Kenya's Jonathan Kiptoo Yego beat his compatriot Philip Sanga Kimutai in the closing stages to win the Rome marathon on Sunday.

Kiptoo Yego clocked a personal best time of two hours, nine minutes and 57 seconds in windy conditions with Sanga Kimutai crossing the line just five seconds behind him.

Their fellow Kenyan Henry Kapkyai Kimeli came in third in a time of 2:10.17.

Russia's Galina Bogomolova won the women's race with in 2:22.53, the fastest a woman has run a marathon on Italian soil.

Her compatriot Larissa Zousko was more than five minutes behind in second place with Hungary's Aniko Kalovic third, the Reuters said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2008)