Kenya's Sammy Korir wins Seoul marathon

　　SEOUL, March 16, 2008 - Sammy Korir of Kenya, the world's third fastest marathoner, won the Seoul International Marathon here Sunday as his compatriots swept the annual race, organisers said.

　　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 told a television reporter 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.