SINGAPORE, Dec 7: World champion Luke Kibet set a course record on Sunday to win a Singapore Marathon dominated by Kenyan runners.The 25-year-old Kenyan runner finished in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 1 second, more than a minute faster than the previous record of 2:14:22 set by last year’s winner Elijah Mbogo.

“I’m happy because this was my first time in Singapore,” Kibet said. “I wanted to run a 2:11 or 2:10 but I ran a 2:13.”

Johnstone Chepkwony and Amos Matui, both also of Kenya, were second and third.

Another Kenyan, Edith Masai, won the women’s race in 2:34:15. Silvia Skvortsova of Russia and Kenyan Rose Chesire finished second and third behind Masai.

The Singapore Marathon forms part of the Greatest Race On Earth series that also includes marathons in Nairobi, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

Results:

Men’s:

1. Luke Kibet (KEN) 2hrs 13min 01sec; 2. Johnstone Chepkwony (KEN) 2:15.12; 3. Amos Matui (KEN) 2:15.15.

Women’s:

1. Edith Masai (KEN) 2:34.15; 2. Silvia Skvortsova (RUS) 2:37.10; 3. Rose Chesire (KEN) 2:42:39.—Agencies