Beijing, China (My Sportsbook) - Kenya's Samuel Kamau Wansiru won the men's marathon Sunday morning in Olympic-record time.

Wansiru finished the race in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 32 seconds to claim the gold medal and lower the previous Olympic marathon record set by Portugal's Carlos Lopes by 2 minutes and 49 seconds.

Lopes' record of 2:09.21 had stood since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Morocco's Jaouad Gharib won the silver medal in 2:07.16 and Ethiopia's Tsegay Kebede took bronze at 2:10.00.

Wansiru ran much of the end of the race by himself, including the last stretches in Beijing's Olympic Green compound. He entered National Stadium -- the "Bird's Nest" -- to cheers from the crowd, made his way around the track and crossed the finish line with his arms outstretched above him.

It would be 44 seconds until the next competitor finished.

"I had to push the pace to tire the other runners," said Wansiru. "I had to push the pace because my body gets tired in the heat when I slow down."

Beijing's notoriously hazy air was replaced by blue skies and clouds in the days leading up to the marathon. It was warm and humid for the race, but otherwise pleasant.

The conditions were very good," said Wansiru. "It was a little humid, but I was able to pull away because I had enough power and speed to overcome it."

His win represented the 14th medal won by Kenyans in Beijing, and the fifth gold. It was the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the marathon.

"In Kenya, we have many medals," said Wansiru, "but I'm glad to have this one."

To claim the bronze medal, Kebede had to pass fellow Ethiopian Deriba Merga on the track inside the Bird's Nest. Merga slowed to a jog, and Kebede passed him by. Merga finished 11 seconds later in fourth place.

"I felt happy," said Kebede, "because I didn't expect that."

Dathan Ritzenhein was the top American finisher, coming in ninth place 2:11.59. Teammate Ryan Hall, winner of the U.S. men's Olympic marathon trials, finished behind him in 10th place at 2:12.33.