HEFEI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Leonard Kipkoech Langat and Magdalyne Yeko Masai, both of Kenya, staged stunning performances to win their men's and women's titles respectively at the 2018 Hefei International Marathon on Sunday.

In a close race, Langat finished in 2:10:48, beating his compatriot Hillary Kipkoech Bet and Ethiopian Lencho Tesfaye Anbesa by 50 and 57 seconds.

Bao Yu became the first Chinese to cross the line, ranking seventh.

"It's my first time to run in Hefei. It's a beautiful city and the weather is perfect for running. I'll come back again," said Bao.

Masai won the women's title in a time of 2:28:20.

About 30,000 participants, at home and abroad, ran around Chaohu Lake, one of China's five biggest fresh water lakes, in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province.