World Champion Chelimo Wins Women’s Marathon at Asian Games

Bahrain's Rose Chelimo crosses the finish line Sunday to win the women's marathon during the athletics competition at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Bernat Armangue / Associated Press
Bahrain's Rose Chelimo crosses the finish line Sunday to win the women's marathon during the athletics competition at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Bernat Armangue / Associated Press

JAKARTA — World champion Rose Chelimo has won the Asian Games women’s marathon for Bahrain in a hot and humid race in the Indonesian capital.

The Kenya-born Chelimo had a big lead by the 30-kilometer mark and won in 2 hours, 34 minutes and 51 seconds.

Chelimo represented Kenya internationally before switching to represent Bahrain ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she finished eighth.

She won the world championship title in London last year.

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Keiko Nogami won Japan’s second straight silver, holding off North Korea’s Kim Hye Song and finishing more than 1 ½ minutes behind Chelimo.

“It’s a silver medal so there’s still room for improvement,” Nagomi said. “I hope to use this as a springboard.”

Japan picked up its first men’s Asian Games marathon gold medal in 32 years on Saturday when Hiroto Inoue held off his Bahraini rival Elhassan Elabbassi in a sprint finish in the first final of the track and field program at Jakarta.