Jerusalem marathon takes place under heavy security

About 30,000 people took part in a marathon in Jerusalem on Friday despite the threat of attacks amid an ongoing wave of violence, the Jerusalem municipality said.

The winner of the sixth annual Jerusalem marathon is 25-year-old Kipkogey Shadrack from Kenya, with a time of 2:16:33.

Shadrack's compatriot Ronald Kimly Korgat, finished second in 2:16:35, and the third place went to another Kenyan, Morris Mutinda Musiyoki, who clocked two hours, 21 minutes and six seconds.

The marathon routes included several tracks - a full 42-km marathon, which was attended by 1,600 people. About 5,000 people ran half marathon, and those remaining ran in either the 10k race, 5k race and special families 1.7 km route.

More than 1,800 soldiers and policemen were deployed along the marathon routes across the city, through its center as well as the Old City in east Jerusalem in order to protect runners, amid an ongoing wave of violence which started in October, and claimed the lives of 28 Israelis and more than 175 Palestinians.

About 2,400 runners came from more than 60 countries and regions, among them China, Austria, Turkey, the United States and Switzerland.

Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat also attended the marathon, running the half-marathon route with his personal security guard, saying the high number of runners from abroad shows Jerusalem's strength.

"The fact that in a year in which Jerusalem suffers from a wave of terror we have broken the record of people signing in from abroad is a testament to Jerusalem's might and its prestige," Barkat said, according to a statement from the Jerusalem municipality.

"We will not let the threat of terror paralyze our routine of life," Barkat added. Endi