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PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) – Abrha Milaw broke his personal best by beating defending champion Paul Lonyangata and winning the Paris Marathon as Ethiopian riders shone in the French capital on Sunday.
Milaw is far away with less than three kilometers to complete the 42.195 km in two hours seven minutes and five seconds, improving his previous best mark by 20 seconds on a cold, sunny morning.
Compatriot Asefa Mengistu was second, 20 seconds behind Kenyan Lonyangata, the winner of the last two editions, who finished third in 2:07:28.
In the women's race, Gelete Burka led the Ethiopian 1-2-3 when she scored two hours 22:47 ahead of Azmera Gebru and Azmera Abreha, who finished respectively 5 and 48 seconds behind.
"It was very very cold for me, it is difficult to breathe in these conditions but I am very happy," said Burka.
Clemence Calvin, allowed to participate in a race after the Council of State, one of the highest courts in the country, lifted its provisional suspension, took fourth place by breaking the French record.
She timed two hours 23h41.
Calvin, second in the championship of Europe, had been temporarily suspended by the French Anti-Doping Agency after allegedly avoiding out-of-competition testing in Morocco.
She denied any wrongdoing and Friday's State Council allowed her to run. (Report by Julien Pretot, edited by Amlan Chakraborty)
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