Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru wins gold in Olympic Marathon

Beijing: Samuel Wanjiru won gold in the Olympic Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first Kenyan to ever do so.

Wanjiru completed the 26.2 mile course through Beijing in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes and 32 seconds, beating the 1984 record of 2:09:21 set by Carlos Lopes of Portugal.

"In Kenya we have many medals," Wanjiru said, "but I'm glad I have this one."

Kenyans had twice won men's marathon silver, most recently in 2000, but never a gold.

Kenya has performed exceptionally in track and fields events this Games, winning 14 medals, behind only the United States (23) and Russia (18). Five of them were gold.

Two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco won the silver in 2:07:16. Ethiopian Tsegay Kebede, winner of this year's Paris Marathon, took the bronze in 2:10:00.