Soh and Mok to run in Cardiff

Singapore's top two marathoners, Soh Rui Yong and Mok Ying Ren, have been selected by Singapore Athletics to compete at the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff on March 26.

Soh won the gold medal at the SEA Games last June on home soil, while Mok, who was sidelined with injury last year, won at the 2013 edition in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.

Both runners are targeting to become the first local marathoner to qualify for the Olympics. To do that, they have to beat the qualifying mark of 2hr 19min before July 11.

Mok, 27, has a personal best of 2:26:33 in the marathon, and set a new national best in the half-marathon in January with a time of 1:07:08 at the Arizona Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon.

The time shaved 13 seconds off the previous best, which was set by 24-year-old Soh last September at the San Jose Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon.

Soh, who has a personal best of 2:26:01 in the marathon, is currently a month into a seven-week training stint in Iten, Kenya, which he hopes will help him meet the cut for Rio.

- SAZALI ABDUL AZIZ