Kenya's Korir wins his first prestigious marathon in Paris

Kenya runner Mark Korir claimed his first career victory in a prestigious international race, taking men's title of the Paris Marathon here on Sunday.

The 30-year-old was taken two hours, five minutes and 49 seconds to complete the 42.195km race setting along the capital city's most symbolic places, such as the Champs-Elysees, Place de la Concorde and the Eiffel Tower.

He overhauled his Kenyan compatriot Mike Kigen with just over five kilometers to go, after the latter broke away from the massive elite runners from around 32km.

Korir's result has refreshed his previous personal best of 2:07:08, set two years ago in Seoul where he was the second finisher.

The living course record of Paris Marathon is 2:05:04, a time claimed by Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele last year.

Another Kenyan Luka Kanda finished the second and Seboka Tola of Ethiopia was third in the men's race.

Ethiopian Meseret Mengistu won the women's race in 2:23:24, improving her own personal best by almost six minutes.

The 25-year-old's compatriot Amane Gobena and Visiline Jepkesho of Kenya were respectively the second and third finishers.

More than 54,000 runners from 150 countries and regions, including almost a hundred of Chinese, have participated in Sunday's race. Enditem