![\"\"](\"http:\/\/kenyapage.net\/athletics\/images\/mathathi2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In his marathon debut, Martin Irungu Mathathi outpaced defending champion Joseph Gitau to win the Fukuoka international marathon Sunday. It was a one-two finish by the Japan-based Kenyan runners.<\/p>\n
You will remember that Mathathi, who is now 27, won the 10,000-metres bronze medal at the 2007 world championships in Osaka<\/p>\n
He also won the bronze medal he won in the 12 km event at the World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on April 2, 2006<\/p>\n
He and compatriot Gitau broke away from a six-man front pack at 35 kilometres. Mathathi surged at 40 kilometres and Gitau had no answer.<\/p>\n
He went on to win the race in 2hrs 7mins 16 secs with Gitau second in 2:09:00 and Japanese Yuki Kawauchi third in 2:09:05.<\/p>\n
“The time is not bad for me as it is the first time that I finished a (full) marathon,” the Kenyan said. “I will try to clock around 2 hours and six minutes in my next race and then aim for still better times.”<\/p>\n
A third Kenyan, veteran Mekubo Moogusu, who is also based in Japan, was 7th in 2:12:03, a minute slower than his personal best<\/p>\n
Results<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Martin Mathathi (KEN) 2hr 07min 16sec,
\n2. Joseph Gitau (KEN) 2:09:00
\n3. Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) 2:09:05
\n4. Henryk Szost (POL) 2:09:37
\n5. Chiharu Takada (JPN) 2:10:39
\n6. Reid Coolsaet ( CAN) 2:11:24
\n7. Mekubo Mogusu (KEN) 2:12:03
\n8. Ayad Lamdassem (ESP) 2:12:31
\n9. Satoru Sasaki (JPN) 2:13.12
\n10. Robert Curtis (USA) 2:13:24<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Go to Kenya Athletics Page<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t