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The 2023 Shaoxing Marathon commences with the firing of the starting gun on Nov 26. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

The 2023 Shaoxing Marathon witnessed an impressive feat as 14 participants shattered event record on Nov 26.

This edition of the marathon, recognized as a gold event by the Chinese Athletics Association and an elite label event by World Athletics, featured full and half marathons, along with a mini run.

The event attracted competitors from 14 countries and regions, including China, Japan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the United States, with a total of 25,000 participants.

In the men's full marathon, Chinese runner Xu Wenhao dominated the course, crossing the finish line in an impressive 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 39 seconds, surpassing formidable competitors from Kenya and Ethiopia. Amos Kiprotich Kiplagat from Kenya and Habtamu Girma Nagu from Ethiopia secured second and third places, respectively.

The women's marathon saw Nigist Muluneh Deste from Ethiopia claim the top spot with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 50 seconds.

A total of 14 athletes, comprising the top 4 men and top 5 women in the full marathon, broke the event records.

According to the organizers, the completion rate for the half marathon reached an impressive 99.4 percent, while the marathon completion rate stood at 97.91 percent, with a remarkable 543 individuals achieving a net personal best.

Each participant received a snack voucher and a bottle of commemorative yellow rice wine from the organizing committee. This gesture aimed to invite the athletes to savor the culinary delights and experience the rich yellow rice wine culture of Shaoxing.