Dickson Chumba of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the Tokyo Marathon 2018 in Tokyo, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo February 25, 2018. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

(Reuters) - Kenya’s Dickson Chumba cruised to victory at the Tokyo Marathon, beating Japan’s Yuta Shitara who set a national record on Sunday.

Chumba, who previously won the event in 2014, sprinted clear from the lead pack near the 36-km mark and held off a late charge from Shitara to cross the line in two hours, five minutes and 30 seconds.

Shitara was 41 seconds adrift as he finished ahead of Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, who timed 2:06:33.

The 26-year-old Shitara’s 2:06:11 becomes the fastest time in history for a Japanese man ahead of Toshinari Takaoka’s 2:06:16 finish in Chicago in 2002.

In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Birhane Dibaba and Ruti Aga claimed the top two positions in 2:19:51 and 2:21:19, respectively.

American Amy Cragg came across in 2:21:42 to take third spot. Hiroko Yoshitomi was the first to cross the line among Japanese women, claiming sixth place in 2:30:16.