AO PAULO (AP) – Ethiopia’s Dawit Admasu won the St. Silvester road race in Brazil on Wednesday, crossing the line a second ahead of Kenya’s Stanley Koech.
Admasu finished the 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) course through South America’s biggest city in 45 minutes, 4 seconds, clinching his first title in the traditional New Year’s Eve road race.
Ethiopia’s Ymer Ayalew won her second title in the women’s race, finishing in 50:43 to add to her 2008 victory. Countrywoman Netsanet Kebede was second, three seconds behind. Kebede also was runner-up last year. Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo, the 2011 winner, was third.
Kenyan women had won the last five St. Silvester races.
Edwin Kipsang Rotich of Kenya had won two consecutive titles in the men’s event.