(Daegu Athletics) Kenyan Kiplagat wins women's marathon for first world championships gold

By Yoo Jee-ho
   DAEGU, Aug. 27 (Yonhap) -- Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat of Kenya won the women's marathon for the first gold medal at the ongoing World Championships in Athletics here Saturday, with the time of two hours, 28 minutes and 43 seconds.
   Fellow Kenyans Priscah Jeptoo and Sharon Jemutai Cherop finished second and third in the 42.195-kilometer (26.2-mile) race.
   After runners from Kenya, Ethiopia and Japan jostled for positions halfway through, Kiplagat, Jeptoo, Cherop and Ethiopia's Aberu Kebede opened up some distance at the 35??? mark. But Kebede soon fell behind, allowing the three Kenyans to sweep the medals.
   Kiplagat came in with the year's fastest time in the field. Kenya's Mary Keitany and Russia's Liliya Shobukhova, owners of the season's two best times, did not compete here.
   Kiplagat survived a scare at the second-to-last drinking station near the 40??? turn, tripping over Cherop while trying to pick up her water bottle. Cherop briefly stopped to help up Kiplagat, who promptly reclaimed the lead.