Shanghai Marathon sets a new course record as it chases a major dream

On Sunday morning, over 23,000 runners embarked from the Bund, experiencing Shanghai's vibrant atmosphere along the 42.195-kilometer course. As China's only World Athletics Platinum Label event and a World Marathon Majors candidate, this year's Shanghai Marathon set a new course record.

Ethiopian runner Miklesa Mengesha finished first with a time of 2:06:25. Chinese runner Feng Peiyou claimed the national men's title with 2:08:35, breaking the domestic men's course record.

"As a Platinum Label event, the Shanghai Marathon attracts top-tier athletes, making it ideal for achieving good results. The participation of international runners pushes Chinese athletes to perform better," Feng said. He expressed optimism about the race's marathon majors bid, noting that it would attract more high-level foreign runners, enhancing the overall quality of domestic races.