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John Salvado

Wheelchair ace De Rozario wins Sydney marathon

Madison de Rozario powers to victory in the Sydney marathon. (Steve Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

Australian wheelchair racing superstar Madison de Rozario has powered to victory in her debut outing at the Sydney marathon.

The multiple Paralympic and Commonwealth champion dominated her race on an unseasonably hot day in Sydney, crossing the line in one hour 59 minutes 41 seconds.

Japan's Tsubasa Kina was a distant second in 2:11:41.

Compatriots Sinead Diver and Brett Robinson also claimed Australian titles, although both elite able-bodied events were dominated by African runners.

Diver, 46, was the first Australian across the line in the women's race in eighth spot in 2: 31:27, nearly nine minutes ahead of fellow Victorian Kate Mason.

The race was won by Kenyan-born American Betsy Saina in 2:26:47.

The next six runners home were all Africans as the temperature reached the high 20s in Sydney on Sunday morning.

The elite men's race produced an even more dominant performance by the African contingent, headed by Moroccan winner Othmane El Goumri (2:08:20).

Robinson, 32, was eighth in 2:23:05 - more than 15 minutes slower than the national record he set late last year in Japan.

The Sydney marathon doubles as the Australian marathon championship.

It is also in the second year of a three-year candidacy in a bid to become the seventh World Marathon Major, alongside races in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo and Berlin.

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