ATHENS, Greece -- Brimin Kipkorir of Kenya has won the 36th Athens Marathon in the third fastest time, beating Ethiopia's Tesfa Wokneth by almost two minutes.

Kipkorir broke away from the leading group after 25 kilometres to win the hilly course in 2 hours 10 minutes and 56 seconds, 19 seconds off the course record set by his compatriot Felix Kandle in winning the 2014 race.

Wokneth was second in 2:12:52 and fellow Ethiopian Asmeraw Mengistu was third in 2:13:20.

Two other Kenyans rounded out the top 5.

Shelmith Muriuki of Kenya won the women's race -- and was 17th overall -- in a personal best of 2:36:46, beating fellow Kenya runner Rebby Koech (2:38:54) and Greece's Eleftheria Petroulaki (2:46:09)

A record 18,750 runners started the race Sunday morning.