Yamauchi was running in her fourth marathon of 2008

British Olympian Mara Yamauchi clocked a new personal best as she finished third in the International Women's Marathon in her hometown of Tokyo.

The Oxford-born 35-year-old, who was sixth in the Olympic marathon in Beijing, crossed the line in two hours, 25 minutes and three seconds.

"The race conditions were quite good," said Yamauchi. "The only problem was I couldn't pick up the pace at the end."

Japan's Yoshimi Ozaki was the race winner with Yuri Kano second.

The event, which was first won by Briton Joyce Smith in 1979, is now being scrapped.

Instead an elite women's field will take part in the mass participation Tokyo Marathon.

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