Gharib retains marathon title

Morocco's Jaouad Gharib became only the second athlete to retain the marathon title at the world championships in Helsinki, on Saturday.

Gharib made his move shortly after 25 km of the 42.195-km race to win in two hours 10 minutes and 11 seconds.

Christopher Isegwe of Tanzania was second in 2:10.21 and Japan's Tsuyoshi Ogata took the bronze in 2:11.16

Gharib, 33, was the surprise winner of the marathon at the 2003 world championships in only his second competitive outing over the distance.

Spain's Abel Anton is the only other athlete to win successive world championship marathon titles, in 1997 and 1999.