Ruthless Bai proves too strong for marathon rivals

From Tom Oldfield, Sportsbeat, in Berlin

 CHINA'S Xue Bai took advantage of some high-profile absences to win the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

JOY: Xue Bai becomes the first Chinese woman to win a world or Olympic marathon with a victory in Berlin

With Germany's Irina Mikitenko, the winner of this year's London Marathon, absent due to a family bereavement and Paula Radcliffe missing through injury, the field was wide open.

Initial cool conditions were a welcome relief but the early pace was still pedestrian as the runners circuited some of Berlin's postcard landmarks - and negotiated their way around nearly 70 sharp turns on a course not designed for fast times.

Bai ran a perfect race, rhythmically stalking her opponents and then ruthlessly using her track speed to sprint clear in the last kilometre.

She made her move under the shadow of the Reichstag and crossed the finish line by Bradenburg Gate in two hours, 25 minutes and 15 seconds, two minutes outside her personal best from last year.

The two-time Asian champion finished a distant 21st in the 10,000m Olympic final but this was a performance that more than made amends as she became the first Chinese women to win a world or Olympic marathon title.

"It's only my second international marathon, so I'm so happy," said Bai, who ran her first marathon aged just 14.

"I didn't feel any pressure and I was very relaxed because I knew I had trained and prepared very well.  When I came here I never thought that I had a chance of winning the gold medal."

But she admitted the absence of Radcliffe and Mikitenko took the shine off her performance.

"I was very lucky because a lot of the top runners were not here," she added.

"I still have a lot of hard work and training to do if I want to compete with them."

Japan's Yoshimi Ozaki had no response to Bai's turn of speed but hung on to take silver ahead of Ethiopia's Aselefech Mergia, who collapsed after crossing the finish line. China also won the team prize, ahead of the Japan and Russia.

"I was hoping for the top eight, so I'm pleased to win silver," said Ozaki. "But next time I want gold, it's good to have something to fulfill."