NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui broke away around the 36-kilometer mark and cruised to the win at the Nagoya Women's Marathon on Sunday.

Chepkirui clocked 2 hours, 20 minutes and 40 seconds, while Japan's Sayaka Sato finished second in 2:20:59 in the last of the host nation's three selection races for the women's marathon at the world athletics championships to be held in Tokyo in September.

Sato looks all but certain to make her second straight world championships appearance as her time was the fastest among Japanese runners who ran under the World Athletics' qualifying standard of 2:23:30 in the selection races.

Bahrain's Eunice Chebichii Chumba, the 2023 Asian Games marathon winner, was third in 2:21:35.

"I feel so great," Chepkirui said. "I want to thank God for good health and the energy he has enabled me to finish (first). My strength comes from the training and positive mind."

The race started and ended at Vantelin Dome Nagoya.

Chepkirui and Chumba left Sato and fellow Japanese Rika Kaseda behind after 33 kilometers.

Sato came back to overtake Chumba with about 6 kilometers to go en route to improving her personal best by more than a minute.

"I've always wanted to have a race that can satisfy myself, and I'm so happy that I managed to keep running without dropping my pace late in the race," Sato said. "Being able to set a new personal best gives me a confidence boost."

Kaseda finished fifth, between Mao Uesugi, also of Japan, and Isobel Batt-Doyle of Australia.