Reigning Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi made a triumphant comeback from a series of injuries to win the Tokyo International Women's Marathon on Sunday.
Golden smile: Mizuki Noguchi exudes joy as she crosses the finish line of the Tokyo International Women's Marathon on Sunday. The Athens Olympics gold medalist won the race in 2 hours, 21 minutes, 37 seconds, breaking Eri Yamaguchi's meet-record made in 1999.
KYODO PHOTONoguchi, competing in her first full marathon in two years, pulled ahead for good with less than 6 km left to hold off a tenacious Kenyan Salina Kosgei and crossed the finish line in a meet-record time of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 37 seconds.