Sammy Korir of Kenya, the world's third fastest marathon-runner, won the Seoul International Marathon as his compatriots swept the annual race.

Korir clocked 2 hours, 7 minutes, 32 seconds to snatch the 80,000-dollar first prize, though he fail to beat his previous best of 2:04:56 in Berlin five years ago.

Jason Mbote and Edwin Komen, both Kenyan, finished second and third respectively in 2:07:37 and 2:07:45. The fourth and fifth spots also went to Kenyan athletes.

"I'm so happy," Korir said after crossing the finishing line at the Seoul Olympic Stadium.

Zhang Shujing of China won the women's race in 2:26:11.

Her compatriot Wang Xueqin came second in 2:28:39, followed by Hellen Jemaiyo Kimutai of Kenya third in 2:29:11.

Lee Bong-Ju, a top South Korean runner and silver medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, finished eighth.

AFP