Dibaba sprints to thrilling marathon win in Beijing

Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba won the women's marathon at the world athletics championships after a thrilling sprint finish along the home straight of the Beijing National Stadium on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Dibaba out-kicked Kenya's Helah Kiprop to win the gruelling event by just one second, crossing the finish line in two hours, 27 minutes and 35 seconds.

The long-striding Kiprop faded in the final 50 metres and had to settle for the silver medal, while the bronze went to the reigning Asian champion Eunice Kirwa, who was born in Kenya but now competes for Bahrain.

Kenya's Jemima Sumgong, among a group of four women who reached the Bird's Nest stadium still with a chance of winning, missed out on the podium after losing touch in the entry tunnel, finishing just seven seconds behind the winner.

Kenya's Edna Kiplagat, who won the last two world championships marathons, settled for fifth after she was dropped from the leading group about two km from the finish.