Wikström started calmly, gradually ran up and picked up many places during the second half of the race. The last seven kilometers, Wikström was one of the fastest in the entire field.
The marathon runners compete just like the times earlier this week in Sapporo to get a little cooler weather. But even in northern Japan it is hot, early on Saturday morning actually warmer than in Tokyo, and just ten hours before the start the race was brought forward by an hour so that the runners would avoid the worst heat.
At the start at 06.00, local time, it was 25 degrees, but with very high humidity. And Wikström had prepared for the heat.
– I will have an ice pack in my waistband that I run about a kilometer with and then throw away, she said before the race.
A dozen of the 88 starters broke the race, but no serious injuries have been reported.
The gold battle became a all-Kenyan deal. With less than a mile left to run, Peres Jepchirchir and world record holder Brigid Kosgei snatched a small lead, which only the American Molly Seidel could threaten.
The last kilometer Jepchirchir sprinted away from his compatriot and was able to stretch his arms in the air after 2,27.20. Kosgei took silver before Seidel.
Read more: The charge for the Olympic marathon – heat camp in Mallorca
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