Ethiopians sweep Houston Marathon, half marathon

HOUSTON (AP) -- Bazu Worku and Merima Mohammed gave Ethiopia a sweep of the men's and women's divisions of the Houston Marathon on Sunday. Ethiopians also won both races in the half marathon.

This was Worku's first marathon title. He finished in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 17 seconds and won by more than two minutes. Mohammed was timed in 2:23:37.

On day of light to sometimes heavy rain with temperatures in the 40s, Ethiopians were runners-up in both marathon divisions.

Teferi Balcha finished second among the men in 2:12:50. Andrew Carlson was the top American, seventh in 2:17:16. Buzunesh Deba was the women's runner-up in 2:24:36.

In the men's half marathon, Feyisa Lilesa successfully defended his half marathon title, winning in 1:01:54, beating countryman Deriba Merga by seven seconds. The women's winner was Mamitu Daska in 1:09:53. She won the Houston Marathon in 2011.