"MA RA TH ON" virtual team relay engages 106,000 runners worldwide

File Photo: Athletes race at 2020 Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles, the United States, March 8, 2020. (Stringer/Xinhua)

The "MA RA TH ON" virtual team relay last weekend attracted 106,431 runners worldwide, including some of the world's best runners including Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, according to figures published by World Athletics. In the virtual race organized by the NN Running Team and Maurten amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, each individual runner was required to complete a 10.5km run, with each team of four completing a full marathon.

Participants from more than 100 countries and regions across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania covered a total of 844,867 kilometers, with Kenya's world half-marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor being the fastest to finish in 30 minutes and 08 seconds.

Kipchoge, randomly assigned to team up with three Brazilian amateur runners, finished in 31:28.

"Today I ran for my Brazilian team," the marathon icon said on social media. "But together we have all run as one. Runners from all over the world have joined us and showed how ours is a running world."

Three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele completed his leg in 32:57 at an altitude of 2,770m. His compatriot Ashete Bekere was the quickest female runner, clocking the distance in 34:15.