2024 Chengdu Marathon held, Ethiopian runners broke race record

On the morning of October 27, 2024, the Chengdu Marathon kicked off with participants from 55 countries and regions.

Ethiopian runner Ababel Yeshaneh emerged victorious in the men’s marathon, completing the race in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 55 seconds, setting a new record for the event. The women’s marathon champion was Kenya’s Angela Cherriot, who finished with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 12 seconds.

This year, the Chengdu Marathon has been upgraded to a World Athletics Gold Label event. Additionally, Chengdu has secured hosting rights for both the East Asian Half Marathon Championships and the National Half Marathon Championships (the fifth leg), marking an achievement of “three events in one” that elevated the competitive level of the races.

The marathon featured a starting line at the Sanxingdui Museum, with the half marathon concluding at Sichuan University, which boasts over a century of history. The full marathon finished at the Chengdu Century City New International Conference and Exhibition Center.

In the second East Asian Half Marathon Championships, Chinese runner Jiang Fakun, Mongolia’s Gantuulga Dambadarjaa, and another Chinese athlete, Zhashi Ciren, took the top three spots in the men’s division. The women’s division saw Chinese athletes Tsering Zom, Zhang Deshun, and Li Yingcui sweep the top three positions.

Statistics reveal that in the lead-up to the Chengdu Marathon, flight bookings to the city increased by over 60% year-on-year, while hotel bookings doubled, and ticket sales for local attractions surged by 365%. To enhance the experience for runners, the Chengdu Marathon collaborated with 13 A-level tourist attractions in the city, offering free entry for participants before and after the race.