AP
11 June 2000 – Rio de Janeiro - Kenyan David Ngetich beat first-time marathon runner Alex Januario of Brazil to win the sixth annual Sao Paulo marathon Sunday.
Ngetich, 28, passed a visibly exhausted Januario with less than two miles (three kilometres) to go and finished the race in 2:15:21. Januario, 25, followed in 2:16:37.
Januario, a military parachutist who lead the race for most of its 25 miles (42 kilometres), surprised many with his performance.
"I didn't expect it. It was God's grace,'' Januario said after the race.
Last year's winner, Paul Yego of Kenya, finished third with 2:17:23, and Brazilian Genilson da Silva came in fourth with 2:17:30. About 8,000 other athletes participated in this year's race.
Brazil's Marcia Narlock took first place in the women's competition with 2:40:15, making her the first person to win the Sao Paulo race for two consecutive years. She easily beat Kenya's Nora Maragaf, who came in 3 minutes and 56 seconds behind.
It was the fifth consecutive win for Brazilian women in the Sao Paulo race.
"No words. I'm very happy,'' said 30-year-old Narlock.
Poland's Wioletta Kryza (2:44:29), who last year finished in second, came in third this time.
