Chinese women runners dominated the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon on Sunday, sweeping the top three places in the women's 42km race.

Xian Mushui headed the Chinese female contingent for a clean sweep of the top three places, completing her run in 2 hours 52 minutes and 32 seconds, followed by her compatriot Cui Chengcheng in 2'53:58s, and Wang Xingxue in 2'57:14s.

Kenyan Samuel Tarus Too emerged as the champion in the men's 42km marathon, clocking two hours 21 minutes and one second to better John Setanie Cheboi's record of 2'25:50s last year.

Cheboi finished second in 2'22:20s,followed by Uganda's Nsubuga Joseph who clocked 2'23:17s.

The annual marathon event was organized jointly by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Malaysia's Federal Territory Amateur Athletics Association. Some 6,500 people, including more than 1,000 runners from 44 countries and regions, participated in the race.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2006)