Athletics: Kenyans favourites to sweep top titles at StanChart Marathon Singapore

From left: Nicholas Kemboi (Qatar), Jairus Chanchima Ondora (Kenya), Kenyan running legend Haile Gebrselassie, Kenneth Mungara (Kenya), Avelu Lemma (Ethiopia) and Mok Ying Ren (Singapore). Kenyan  runners are tipped to leave everyone else in the
From left: Nicholas Kemboi (Qatar), Jairus Chanchima Ondora (Kenya), Kenyan running legend Haile Gebrselassie, Kenneth Mungara (Kenya), Avelu Lemma (Ethiopia) and Mok Ying Ren (Singapore). Kenyan  runners are tipped to leave everyone else in their wake once again at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) on Sunday. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

KENYAN runners are tipped to leave everyone else in their wake once again at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) on Sunday.

The country's lithe athletes have won the men's marathon category since 2002, while the women have claimed victory in the past four years.

"We are all in good form. On the day itself, each of us will be very motivated to win and keep the Kenyan record going," said Kenneth Mburu Mungara, the 2010 SCMS winner who also won three Toronto Marathon titles.

Besides the 42.195km main event, all eyes - and cameras - will unusually be on the 10km race, graced by two-time Olympic gold medallist Haile Gebrselassie in his South-east Asian race debut.

"I just want to enjoy and have fun with everyone else, spread the love of running," the affable Ethiopian, 41, said during a press conference at Orchard Gateway on Friday.

Around 53,000 runners are expected to take part at this weekend's SCMS, which will finish at the Padang.

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