35,000 people run in largest-ever Jerusalem Marathon

Jerusalem: More than 35,000 people, including some 4,000 from outside Israel, ran in the eighth annual Jerusalem Marathon on Friday, the largest number yet in the annual race.

Kenyan runner Shadrack Kipkogey finished the marathon first in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 27 seconds.

Runners participate in six courses, including the full marathon (42.2 km), half-marathon (21.1 km), 10 km, 5 km, family race (1.7 km), and community race (800 meters) for people with special needs, Xinhua reported.

International runners came from 72 countries from China, the US, Germany, Poland, Portugal, and Lithuania.

China’s Hong Kong sent the greatest number of runners from outside Israel, followed by Los Angeles, Beijing, and London.

The average age of runners running the full course is 43, while the average age of those running the 10 km is 32.

—IANS