Shanghai champion takes Sydney Marathon

Impressive Kenyan Willy Koitile powered home to win the 2013 Sydney Marathon. The Shanghai marathon winner was followed by more than 34,000 people at the Sydney Harbour Bridge finish line at the iconic Opera House in the 13th Sydney Running Festival.

A typically sunny Sydney day greeted runners from 57 countries and regions Sunday as they weaved their way over four separate courses in the race that famously closes traffic to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, simultaneously aiming to raise more than 2 million Australian dollars for charities in the process, reports Xinhua.

In winning his second career marathon title after his 2011 Shanghai effort, Koitile (two hours 13 minutes and 48 seconds), beat El Hassane Ben Lkhainouch of France (2:14.28), with South African Lucky Mohale snaring third in 2:15.58.

Koitile was simply too strong for his rivals in the closing stages, putting 30 seconds on Lkhainouch and almost a minute on Mohale between the 35 and 40km marks.

The victory was the second of Koitile's career after his breakthrough performance to claim the 2011 Shanghai Marathon, a title he will try to reclaim later this year.