Record 28,000 runners brave cold at Taipei Marathon

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Despite chilly early morning temperatures at 11.3 degrees Celsius, the Taipei Marathon began on Sunday (Dec. 17) with a record-breaking turnout of approximately 28,000 runners. Among them, an 80-year-old athlete stood out as the oldest competitor this year.

Ethiopian runners, Dechasa Alemu Moreda and Obse Abdeta Deme, claimed victory in the men's and women's marathon categories, clocking in at two hours, 11 minutes, 56 seconds, and two hours, 27 minutes, 12 seconds, respectively.

Taiwanese runners Chiang Chieh-wen and Chen I-ning secured the national titles, achieving finishing times of two hours, 22 minutes, 29 seconds, and two hours, 56 minutes, 37 seconds in their respective categories.

This year's marathon set multiple records, including participation from 62 nations and nearly 30,000 entrants, making it the largest ever.

Kenya's Lani Kiplagat Rutto, who narrowly missed the championship last year by 24 seconds, made a return but was unable to secure victory once more.