2003 world championships, finished runnerup in 2:09:41 and former Japanese record holder Atsushi Fujita followed in third in 2:09:48.
“I think the cold weather like this gave me an edge and actually it was the best possible conditions for me. I could have run under 2:08:00 if not for the wind,” Baranovskyy said.
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