On December 3, 2023, the XTEP Jinjiang Marathon kicked off with the marathon mania sweeping the city. 15,000 runners from 15 countries including China, Kenya, Ethiopia, France, Malaysia, Singapore, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, Thailand, Mongolia, etc. ran side by side on the “most beautiful marathon course”, enjoying the picturesque landscape of Jinjiang while experiencing the profound history and culture of southern Fujian.
After a competition of endurance, Dejene Chernet Hailye from Ethiopia collected full marathon men’s championship with a gun time of 2:15:36, setting a new event record. Xu Bingjie from China secured full marathon women’s championship with a gun time of 2:38:16. Li Zhengyue and Huang Xuemei from China won half-marathon men’s championship and half-marathon women’s championship respectively.
As marathoners ran on the course along the Maritime Silk Road, they were also exploring the world cultural heritage along the major course that wound through city landmarks of Jinjiang Sports Center, Wanda Plaza, Jinjiang Cultural Center, Jinjiang Experience Hall, Jinjiang Football Training Center, Cao’an Temple, Anping Bridge and etc.. Before the start of the race, Xu Jinhang, the 2023 XTEP Jinjiang Marathon ambassador sang this year’s theme song It’s Really Nice Here on site while an array of performances such as lion dance, cheer dance and Gaojia opera were also presented to ignite the enthusiasm of runners.
Jinjiang marathon set the city astir. On the course were runners from all over the world, including the Jinjiang Marathoners Alliance whose appearance made the race all the more exhilarating. In the alliance, the Running Teams of Overseas Chinese Businessmen consisting of 12 teams and nearly 200 Jinjiang compatriots home and abroad became the most eye-catching scene on the marathon course this year.
This year’s Jinjiang Marathon was a spectacular gala seething with warmth. At the venue, the little volunteer girls dressed in Nyonya costume were particularly eye-catching. Their cheers and encouragement kindled the enthusiasm and enriched the experience of marathoners. Traditional local music of Suoluolian and modern bands performance were all presented on the same stage to cheer for the runners. The warmth of the gala can also be found in a 77 year old runner who with persistent running displayed his deep affection for marathon and for Jinjiang, his hometown, as well as in a runner from Anhui Province who celebrated a special birthday amid the cheers of the crowd.
According to statistics, the applicants for Jinjiang Marathon this year amounted to 15,000. Among them were 4,000 runners participating in full marathon, 5,000 in half marathon, and 6,000 in health run. In addition, the organizing committee of the 2023 Jinjiang Marathon invited some high-level marathoners home and abroad, most of whom were born in the 1990s with a maximum age of 38 and a minimum age of 19.
From 2016 to 2019, Jinjiang Marathon made great leaps year by year, scoring substantial achievements in both scale and effects. With sound operations, excellent organization, increasing popularity and growing impacts, it has been hailed as one of the prestigious marathons in China, receiving multiple honors such as the “CAA Road Race Gold Label”“CAA Natural and Ecological Competition” and “CAA Ethnic and Folk Competition”.