2016 Jerusalem marathon (Canadian participant Allan Kagal)
Notwithstanding the ongoing wave of Palestinian terror, a record-setting 30,000 people from 62 countries participated in the sixth annual Jerusalem marathon.
Main roads closed for traffic Friday morning as the sixth annual Jerusalem Marathon weaved through the center of the Israeli capital and the cobblestone alleyways of the Old City.
A Kenyan runner, 25-year-old Kipkogey Shadrack, won this year’s race with a time of 2:16:33, the city stated.
Police said over a thousand officers secured the sporting event, which comes amid six months of near-daily Palestinian terror attacks on civilians and security forces.
Running towards the Old City in the 2016 Jerusalem Marathon. (Canadian participant Allan Kagal)
“Despite an elevated risk of terror attacks, a record-setting 30,000 people from 62 countries arrived at the startline of the annual Jerusalem Marathon, including Mayor Nir Barkat,” The Jerusalem Post reported, adding that the number of runners, according to Army Radio, was slightly higher than the previous record of 26,000 in 2015. Foreign participants numbered 2,400 — a new record for the event, which is taking place for the sixth consecutive year.
Barkat said that over 6,000 runners were running “to raise money for all sorts of social NGOs. That’s more than all of the sport, health and competition is a great mark of honor for the city of Jerusalem,” according to Arutz-7.
The municipality also launched an 800-meter course for children with special needs.
“Through the greatest of trials, Jerusalem does not cancel events,” Barkat stated. “It’s a part of our message. We will carry on as usual.”
By: United with Israel Staff and AP
