2024 Liupanshui Marathon kicks off in Guizhou

The marathon attracts runners from home and abroad. [Photo by Luo Siyang/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2024 Liupanshui Marathon kicked off in Liupanshui, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Aug 4.

This year, the marathon attracted a record high of 63,375 applications, 32,000 of whom secured spots, including 15,000 participants from outside the province and 25 athletes from nine countries and regions such as Canada, France, the United States, and Eritrea.

The event featured four categories: marathon (42.195 kilometers), half marathon (21.0975 km), fitness run (12 km), and fun run (5 km).

After intense competition, Kenyan runner Kibet Paul crossed the finish line first in 2:14:51, claiming the men's full marathon championship, while Ethiopian runner Bekele Burtukan Yifru won the women's full marathon championship with a time of 2:35:29.

In the half marathon category, Kenyan runner Mweti Fredrick Mwingirwa won the men's group in 1:6:24, while Liupanshui athlete Liu Min clinched the women's group in 1:16:37, both setting new event records.

On the day of the event, free shuttle buses were available from three stations to the starting and finishing points, along with 300 cars providing free transportation.

Special trains were also arranged for runners from cities like Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Guiyang. After the race, 100 medical staff members and 140 volunteers provided recovery services for the runners.