Gamera-Shmyrko claims hat trick

Osaka - Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko of Ukraine won the Osaka international women's marathon on Sunday, claiming her third consecutive victory in the event.

Gamera-Shmyrko crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 9 seconds. Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia was second with a time of 2:24:07.

With the victory, Gamera-Shmyrko became the second runner, after Romania's Lidia Simon, to win the race three consecutive times. Simon won from 1998-2000.

Risa Shigetomo of Japan came third in 2:26:39.