Kenyan Abel Kirui wins Vienna marathon in record time

VIENNA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- 25-year-old Kenyan runner Abel Kirui won the 25th Vienna City Marathon (VCM) with a record time of 2:07:38, which exceeded the previous VCM men's record of 2:08:20 in set by Lahucine Mrikik of Morocco in 2006.

"I have tried my best and I have decided to break the record. Imade it, it is really lucky," Kirui said after the race, "the last few kilometers were like grade climbing for me, I was so exhausted at that time."

Kirui won the second place last year in Berlin in 2:06:51, which was also his best performance in 2007.

Duncan Kiber and Paul Biwort, also from Kenya, finished the 42.195 kilometers VCM in 2:08:33 and 2:08:53 and won the second and third place respectively.

Kenyan runners performed excellent in the 25th VCM, nine of the first ten in the men's marathon came from Kenyan.

Romanian Luminita Talpos, 35 years old, won the women's VCM in 2:26:43, which is 2 minutes and 56 seconds slower than the record time set by Italian Maura Viceconte in 2000.

Talpos said after the competition, "I am very happy to win (the marathon) in Vienna again, I am therefore qualified to attend the 2008 Olympic Games." She also showed her appreciation to the conditions and organizations of the VCM, saying that she would participate in the marathon race in Vienna again next year.

Japanese Tomo Morimoto won women's silver in 2:29:01 and Kenyan Beatri Omwanza listed third in 2:37:36.

A total of 30,072 runners from 100 nations and regions took part in the 25th VCM, which made it the biggest one in the VCM history since 1984.