The second edition of the Runkara Half Marathon took place in Ankara, attracting around 4,000 athletes from 46 countries. The event, held at the Başkent Millet Bahçesi, featured races in 21, 10, and 5-kilometer categories, while the “Color Sky 5K” run, held earlier, added a splash of vibrant color to the festivities.
THE race coincided with the 101st anniversary of Ankara becoming the capital of Türkiye, and the starting signal was given by Deputy Ministers of National Defense Alpaslan Kavaklıoğlu and Şuay Alpay, Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, and Ankara Youth and Sports Provincial Director Mustafa Çelik. The event also paid tribute to Victoria Vera Blyth, the late founder of Dazspor, the organization responsible for the race.
MEN’S RACE DOMINATED BY TURKISH ATHLETES
In the men’s 21-kilometer race, Turkish athletes dominated the top three spots. Hüseyin Can claimed victory with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 13 seconds. Ersin Tekal followed closely, finishing second in 1:07:26, while Azat Demirtaş secured third place with a time of 1:09:08.
KENYAN RUNNERS LEAD WOMEN’S RACE
In the women’s 21-kilometer race, Kenyan runner Daisy Jeptoo Kimeli crossed the finish line first, completing the course in 1:15:11. Fellow Kenyan Elida Jelimo Korir finished second with a time of 1:15:15, while Türkiye’s Derya Kunur took third place with a time of 1:24:32.
The 10-kilometer race saw Moroccan athlete Oussama Cherragui win in the men’s category, while Gamze Bulut Duvar took the title in the women’s division.
A COLORFUL RUN
A day prior to the marathon events, the “Color Sky 5K” run offered a visual treat, with participants covered in bursts of color throughout the course. Held in the Başkent Millet Bahçesi, the vibrant event added an element of fun to the weekend’s activities.
