Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon

Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon
The course passes Yangzhou's Wenchang Pavilion
DateApril
LocationYangzhou, China
Event typeroad
DistanceHalf marathon
Established2006
Course recordsMen's: 59:31 (2025)
Kenya Alex Nzioka Matata
Women's: 1:07:05 (2025)
Kenya Catherine Amanang'ole
Official sitehttps://www.yzmls.com

The Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon (Chinese: 扬州鉴真国际半程马拉松赛) is an annual road running competition over the half marathon distance 21.0975 kilometres (13.1094 mi) which takes place in April in Yangzhou, People's Republic of China.

The event is named in honour of Jianzhen, a Chinese monk from the city who propagated Buddhism in Japan in the 8th century.[1] The event was first held in 2006 and grew exponentially in its first six years: it gained IAAF Silver Label Road Race status in 2010 and began to attract elite and amateur runners alike.[2] Almost 3000 runners finished the half marathon in 2011,[3] while the introduction of a 10K fun run that year saw 25,000 runners take part in the day's event. The race is predominantly Chinese, although 230 foreign athletes were present in 2011.[4] East African athletes typically occupy the higher places in the elite races.[5]

The very flat, point-to-point course is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.[6] The city-centre course begins and ends at the Stadium of Yangzhou Sport Center and passes many of the city's landmarks, including the Wenchang Pavilion, Daming Temple and the Yangzhou Museum.[7]

The current men's course record is 00:59:31 by Alex Nzioka Matata in 2025. The women's course record is 1:07:05 by Catherine Amanang'ole in 2025. [8]

Past winners

Key:   Course record

Zhou Chunxiu, the 2008 winner and a former women's course record holder.
Edition Date Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 27 May 2006  Li Rongtian (CHN) 1:05:53  Ruth Wanjiru (KEN) 1:13:42
2nd 28 Apr 2007  Cheng Tao (CHN) 1:03:23  Zhu Xiaolin (CHN) 1:13:25
3rd 06 Apr 2008  Zhao Ran (CHN) 1:02:57  Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) 1:08:59
4th 26 Apr 2009  John Musyoki (KEN) 1:02:00  Zhang Yingying (CHN) 1:11:01
5th 25 Apr 2010  Ahmed Baday (MAR) 1:01:48  Nina Rillstone (NZL) 1:11:18
6th 24 Apr 2011  Deriba Merga (ETH) 1:01:10  Mare Dibaba (ETH) 1:09:41
7th 29 Apr 2012  Ayele Abshero (ETH) 1:01:11  Philes Ongori (KEN) 1:11:07
8th 21 Apr 2013[9]  Yacob Jarso (ETH) 1:00:39  Worknesh Degefa (ETH) 1:08:43
9th 20 Apr 2014[10]  Nguse Tesfaldet (ERI) 1:00:08  Gladys Cherono (KEN) 1:08:16
10th 19 Apr 2015  Mosinet Geremew (ETH) 59:52  Flomena Cheyech (KEN) 1:08:36
11th 24 Apr 2016[11]  Mosinet Geremew (ETH) 1:00:43  Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 1:07:21
12th 23 Apr 2017  Mosinet Geremew (ETH) 1:00:56  Sutume Asefa (ETH) 1:10:30
13th 22 Apr 2018  Mosinet Geremew (ETH) 1:01:31  Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 1:09:06
14th 21 Apr 2019  Berehanu Tsegu (ETH) 59:56  Perine Nengampi (KEN) 1:08:04
15th 8 Nov 2020 (cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)[12]
16th 7 Nov 2021 (cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)[13]
17th 3 Nov 2022 (cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)[14]
18th 16 Apr 2023[15]  Gerba Dibaba (ETH) 1:00:51  Beyenu Degefa (ETH) 1:09:54
19th 31 Mar 2024[16]  Edward Konana Koonyo (KEN) 1:00:07  Maurine Jemutai (KEN) 1:07:19
20th 30 Mar 2025[8]  Alex Nzioka Matata (KEN) 59:31  Catherine Amanang'ole (KEN) 1:07:05

See also

References

  1. ^ Cross, Brian (2010-04-24). Nina Rillstone of New Zealand Wins Half Marathon in China. Suite 101. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  2. ^ Jalava, Mirko (2011-04-25). Merga and Dibaba sweep for Ethiopia in Yangzhou. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  3. ^ 2011 Half Marathon results. YZMLS. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  4. ^ Sun Xiaochen (2011-04-25). Ethiopians dominate Yangzhou race. China Daily. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  5. ^ Jalava, Mirko (2012-04-30). Abshero and Ongori take Half Marathon victories in Yangzhou. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-05-03.
  6. ^ International Measurement Certificate. YZMLS. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  7. ^ 2009 Yangzhou China Jianzhen International Half-Marathon 第四屆中國揚州鑒真國際馬拉松(半程) Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. Hong Kong Runners. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  8. ^ a b Yangzhou Jianzhen Half Marathon Yangzhou (CHN) 30 MAR 2025. World Athletics (IAAF). Retrieved on 2025-12-30.
  9. ^ Jalava, Mirko (2013-04-21). Ethiopian double in Yangzhou. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-04-22.
  10. ^ Course records smashed in Yangzhou Archived 2014-04-21 at the Wayback Machine World Running, 20 April 2014
  11. ^ Wu, Vincent (2016-04-24). World champion Jepchirchir sets course record at Yangzhou Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-24.
  12. ^ Originally scheduled on 12 April but delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic
  13. ^ event was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
  14. ^ World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Yangzhou 22 has been cancelled. World Athletics (IAAF). Retrieved on 2025-12-30.
  15. ^ Yangzhou Jianzhen Half Marathon Yangzhou (CHN) 16 APR 2023. World Athletics (IAAF). Retrieved on 2025-12-30.
  16. ^ Yangzhou Jianzhen Half Marathon Yangzhou (CHN) 31 MAR 2024. World Athletics (IAAF). Retrieved on 2025-12-30.

32°23′27″N 119°21′55″E / 32.39083°N 119.36528°E / 32.39083; 119.36528

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