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Zhou Chunxia Wins Asian Games Marathon

Clocking in with an excellent result, China?s running marvel, Zhou Chunxiu, was clearly a class above the rest when she won the Asian Games women?s marathon in Doha, Qatar on Saturday. Zhou was ahead of the race from beginning to end and came in with an impressive 2 hours, 27 minutes and three seconds. Her best all-time result was clearly her victory in the Seoul Marathon in March of this year when she became the seventh woman in athletics history to come in under two hours, twenty minutes. Her time in that race was a nail-baiting 2 hours, 19 minutes and 51 seconds.

Despite the good result, Zhou berated herself after completing the race and said that she could improve her performance. ?I once did two hours twenty, so I could do better?, she said. Nevertheless, Zhou admitted that weather conditions were not perfect and that she managed to keep up her usual good standards and remain confident throughout the entire race.

Traditionally, Japanese women are extremely dominant in marathons. However, many were absent from the race in Qatar after preferring to run at last week?s Fukoaka Marathon. This race is considered more important than the Asian Games as it is a selection race for the 2007 world championships. The Japanese honor was still maintained, however, with Kiyoko Shimahara and Kayoko Obata of Japan winning silver and bronze medals in Qatar.