New Taipei, March 20 (CNA) Kenyan runner Felix Kimutai finished first at the 2022 New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon on Sunday, winning the men's race in two hours, 18 minutes, and 24 seconds, according to the organizer's official website.
Meanwhile, Motu Megersa Gedefa of Ethiopia was crowned champion in the women race, clocking two hours, 49 minutes and 17 seconds.
Taiwanese runners Chou Ting-yin (周庭印) and Joymei Lee (李佳玫) were the fastest male and female local runners, respectively, with Chou finishing in two hours, 31 minutes and 41 seconds while Lee recorded two hours, 57 minutes and 55 seconds.
The event included the full 42.195-kilometer marathon and a 10K run, with around 9,800 participants, including 89 runners from 20 countries, organizers said.
All of the international participants that came to Taiwan for the race had to complete 14-days in quarantine and a 7 days of self-health management before providing a negative COVID-19 result, the organizers said.
The 2022 event is the first time in two years that the marathon saw international athletes come to Taiwan to participate, as the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, all 12 invited international athletes granted special permission to come to Taiwan by Central Epidemic Command Center were put under quarantine and unable to run after one of them tested positive for the disease before the event.
The race, which was held for the 20th time this year, features a route that stretches along the coastal road through Wanli, Jinshan, and Shimen districts of New Taipei.
