By David Martin, PA Sport, Munich

Maria Guida was a decisive winner of the European Championships women's marathon, winning in two hours 26 minutes and five seconds.

The 36-year-old Italian broke away with over six kilometres remaining, easily defeating Germany's Luminita Zaitic.

The former Romanian, who finished in 2:26:58, made it a great day for the host nation. Behind the Bucharest-born silver medallist came another German, Sonja Oberem.

Oberem finished a distant third in 2:28:45.