Contributed by Sheila Thomas

Singapore, November 20, 2008 – Reigning world champion marathon runner, Luke Kibet, has confirmed his participation in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon this year on 7 December.

Kibet's win at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan, where he completed his run in 2:15:59 hours, made him the first Kenyan in 20 years to win a marathon gold medal at the World Championships.

Kibet initially started out in track events and specialised in steeplechase, but decided to launch his marathon career when he finished in second place in the annual Enschede marathon held in The Netherlands in 2004.

Kibet's personal best time of 2:08:52 hours was set in the Eindhoven Marathon in The Netherlands in 2005, where he finished third. He then went on to win the Taipei Marathon in 2005 and 2006.

The seventh Singapore Marathon has once again set a new record of 50,000 registered runners. About 14,000 runners are signed on for the full marathon. Kibet looks to add to the record should he achieve a time that is close to his personal best.

His personal best time is six minutes ahead of last year's Singapore Marathon winner, Elijah Mbogo, who finished in a track record time of 2:14:22 hours.

Spectators will be in for a treat as Kibet competes alongside Mbogo and two-time Singapore Marathon winner, Amos Matui, for the title in the Men's Open Category.