Collis Birmingham.
BALLARAT Olympian Collis Birmingham won the 67th Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in Japan on Sunday.
The long distance runner completed the 21km course in just over one hour, at 1:00.56.
Six runners broke away early to pass the 10-kilometre mark at 28.33.
At 13 kilometres, the Olympian broke from the leaders’ pack and was never closely threatened.
He led by 28 seconds at the 20-kilometre mark.
Kenyan runner Enock Omwamba closed the gap slightly, to finish second 19 seconds behind Birmingham.
The result was a personal best by 29 seconds for Birmingham.
Birmingham is the first Australian male to win the event in history, with Kenyan runners winning the last 10 out of 11 years, with a Japanese competitor winning the event in 2006.
Australian Nikki Chapple won the women’s event in 2010.
In the women’s event, Ethiopian Tiki Gelana crossed the line first in 1:08.53.
New Zealand competitor Kim Smith finished second, seven seconds behind Gelana.