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Robert de Castella of Australia won the 16th Fukuoka...

FUKUOKA, Japan -- Robert de Castella of Australia won the 16th Fukuoka International Marathon Sunday in the second-fastest time in history, 2 hours, 8 minutes, 18 seconds.

The 24-year Australian finished the 26-mile, 385-yard distance just five seconds off the world record set by Alberto Salazar of the U.S. in October in the New York City Marathon.

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Kunimitsu Ito of Japan came in second in 2:09:37, followed by countryman Shigeru Soh in 2:10:19.

Garry Bjorklund of the U.S., who set the pace up to the 25-kilometer point, finished sixth in a field of 117 runners.

De Castella, who ran almost leisurely in the initial stretch, apparently as a warm-up, took the lead at the 25-kilometer mark, with Ito trailing closely behind. But the 26-year-old Japanese had difficulty catching up.

After a sharp spurt near the 30-kilometer point, de Castella was all alone and returned to Heiwadai Stadium amid wild cheers from the crowd.

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