13th International Jerusalem Marathon Winner

11th March 2024 Some 40,000 runners participated today in the 13th International Jerusalem Winner Marathon, held this year as a tribute and in solidarity with the IDF, security and rescue forces. The winner of the 13th Jerusalem Winner Marathon is: Melkamu Jember 33 years old from Israel, with a time of 2:35:39, Friday, March 8, 2024, the 13th International Jerusalem Winner Marathon took place in the city. An All-time record: Some 40,000 participants, including 15,000 IDF soldiers in reserve and regular service, members of security and rescue forces, and 1,800 international runners, took part in the breathtaking marathon track that passed through 3,000 years of history landmarks, among them by the Knesset, along the walls of the Old City, Sultan's Pool, Mishkenot Sha'ananim, Mount Zion, the German Colony, Rehavia, the Path of the Prophets, Mount Scopus, Sakrah Park, Mount of Olives, and other sites. Alongside many runners, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion also participated this year, running with the chest number 10 in the 5 km race, together with his coach, Izhak Vexler, who was injured in battles in the Gaza Strip Moshe Lion Mayor of Jerusalem said today at the race, "Since its establishment, the Jerusalem Winner Marathon has become one of the most experiential and professional sports events for every athlete in Israel and around the world. I am proud that we broke the all-time record for the number of participants in the marathon and successfully held it, especially during this time. I am even more proud that it took place as a tribute and solidarity with the IDF and the security and rescue forces. Thanks to the thousands of IDF soldiers in the reserves and regular service and to the runners from the security and rescue forces who came to participate in the country's largest sports event in the capital of Israel. We all hope for the swift return of all the captives to their homes and families, and for the speedy recovery of all our soldiers on the front lines. See you at the next marathon in March 2025." The winner of the Jerusalem Winner Marathon is: Melkamu Jember at the age of 33, with a time of 2:35:39. Second place went to Nega Mekete at the age of 36, with a time of 2:41:33 Third place went to Yotam Kaplan at the age of 31 from Israel with a time of  2:43:38 On International Women's Day, and in the women's race, Noah Berkman from Israel won first place with a time of 2:55:42. Second place was awarded to Elena Tolstykh from Russia with a time of 2:58:22. The International Jerusalem Winner Marathon includes six categories: Full Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.1 km), 10 km Race, 5 km Race, Family Race of 1.7 km, and the unique Communities Race for the Jerusalem Marathon. The first-place winner in the Full Marathon category received a prize of $3,750, the second-place winner received $2,500, and the third-place winner received $1,250. Events that took place: On 8th March at 06:15 minutes before the start of the half-marathon, runners have unfolded a giant Israeli flag, measuring 300 square meters, in the starting area, as a symbolic act at the start line. precisely at 6:29 AM, the same time the sirens sounded on October 7th, DJ Yarin Alouf ("Artifacts") has opened the Jerusalem Winner Marathon events with a special session, a music session that was featured at the pre-race party. At 6:45 AM, Mayor Moshe Lion, along with Jessica Alter, partner of the late Ben Shemoni, a Jerusalem resident murdered in the Nova Party, kicked off the half-marathon from the Clock Square in Jerusalem. At 7:00 AM, Mayor Lion has initiated the full marathon alongside Mia and Gabriela Leimberg also Jerusalem residents released after 53 days in Hamas captivity. At 7:30 AM, the first wave of the 5K run will start, followed by the second wave at 7:45 AM, featuring thousands of participants, including Mayor Moshe Lion together with his coach, Itzik Waxler, who was injured during the war in an encounter with terrorists between the Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahia in the Gaza Strip Also, 400 fighters from the "Okez" unit, led by the unit commander, are running in this race, in memory of Sergeant Arie Ziring, may he rest in peace, an intelligence officer in the "Okez" unit, who fell in battles in the Gaza envelope on October 7th. In honor of International Women's Day today, these starting points were inaugurated by Dr. Shir Malka Shabbat, a physician in the rehabilitation department at Hadassah Ein Kerem; Ariella Rajuan, Deputy Director and Head of the Culture, Society, and Sports Department at the Jerusalem Municipality; Liat Pitro-Emon, Director of the Sports Division at the Municipality; and Kinneret Tzadok, CEO of the Hapoel Center. At 8:30 AM, a special 800-meter social run will take place, promoting social awareness, with participants including marathon runner Or Shizaf, a marathon runner, who fought in the Gaza Envelop on Oct. 7th and was injured in December in his hands and legs during an encounter with terrorists in the Khan Yunis area. Or is the presenter of the 13th Jerusalem Winner Marathon's Saucony shoe, having faced challenges and injuries in the line of duty. At 9:15 AM, the first heat of the 10K run will commence, followed by the second heat at 9:30 AM. This year, due to the record number of registrations, a third heat will start at 10:00 AM, involving around 13,000 runners. The 10K run will also feature the family and friends of Staff Sergeant Roee Weiser, a Golani soldier who fell on October 7th. The marathon team of Bari, consisting of 12 participants, will run in memory of their teammate Hagi Avni, who was killed in Gaza. Additionally, the triathlon team from the Gaza Envelope communities, including Kfar Azza, Nir Oz, Eshkol, Sha'ar Hanegev, and Hof Ashkelon, will run in memory of their teammate Nadav Goldstein, who was murdered in Gaza. The Jerusalem Winner Marathon is organized by the Jerusalem Municipality, in collaboration with the Jerusalem Development Authority, and with the support and assistance of the Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry, the Culture and Sports Ministry, and the Tourism Ministry, and is primarily sponsored by Toto Winner. Sportswear company "Saucony" is a partner in the event and markets the official Winner Jerusalem Marathon running shoe and official race shirt. Additional sponsors for the marathon include Hapoel Center, Eldan, Cinema City, Riedman College, and Bezeq Business. The marathon was produced by "Electra Targat." The marathon official name is Jerusalem Winner Marathon Photo credits follow: Photo credit: Alternativa 1 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zbdrhjotp7oxeakklh3yq/.mp4?rlkey=cxs2ufv5alhaqcotl3shttuyo&dl=0 At precisely 6:29 AM, the same time the sirens sounded on October 7th, DJ Yarin Alouf ("Artifacts") opened the Jerusalem Marathon events with a special music session that was featured at the pre-race party Photo credit: Alternativa 1 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4pkz5ba3utu2jjpr843xf/2.mp4?rlkey=p5xesm39liigttor6d0v4ifpz&dl=0 Drone photography: Minutes before the start of the half-marathon, the runners will unfurl a giant Israeli flag, measuring 300-square-meters, in the starting area, as a symbolic act at the start line Photo credit: Alternativa 1 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h48eds6d47rlfpzoml5z2/.mp4?rlkey=vu831gdw36ol3ppbdj3hdlynt&dl=0 Photo Credit: still: sport photography Drone: Alternativa1 "The photos will be updated regularly at the following link: https://www.sportphotography.co.il/jerusalem_winner_marathon_24/press About Israel: Whether road trips, city trips, swimming, wellness, active and cultural trips, rental car tours or family vacations, the Israeli State Tourist Office provides information about the various regions, cities, and sights in the Holy Land. 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