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FUKUOKA (Japan), Dec 1: Ethiopia’s Olympic and world champion Gezahegne Abera won his second straight Fukuoka International Marathon Sunday, but not before being pushed to the wire by home favourite Tsuyoshi Ogata.
Abera put in a finishing burst with just under 200 metres left at Heiwadai Stadium to win in two hours, nine minutes and 13 seconds, with Ogata crossing the line in 2:09.15 to secure his place in the Japanese squad for the 2003 world championships.
Japanese-based Kenyan Eric Wainaina, who took silver behind Abera at Sydney in 2000, was third in 2:10.08.—Reuters
