Yoko Shibui of Japan wins Berlin Marathon

BERLIN, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Twenty-five-year-old Yoko Shibui won the women's division of the Berlin Marathon Sunday, with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 41 seconds.

She broke the previous marathon record for Japanese women of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 46 seconds set by Sydney Olympic medallist Naoko Takahashi three yeas ago, reported the Mainichi Daily News.

"I was a looking forward to reaching the goal (Berlin's Brandenburg Gate)," Shibui said. "My past hardships paid off for me today."

Shibui, an employee at Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., ran her first marathon in 2001.