26,000 runners attend SCO marathon in Yunnan

The SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Kunming Marathon 2024 took place in central Yunnan’s Kunming city on December 29, inviting in 26,000 runners from 34 countries and regions who competed in the full marathon, the half marathon, an SCO race and a parent-child run.

The SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Kunming Marathon 2024 is held in central Yunnan’s Kunming city on December 29.

After fierce competition, Ethiopian Seboka Negusse Erre won the men's marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 51 seconds, and Weltej Yadeni Alemayehu, also an Ethiopian, won the women's marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 27 seconds.

Chinese runner Wang Chao secured the title for men's half marathon in 1 hour, 9 minutes and 26 seconds, and Wu Hongjiao, also a Chinese, finished the women's half marathon first in 1 hour, 21 minutes and 32 seconds.

 

Ethiopian Seboka Negusse Erre wins the men's marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 51 seconds.

  

Runners pose for photos after finishing the marathon.

 

The SCO Kunming Marathon 2024 is held in central Yunnan’s Kunming city on December 29.

Certified by the China Athletics Association, this year’s event is sponsored by the SCO Secretariat and Yunnan Provincial People's Government, and it is jointly hosted by Sports Bureau of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Foreign Affairs Office and Kunming Municipal Government.

The SCO marathon has been held in turn in the cities of the SCO members since its inception in 2016. Over the years, the event has emerged as a major platform for cultural exchanges among SCO member states, observer countries, dialogue partners and beyond.

 

Ethiopian Weltej Yadeni Alemayehu wins the women's marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 27 seconds.

 

Runners pose for photos after finishing the marathon.

 

Volunteers cheer the runners before the marathon.  

 

The SCO Kunming Marathon 2024 is held in central Yunnan’s Kunming city on December 29. 

Reporting by Shu Qian and Gao Wushuang; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue