体坛英语新闻：40,000 runners race at the annual Tel Aviv Marathon

JERUSALEM, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Abround 37,500 Israelis and 2,500 international runners from over 60 countries and regions on Friday participated in the Israel's biggest sporting event of the year, Tel Aviv Marathon 2019.

Marathon winner was Demi Samuel Getachew from Ethiopia with the winning time of two hours 14 minutes and 30 seconds, while the world record is two hours one minute and 39 seconds.

A large delegation of elite international runners failed their attempt this year, to break the local marathon record which was set in 2015 by William Kiprono Yangon from Kenya, at a time of 2:10:30.

Except for Israel, the runners came from China, Germany, Poland, Russia, the United States, Britain, Italy, France and more.

The participants ran 42.2 kilometers route through many of the city's most celebrated neighborhoods, including Sarona Market, Rabin Square, and Old Jaffa which considered as one of the most ancient port cities of the world.

The route also took runners along the white sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, with sunny weather and around 100,000 spectators along the way.

Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo said on Friday, "the Marathon, currently celebrating its 11th year, has become an acclaimed international event, standing in line with the great marathons in the world."

The annual sport events also included 5-kilometer race, 10-kilometer race, semi-marathon and hand-cycle race with both professional and amateur participants in all the ages. Enditem