Chinese runners finish top three at half marathon in central China

WUHAN, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The Fanan Lake Wetland International Marathon was held on 21 April in Central China's Qianjiang with Chinese runners clean swept the top three places in men's half marathon race.

In men's half marathon, Chinese runners Ma Zhengtong, Zheng Minchun and Yu Tung crossed the finish line one after another. Their results were 1:15:34, 1:17:19 and 1:17:36 respectively.

For the women's half marathon, Kenyan runner Kakuri Esther Chesang took the gold medal with a time of 1:23:01, her compatriot Jerop Abigaei settled for the bronze medal at 1:29:29 while Yin Xiaoyu of China finished second at 1:26:21.

In the marathon race, Kelai John Ekiru of Kenya won the title with a moderate time of 2:21:49. Abebe Tekalegn Tebelu of Ethiopia and Chelimo Vincent of Uganda finsihed second and third respectively.

The Qianjiang marathon is a first for the central Chinese city. Besides the 42.195km marathon and a half marathon, an 8km healthy run is also included in the race.

Ms. Wang from Hubei and her eight-year-old son ran a healthy run together. "The perseverance conveyed by the marathon is our motivation, and we like to run with our children in our spare time. Marathon is my precious precious time for my children."

The event, which is one of a series of marathon races dubbed "Running China", is held in Qianjiang Fanan Lake Wetland which known as "migratory bird paradise". Enditem