SINGAPORE : A marathon newcomer has won this year's Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and also set a new record time.

Kenyan Elijah Mbogo had only run one marathon before but he managed to beat defending champion Amos Matui to claim the title on Sunday.

The runners began their marathon journey at 5.30 in the morning.

A record 40,000 runners took part in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2007, which included the full 42 kilometres, half marathon, and the 10-kilometre run.

It was a race for all races, with 52 nationalities taking part but after an hour, it was clear the African runners were in control.

While the men led the pack, the African female runners soon cruised past other male participants.

And in the end, it came down to a race between the pacemaker, second-time marathon runner Elijah Mbogo, and defending champion Amos Matui.

But Mbogo managed to hold on, setting a new record time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 22 seconds, beating Matui by 3 seconds and shaving 37 seconds off his record.

Mbogo said: "When I realised that people in the field I was with were just young people like me and the sort of people like me then I had the courage and I decided now I have now to do or die I have to go up to the line and it was very nice."

Kenyan runners took 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the men's marathon.

In the women's event, Alem Ashebier of Ethiopia cruised home in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 8 seconds to take first place, pushing her Kenyan rivals into 2nd and 3rd positions.

In the Singapore category, the winners were Daniel Ling and Vivian Tang.

But for many runners, the race was about keeping fit and completing a personal challenge.

Just crossing the line was a big enough prize. - CNA/ch