Simon earns marathon reward

The competitors begin the women's marathon

Lidia Simon of Romania broke her major championship duck to win the women's marathon at the World Championships in Edmonton.

Simon, the Olympic silver medallist and winner of bronze in the last two championships, finished in a time of two hours 26 minutes and one second to finally claim gold.

Reiko Tosa of Japan was just four seconds behind in second place with Russian Svetlana Zacharova third in a time of 2:26.18.

Like the men's marathon, the race was not decided until the final stages with the first two runners level as they approached the stadium.

But the 27-year-old Simon finished the stronger of the two to secure her first major title.

Breakaway leader

On a cool and sunny Edmonton morning, Romania's Constantina Dita went straight to the front and held a lead of almost two minutes by the halfway stage.

But Dita paid for her early pace and was caught by a chasing pack of 15 runners three quarters of the way through the race.

Tosa had to settle for silver

Japan's Yoko Shibui then stepped up the pressure and only Tosa, Simon and Zacharova were able to respond.

Zacharova, second in this year's London Marathon, dropped off as the leading trio wound up the pace.

Shibui, running only her second marathon, then began to tire as Shibui and Simon went head-to-head.

As the pair prepared to enter the stadium, Simon made a decisive break for home and Tosa had nothing left.

Simon was only able to relax in the last few strides when she began her celebrations by blowing kisses to the crowd.

Zacharova found renewed energy in the latter stages and moved ahead of Shibui to take the bronze.