The first International Half Marathon kicked off on Sunday at the breathtaking Bokor Mountain top resort in southern Kampot province, aiming to promote sports and environment protection, a sports official said.

About 550 runners including 100 foreigners took part in the event, Vath Chamroeun, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), said.

The 1,075-meter Bokor Mountain is located in Kampot coastal province in the distance of some 148 kilometers from capital Phnom Penh.

"We choose the mountain for the half-marathon event because it is the kingdom's unique eco-tourism site, so holding sports event at the site will not only encourage sports affection, but also promote natural protection,"he told Xinhua over telephone.

There was a 21-km hill run, along with 10-km and 5-km races and a 3-km fun run.

According to the results released by the NOCC, the men's 21-km race was won by Cambodia's renowned Hem Bunting in a time of one hour, 22 minutes and 34 seconds. Cambodian Kaing Thoeun finished at second in 1:25:05 and French Defon Yan came at third in 1:29:56.

The women's 21-km run was awarded to British Jill Hamill, who finished in 1:37:52. Cambodian Ly Nary took the second place in 1: 43:09 and British Cer Davies was third in 1:57:37.

Vath Chamroeun said the half marathon at the Bokor Mountain would become the fourth annual half marathon event in the country following the illustrious examples of annual Siem Reap-Angkor, Phnom Penh City and Sihanoukville events.

Some of the proceeds from the event would be donated to the Cambodian Red Cross and the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital, he said.