Morocco, North Korea take gold in marathons

Morocco, North Korea take gold in marathons

BANGKOK – Morocco and North Korea added their names to the gold medal list for the first time at these World University Games as their athletes dominated the half-marathons on Saturday.

Mohamed Fadil of Morocco won the men’s 21-kilometre (13-mile) race in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 49 seconds, 25 seconds ahead of his countryman Najim El Gady. Japan’s Takahashi Toyoda took the bronze in a time of 1:06.30.North Korean athletes filled three of the top four places in the women’s race, with Kim Kum Ok winning in 1:12.31 and Japan’s Kei Terada finishing second, six seconds behind.Jong Yong Ok took the bronze and countrywoman Jo Pun Hui was fourth.The races began 15 minutes apart at 6:30 a.m.local time, the early start due to Bangkok’s oppressive heat and humidity.But the conditions were sauna-like by the time the runners finished the course at the National Stadium at Thammasat University.Russia and China pulled away in the gold medal count with victories Saturday in shooting.Russia picked up two more golds in shooting to take its overall total to a leading eight, while China, which won five shooting golds Saturday, moved to seven.The United States was in third place with four golds, all in the pool.On the second day of men’s water polo, France remained unbeaten with a 12-11 win over Spain.France tied gold medal favourites Hungary 11-11 in its opening match.Finals later Saturday included the gold medal match in mixed teams badminton, the women’s sabre and men’s epée in fencing and three more golds in taekwondo.The men’s and women’s 100-metre races were also scheduled at the athletics stadium.Nampa-APJapan’s Takahashi Toyoda took the bronze in a time of 1:06.30.North Korean athletes filled three of the top four places in the women’s race, with Kim Kum Ok winning in 1:12.31 and Japan’s Kei Terada finishing second, six seconds behind.Jong Yong Ok took the bronze and countrywoman Jo Pun Hui was fourth.The races began 15 minutes apart at 6:30 a.m.local time, the early start due to Bangkok’s oppressive heat and humidity.But the conditions were sauna-like by the time the runners finished the course at the National Stadium at Thammasat University.Russia and China pulled away in the gold medal count with victories Saturday in shooting.Russia picked up two more golds in shooting to take its overall total to a leading eight, while China, which won five shooting golds Saturday, moved to seven.The United States was in third place with four golds, all in the pool.On the second day of men’s water polo, France remained unbeaten with a 12-11 win over Spain.France tied gold medal favourites Hungary 11-11 in its opening match.Finals later Saturday included the gold medal match in mixed teams badminton, the women’s sabre and men’s epée in fencing and three more golds in taekwondo.The men’s and women’s 100-metre races were also scheduled at the athletics stadium.Nampa-AP

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