VICTORY IN SIGHT: Jia Chaofeng, 24, dashes to the finish line of the 2012 Beijing International Marathon on November 25. Jia took the gold medal in the women's event with a time of 2:27:40 (GUO YONG)

As 24-year-old Jia Chaofeng sprints past the finish line of 2012 Beijing Marathon clocking a personal best result of 2:27:40, she becomes the 21st consecutive Chinese athlete to claim the women's title in the 32-year-old event.

A total of 30,000 runners from home and abroad showed up for the marathon, half marathon and mini-marathon events which began at Tiananmen Square at 8:30 a.m. on November 25. Out of consideration for the bitter late-autumn weather, with temperatures dipping as low as 1 degree Celsius, aid stations provided hot drinks, energy gels and chews besides water and electrolyte replacement drinks.

"Today is a bit chilly, but I get used to it because it is similar to weather conditions in my hometown in Gansu Province," said Jia, who wore spectacles throughout the course for short-sightedness. "I wear glasses during training sessions too. It helps keep my vision clear."

Jia's compatriots dominated the top three places in the women's event. Sun Lamei finished second with a time of 2:27:55, and Sun Weiwei claimed third with 2:28:03.

Ethiopian runner Tariku Jufar Robi claimed the men's title with 2:09:39. Kenyan Eliud Kiptanui finished second with 2:10:15. Another Ethipoian Solomon Molla Tiemuay finished third in 2:10:20. Yin Shunjin achieved the best result among Chinese athletes in the men's event, winning sixth place.