First Shanghai Bay Half Marathon concludes

The first-ever Shanghai Bay Half Marathon was successfully held in Shanghai's Jinshan district on Sunday, attracting 4,857 participants from 18 countries and regions, including 3,495 half-marathon runners and 1,362 family fun-run participants, with 16.4 percent from Jinshan district.

Kenya's Gathingi Nahashon Ndegwa won the men's title in 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 15 seconds. Sarah Jelagat Keino, also from Kenya, claimed the women's championship in 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 27 seconds. Chinese runners Zhou Xia and Chang Miaomiao took second and third place in the women's race.

As Jinshan district's first high-level independent half-marathon, this event, themed "Beautiful Bay, Joyful Run in Jinshan," started at the 43-year-old Shanghai Seaside Park. The 21.0975-kilometer race route passed through iconic landmarks, such as Jinshan City Beach and Jinshanzui Fishing Village, blending industrial relics, fishing culture, and the natural scenery of the 13-kilometer coastal corridor of the northern Hangzhou Bay.

The event strictly adhered to the standards of World Athletics and the Chinese Athletics Association, with 10 timing checkpoints and a comprehensive medical rescue system along the entire route. A total of 20 aid stations were set up to provide standardized supplies such as sports drinks and bananas. Fifty official pacers and emergency runners accompanied the participants throughout, while over 2,000 personnel, including police, medical staff and volunteers, formed a support network.

Pan Enhua, deputy governor of Jinshan district, said that this marathon not only promotes the spirit of challenging oneself among running enthusiasts but also showcases the local culture and reflects the city's development.

"We want to meet the public's demand for diverse, local sports events and encourage more people to engage in physical exercise," said Ji Lei, deputy director of the Jinshan District Sports Bureau.

"We also aim to create a sports-tourism consumption chain. We hope to attract more tourists and participants to Jinshan. This event is also an effort to enhance Jinshan's reputation and influence by hosting more high-quality sports events," Ji added.