/ 7 March 2000

MBITHI WINS LA MARATHON

KENYAN Benson Mutisya Mbithi won the rain-soaked Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday in an unofficial time of 2 hrs, 11min 55sec. Mbithi, 22, finished well ahead of runner-up Mark Yatich and 1999 winner Simon Bor. Jane Salumae of Estonia, who trains in San Diego County, won the women’s title with an unofficial time of 2:33:34. Mbithi and Salumae each won $35000 dollars and a new car.