TOKYO, Nov 16: Japan’s Yoshimi Ozaki staged a come-from-behind victory to take her first career title at the Tokyo International Women’s Marathon on Sunday.

The 27-year-old overtook favourite Yoko Shibui at the 38.5-kilometre point to win in two hours 23 minutes 30 seconds, almost a minute ahead of fellow Japanese Yuri Kano came in second in 2:24:27.

Mara Yamauchi of Britain was third in 2:25:03 while Shibui, the 2004 Berlin marathon champion, finished fourth in 2:25:51.

Shibui set the pace from the start in a front group with Ozaki, Kano and Kenya’s Magdaline Chemjor.

Shibui and Chemjor left Ozaki and Kano behind after the 9km point, and then the Japanese turned it up a gear to take sole lead.

Shibui was more than 100 metres ahead of the pack at one point but could not hold off Ozaki.

It was the last running of the Tokyo race. Elite women runners are being added to the field of the separate Tokyo Marathon instead.

Results:

1. Yoshimi Ozaki (JPN) 2hr 23min 30sec; 2. Yuri Kano (JPN) 2:24:27; 3. Mara Yamauchi (GBR) 2:25:03; 4. Yoko Shibui (JPN) 2:25:51; 5. Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:30:34; 6. Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 2:30:42; 7. Yukiko Matsubara (JPN) 2:34:39; 8. Ayumi Hayashi (JPN) 2:35:04; 9. Derartu Tulu (ETH) 2:36:47; 10.Chihiro Tanaka (JPN) 2:37:03.—AFP