<p>Mikiyas Yemata never doubted himself. Although he was given a tough time by his compatriot Teereee Shewangzaw, the Ethiopian persevered and came out with flying colours in the Bengaluru Marathon here on Sunday.</p>.<p>In the men's marathon that had close to 2000 participants, Yemata and Teereee were in a league of their own. They went toe-to-toe with each other until the last kilometre when Yemata changed gears and edged ahead. He crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 35 minutes and 20 seconds.</p>.<p>Teereee timed 2:36:29 and India's Ari Krishnan S clocked 2:37:21 to finish third at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here.</p>.<p>Yemata was exhausted after the race but pleased with the result. "I am very happy. I was really tired in the last kilometre but I am glad to have crossed the finish line (first). The guy (Teeree) who finished second is a strong athlete. So it was very difficult but I am a winner so I am very happy," said Yemata.</p>.<p>Unlike the men's event, there was hardly any competition in the women's marathon as India's Aneeta Chaudhary took her own sweet time to complete the race. She clocked 3:11:53 to bag the title.</p>.<p>She admitted to being slow as per her own standards but also blamed it on lack the elite competitors at the event. "I was a bit slow because there was no other competitor. Otherwise, it was really good," said Aneeta.</p>.<p>Aneeta, who hails from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, was especially delighted to have beaten Ethiopian Zenash Bekele Mamo, who timed 3:16:56.</p>.<p>"She (Zenash) was ahead of me on the first part but I caught up with her in second and defeated her," Aneeta said. Another Indian Swati Panchabudhe timed 3:23:05 to settle for the third place.</p>.<p>In the half-marathon, which had over 7000 runners, Kenya's Evans Saitoti emerged winner after clocking 1:08:54 in the men's section. He was followed by Ravi Prakash of India (1:10:31) and Bayu Tulu of Ethiopia (1:11:22).</p>.<p>In the women's section, Birtukan Shewaya of Ethiopia was cut above the rest as she comfortably raced to victory. She clocked 1:29.19. Nitu Singh and Rajashri Tarihal, both from India, took the second (1:36:26) and third (1:39:03) places respectively.</p>.<p>Results: Marathon: Men: Mikiyas Yemata (Ethiopia) 2:35:20, 1; Teeree Shewangzaw (Ethiopia) 2:36:29, 2; Ari Krishnan S (2:37:21), 3.</p>.<p>Women: Aneeta Chaudhary (India) 3:11:53, 1; Zenash Bekele Mamo (Ethiopia) 3:16:56, 2; Swati Panchabudhe (India) 3:23:05, 3.</p>.<p>Half-marathon: Men: Evans Saitoti (Kenya) 1:08:54, 1; Ravi Prakash (India) 1:10:31, 2; Bayu Tulu (Ethiopia) 1:11:22, 3.</p>.<p>Women: Birtukan Shewaya (Ethiopia) 1:29:19, 1; Nitu Singh (India) 1:36:26, 2; Rajashri Tarihal (India) 1:39:03, 3.</p>
<p>Mikiyas Yemata never doubted himself. Although he was given a tough time by his compatriot Teereee Shewangzaw, the Ethiopian persevered and came out with flying colours in the Bengaluru Marathon here on Sunday.</p>.<p>In the men's marathon that had close to 2000 participants, Yemata and Teereee were in a league of their own. They went toe-to-toe with each other until the last kilometre when Yemata changed gears and edged ahead. He crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 35 minutes and 20 seconds.</p>.<p>Teereee timed 2:36:29 and India's Ari Krishnan S clocked 2:37:21 to finish third at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here.</p>.<p>Yemata was exhausted after the race but pleased with the result. "I am very happy. I was really tired in the last kilometre but I am glad to have crossed the finish line (first). The guy (Teeree) who finished second is a strong athlete. So it was very difficult but I am a winner so I am very happy," said Yemata.</p>.<p>Unlike the men's event, there was hardly any competition in the women's marathon as India's Aneeta Chaudhary took her own sweet time to complete the race. She clocked 3:11:53 to bag the title.</p>.<p>She admitted to being slow as per her own standards but also blamed it on lack the elite competitors at the event. "I was a bit slow because there was no other competitor. Otherwise, it was really good," said Aneeta.</p>.<p>Aneeta, who hails from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, was especially delighted to have beaten Ethiopian Zenash Bekele Mamo, who timed 3:16:56.</p>.<p>"She (Zenash) was ahead of me on the first part but I caught up with her in second and defeated her," Aneeta said. Another Indian Swati Panchabudhe timed 3:23:05 to settle for the third place.</p>.<p>In the half-marathon, which had over 7000 runners, Kenya's Evans Saitoti emerged winner after clocking 1:08:54 in the men's section. He was followed by Ravi Prakash of India (1:10:31) and Bayu Tulu of Ethiopia (1:11:22).</p>.<p>In the women's section, Birtukan Shewaya of Ethiopia was cut above the rest as she comfortably raced to victory. She clocked 1:29.19. Nitu Singh and Rajashri Tarihal, both from India, took the second (1:36:26) and third (1:39:03) places respectively.</p>.<p>Results: Marathon: Men: Mikiyas Yemata (Ethiopia) 2:35:20, 1; Teeree Shewangzaw (Ethiopia) 2:36:29, 2; Ari Krishnan S (2:37:21), 3.</p>.<p>Women: Aneeta Chaudhary (India) 3:11:53, 1; Zenash Bekele Mamo (Ethiopia) 3:16:56, 2; Swati Panchabudhe (India) 3:23:05, 3.</p>.<p>Half-marathon: Men: Evans Saitoti (Kenya) 1:08:54, 1; Ravi Prakash (India) 1:10:31, 2; Bayu Tulu (Ethiopia) 1:11:22, 3.</p>.<p>Women: Birtukan Shewaya (Ethiopia) 1:29:19, 1; Nitu Singh (India) 1:36:26, 2; Rajashri Tarihal (India) 1:39:03, 3.</p>