Kenya’s Abel Kirui wins marathon at world championships

Abel Kirui (pictured), successfully defended his marathon title in the world championships Sunday, completing a Kenyan double in the event.

Kirui, who set a championship record two years ago in Berlin, won the race in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 38 seconds to claim Kenya’s seventh gold medal of the competition and reaffirm its dominance in the long distances.

Kenyan teammate Vincent Kipruto was second in 2:10:06, and Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa followed in 2:10:32.

Last week, Edna Kiplagat led Kenya to a sweep in the women’s marathon.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.