Chinese Chen Rong, Mongolian Batochir take marathon gold amid rain

Marathon women's race gold medalist Chen Rong (Photo credit: China Foto Press)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, April 20) -- Chinese runner Chen Rong won the women's race in the Beijing Marathon, which finished at National Stadium on a rainy Sunday morning.

The 20-year-old clocked two hours, 30 minutes and 42 seconds.

Compatriot Zhou Chunxiu was second, clocking two hours, 37 minutes and 49 seconds, 18 minutes behind her best record of two hours, 19 minutes and 51 seconds. She said: "I just view it as a part of my traning in my preparation for the Olympic Games."

Zhu Xiaoling from Liaoning Province finished third. Although Zhou and Zhu both clocked 2h:37m:49s, Zhou placed ahead because her swifter sprint.

Mongolian BATOCHIR Serod won the men's race in a personal best time of 2:14:15 and Chinese Li Zhuhong was second.

The 26-year-old Mongolian had started the race slowly, only to keep himself in the seventh place at the 10km marker. He pushed himself into second place at the halfway stage and then grabbed the lead by the 35km marker.

As he entered the National Stadium in the Olympic Green, he had a comfortable advantage over his rivals and finished over a minute faster than silver medallist Zhuhong LI (CHN). The stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics events and men's football finals.

The route of the marathon will be the same as the Olympic route, starting at Tian'anmen Square and ending at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. Runners will pass the scenic districts of Xuanwu, Dongcheng, Chongwen, Xicheng, Haidian and Chaoyang.