SINGAPORE - National marathoner Mok Ying Ren has cleared the 2017 SEA Games' qualifying mark after he clocked a new personal best at the Seoul International Marathon on Sunday (March 19).

The 28-year-old, who won gold at the 2013 Games, ran 2hr 26min 7sec in South Korea, which is well below the 2:37.10 mark he needed to beat to be eligible for the Aug 19-31 Games in Kuala Lumpur.

He said in a tweet after his race: "Great day at the office with a new Personal Best of 2hours 26min 07seconds enroute to qualifying for the upcoming South East Asian Games Marathon. Thank you all for your support! Time for some Korean BBQ?"

All selection for the biennial Games is subject to approval by the Singapore National Olympic Council.

The Republic's other marathoner will be Soh Rui Yong, who won the 2015 edition on home soil. The 25-year-old clocked 2:24.55 at the Chicago Marathon last October.

Separately in Nomi City, Japan, on Sunday, Edmund Sim ran 1:36:53 at the Asian 20km Race Walking Championship and also met the KL Games qualifying time which was set at 1:40:57.

Sim, 33, had finished fifth (1:53:15) at the previous SEA Games in Singapore.