Fittingly, her race bib number was '1.'

Alevtina Biktimirova used a late surge to pull away and win her first women's title at the 35th Honolulu Marathon yesterday morning.

The 25-year-old Russian finished in 2 hours, 33 minutes, 8 seconds, averaging a 5:50.5 pace over the 26.2-mile course that started at Ala Moana and ended at Kapi'olani Park. After finishing second last year, Biktimirova earned $40,000 for yesterday's win.

"She's very happy," Biktimirova responded through interpreter Dainora Puida when asked about winning the race.

Biktimirova was in the lead pack the entire race and pulled away on the 21st mile from Japan's Akemi Ozaki, who had been running with her for the previous four miles.

"I was wondering if the other runner had the strength to hold the race," Ozaki said through an interpreter.

Ozaki was second in 2:34:22. Russian Tatyana Petrova, who was never in the lead pack, finished third in 2:35.56.

Biktimirova ran in the lead pack with fellow countrywoman Olga Romanova and Japanese women Ozaki and Kaori Yoshida from the start of the race.

Ozaki led the pack, along with a group of about 10 men, until the halfway point in 'Aina Haina. Yoshida moved in front while Romanova dropped out.

"I was told to lead the race until the half of the marathon," Ozaki said. "It was really tough for me."

In Hawai'i Kai, Biktimirova made a slight move on the causeway on Kealohe Street on the 17th mile, building a slight lead over the two Japanese women and the pack of male runners that had began to thin out.

Ozaki made up the 20-meter gap midway through the 17th mile and the two ran back together on Kalaniana'ole Highway. Ozaki received cheers and support from Japanese runners on Kalaniana'ole who were running into Hawai'i Kai.

"The other runners who were running on the other side going the other way were cheering for me and that gave me strength and I felt I could pay attention to that and not concentrate on the race and keep going on," Ozaki said.

Biktimirova started to pull away on the 21st mile past Kalani High School and began to lengthen it out on a slight decline heading towards Kahala Mall.

"(The) hills felt pretty good," said Biktimirova, who added she knew she had the race at about 33 kilometers (20.5 miles).

Ozaki trailed Biktimirova by about 20 seconds through the 23rd mile in Kahala, but couldn't make up any ground.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.