Runners in fast lane for personal best times
TWO Ethiopian runners took line honors in the men’s and women’s Shanghai International Half Marathon yesterday, with fine weather helping many achieve best personal records.
Antenayehu Dagnachew Yisma won the men’s race, clocking 1:02:32, while Bedatu Hirpa Badane won the women’s event with a time of 1:12:10.20. Both beat the fastest times in last year’s race.
The annual event drew 15,000 participants, who started the 21-kilometer race from the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong at 7am and ended at Shanghai Oriental Sports Center.
Runners-up in the men’s race were Ethiopian Bonsa Dida Direba (1:02:35) and Kenya’s Albert Kipkosgei Kangogo (1:02:37).
Second and third places in the women’s race went to Ethiopians Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa (1:12:10.40) and Sule Utura Gedo (1:12:11.10).
The winners each took home US$10,000 in prize money. The event also included a prize of 10,000 yuan (US$1,492) for the top Chinese finishers in both races. Those honors went to Wu Xiangdong (1:06:16) and female runner Li Zhixuan (1:13:12).
The top 600 male and 300 female runners got automatic entry into the 2019 Shanghai International Marathon in November.
“It was good weather for a running event,” amateur runner Lu Qi said. Lu followed race pacers for the majority of the race, completing the 21-kilometer distance in about 1 hour and 33 minutes.
“That was my personal best, a satisfying result after two months of training,” he said.
The organizers said 98 percent of runners completed the race. According to Shanghai East Hospital, the medical service provider, 512 runners received medical treatment, including three foreign runners.
Most cases were slight discomforts or minor injuries, while 11 runners showed more serious symptoms like low blood pressure, fever and fainting. All were said to be in a stable condition after treatment.