Cuba's policeman, Norway's student win Havana marathon

A Norwegian medicine student, Tonje Granne Kvala, became the second foreign female in history to win the Havana marathon Marabana while a Cuban police officer, Jorge Luis Suarez, took the male title for the fourth time on Sunday.

   Kvala, 22, told reporters she came to Cuba on vacation and hoped to get her personal best down to under four hours, therefore she was the first person to be surprised when she crossed the finish line first with a time of three hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds.

   "I'm still in shock, I did not expect this result. All I thought about was running forward," she said.

   The Norwegian runner was followed by the American Heidi Johansen (3:37.45) and Neysha Velez (3:40.54) from Puerto Rico, meaning the local women missed out on the podium finish.

   Previously, the only other foreign woman to win the Marabana was Italian Anna Zachi in 1993. 

   In the men's category, Jorge Luis Suarez, a policeman who runs in his spare time, won his fourth Marabana title in two hours, 29 minutes and 30 seconds.

   Suarez thanked his commissioner and the police department for all their support and stressed that Sunday's victory will allow him to compete in the Madrid Marathon for a second time.

   As well as the men's title, the half marathon medals also remained in Cuba. Yurisleidys Castillo (1:18.41) won in the women's category and Richer Perez (1:11.19) in the men's. 

   Over 5,000 runners participated in the 29th edition of the Marabana, including around 1400 foreigners which included 567 Americans.

   The sudden increase in the number of U.S. citizens is thought to be a result of the thawing process between the two neighboring countries that restored diplomatic relations last July after half a century of political enmity.  Endi