Ethiopian runner sets new record at 2025 Shanghai Half Marathon

(ECNS) -- The 2025 Shanghai Half Marathon attracted about 15,000 runners from China and abroad on Sunday, with runners from Kenya and Ethiopia claiming champions in the men's and women's races, respectively.

Ethiopia's Ftaw Zeray finished first with 1:06:36, shattering the previous event record of 1:09:57.

Kenya's Roncer Kipkorir Konga, who claimed the champion of the 2024 edition, defended his title in the men's race with 1:01:07.

Chinese runners Wang Congzheng and Xu Shuangshuang claimed domestic champions in the men's and women's divisions, finishing in 1:03:21 and 1:11:07 respectively.

This year's Shanghai Half Marathon attracted unprecedented attention, with the pre-registration number surpassing 100,000 for the first time. A total of 325 foreign runners from over 20 countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, and Singapore, participated in the race. With a roughly 13 percent lottery rate, most of the successful applicants were aged between 36 and 45.

(By Gong Weiwei)