Xiamen, China – On a crisp and windy morning, Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba won the Xiamen International Marathon today (2) – an IAAF Gold Label Road Race – in 2:08:07, breaking the course record.

It was also a personal best for the 26-year-old Kenyan, who improved upon his 2:09:54 set in Rotterdam in 2009.

“The wind was very strong so I tried my best to push,” said Kipchumba, who took down the course mark of 2:08:47 set last year by Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa. “I broke my personal record. I dreamt I had.”

More than a minute and a half behind him was the runner-up, Ethiopia’s Mesfin Hailu Lemma, who clocked 2:09:50 in his debut. He ran in Paris last year but had fallen and didn’t finish.