Ethiopia's Asfaw retains Shanghai marathon crown
By Bivash Mukherjee |
December 6, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon had a Greek connection this year with the mayor from the municipality of Marathon, Spyros Zagaris, joining in the activities yesterday.
Zagaris flew into Shanghai for Sunday's early morning event that attracted 22,000 competitors in all forms of the race.
Ethiopia's Gashaw Melese Asfaw retained the men's title for the third straight time with a time of 2 hours 11:36 seconds while the women's crown was taken by Russia's Nailya Yulamanova, who finished in 2:26:05 seconds.
This year's marathon also had a new route and covered both sides of the Huangpu River. Athletes started from Nanjing Road E. and crossed the river through the Fuxing Road tunnel and finished at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center near the Expo site.
Mayor Zagaris underscored the significance of this year's race which marks 2,500 years of the epic run of Phidippedes (490 BC). He brought with him the sacred Flame of the Marathon Tomb which is lit prior to the Athens Marathon in October every year. "This is part of our effort to associate marathon cities and foster ties," Zagaris said, while stressing that cities hosting marathons can expect greater local participation, increased environmental awareness, while boosting local economy.
He said Shanghai had an international character and a huge population and that is ideal to hold mass sports activities like marathon.
Zagaris flew into Shanghai for Sunday's early morning event that attracted 22,000 competitors in all forms of the race.
Ethiopia's Gashaw Melese Asfaw retained the men's title for the third straight time with a time of 2 hours 11:36 seconds while the women's crown was taken by Russia's Nailya Yulamanova, who finished in 2:26:05 seconds.
This year's marathon also had a new route and covered both sides of the Huangpu River. Athletes started from Nanjing Road E. and crossed the river through the Fuxing Road tunnel and finished at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center near the Expo site.
Mayor Zagaris underscored the significance of this year's race which marks 2,500 years of the epic run of Phidippedes (490 BC). He brought with him the sacred Flame of the Marathon Tomb which is lit prior to the Athens Marathon in October every year. "This is part of our effort to associate marathon cities and foster ties," Zagaris said, while stressing that cities hosting marathons can expect greater local participation, increased environmental awareness, while boosting local economy.
He said Shanghai had an international character and a huge population and that is ideal to hold mass sports activities like marathon.
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