Russia's Lidiya Grigoryeva won the Los Angeles Marathon Sunday, setting a course record and winning the battle of the sexes by beating Benson Cherono of Kenya across the finish line.

Grigoryeva finished in an unofficial time of two hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds and earned a 100,000-dollar bonus for crossing the finish line before the men. The Kenyan runner finished in an unofficial time of two hours, eight minutes and 39 seconds.

Cherono's time was faster because the elite women were given a 16-minute, 46-second head start over their male counterparts, with the first person crossing the finish line, male or female, being declared the winner.

"This is the happiest moment in my life. I am so happy," Grigoryeva said through an interpreter after the race.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa congratulated Grigoryeva after the race and she was handed a giant check for 100,000 dollars from Banco Popular officials.

"Congratulations! You beat the man," said Villaraigosa.

Grigoryeva and Cherono both also won 35,000 dollars and a new car for winning the men's and women's division.

Throughout the marathon, it looked as if the men were going to cross the line first, but Grigoryeva had a stunning finish, pulling ahead of Ethiopia's Gete Wami.

About 25,000 people were racing in the marathon, with an estimated 2 million people cheering them on in the city's biggest annual gathering.

With the nearly 60 elite runners making up less than 0.03 percent of the field, part of the race's focus will fall on everyday people running to help raise funds or awareness for a cause or demonstrate their ability to overcome illness or other physical challenges, organizers said.

Organizers have increased the prize money this year by more than 30 percent to a record 417,600 dollars, and added 51,000 dollars in prize money for the top 10 finishers, both male and female.

For the first time in the race's 21-year history, the top three American and California finishers of both genders will receive bonuses, as organizers attempt to lure top U.S. runners.

No U.S. runner has won the race since 1994 when Paul Pilkington won the men's race and Olga Appell was the women's winner.

Source: Xinhua