Army Sports Institute runner Sanvaroo Yadav emerged triumphant in the men's race while defending champion and Commonwealth Games medallist Kavita Raut eked out a close win over Lalita Babar for the women's title in the Vasai-Virar Mayor's marathon here today.
Yadav, who started running in 2010, was the unexpected winner as he clinched the men's marathon in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 27 seconds leaving his more fancied and experienced ASI teammate Bining Lyngkhoi to settle for second place in 2:31:17.
Lyngkhoi had finished as the runners up in the previous edition as well.
In third place was the other ASI runner Budha Ram who timed 2:33:33.
G Laksmanan emerged on top in the men's half-marathon clocking 1:07:06, while Soji Mathew came in a close second with a timing of 1:07:47. Karan Singh came third in 1:08:00.
In the women's half-marathon that turned into a close battle for honours between three Maharashtra women Kavita Raut, Lalita Babar and Monika Athare, the former finished a second ahead of the two with a timing of 1:22:06.
Both Babar and Athare finished with identical timings of 1:22:07 and Babar was adjudged as the runners up, while Athare had to settle for the third place.
Kavita, a bronze medal winner in 10,000 m at the 2010 CWG in Delhi followed by a silver medal in the 25-lap track race in the Asian Games a month later, said that it was her first race for the season.
"This was the first marathon for me this year and also after marriage. It is a good start for me. I look to do well in the Asian Games," said 28-year-old Kavita, adding this race was part of her endurance training for next year's continental event.
Kavita won Rs one lakh while the second and third finishers got Rs 60,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively.
