Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon

Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon

The course passes Yangzhou's Wenchang Pavilion
Date April
Location Yangzhou, China
Event type road
Distance Half marathon
Established 2006
Official site Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon

The Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon (Chinese: 扬州鉴真国际半程马拉松赛) is an annual road running competition over the half marathon distance 21.0975 kilometres (13.1094 mi) which takes place in April in Yangzhou, People's Republic of China.

The event is named in honour of Jianzhen, a Chinese monk from the city who propagated Buddhism in Japan in the 8th century.[1] The event was first held in 2006 and grew exponentially in its first six years: it gained IAAF Silver Label Road Race status in 2010 and began to attract elite and amateur runners alike.[2] Almost 3000 runners finished the half marathon in 2011,[3] while the introduction of a 10K fun run that year saw 25,000 runners take part in the day's event. The race is predominantly Chinese, although 230 foreign athletes were present in 2011.[4]

The very flat, point-to-point course is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.[5] The city-centre course begins and ends at the Stadium of Yangzhou Sport Center and passes many of the city's landmarks, including the Wenchang Pavilion, Daming Temple and the Yangzhou Museum.[6]

The 2009 Boston Marathon winner Deriba Merga holds the men's course record of 1:01:10 (set in 2011), while Zhou Chunxiu is the women's record holder, with her winning time of 1:08:59 from 2008.

Past winners

Key:       Course record

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 2006  Li Rongtian (CHN) 1:05:53  Ruth Wanjiru (KEN) 1:13:42
2nd 2007  Cheng Tao (CHN) 1:03:23  Zhu Xiaolin (CHN) 1:13:25
3rd 2008  Zhao Ran (CHN) 1:02:57  Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) 1:08:59
4th 2009  John Wambua Musyoki (KEN) 1:02:00  Zhang Yingying (CHN) 1:11:01
5th 2010  Ahmed Baday (MAR) 1:01:48  Nina Rillstone (NZL) 1:11:18
6th 2011  Deriba Merga (ETH) 1:01:10  Mare Dibaba (ETH) 1:09:41

References

  1. ^ Cross, Brian (2010-04-24). Nina Rillstone of New Zealand Wins Half Marathon in China. Suite 101. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  2. ^ Jalava, Mirko (2011-04-25). Merga and Dibaba sweep for Ethiopia in Yangzhou. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  3. ^ 2011 Half Marathon results. YZMLS. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  4. ^ Sun Xiaochen (2011-04-25). Ethiopians dominate Yangzhou race. China Daily. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  5. ^ International Measurement Certificate. YZMLS. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  6. ^ 2009 Yangzhou China Jianzhen International Half-Marathon 第四屆中國揚州鑒真國際馬拉松(半程). Hong Kong Runners. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.

External links