A Chinese language marathoner was shocked as he crossed the end line on the 2023 Hangzhou Marathon in China on Sunday, discovering that he received the race after the Kenyan runner, who was within the lead, dropped out resulting from hypothermia at 25K.
Wang Hongwei of Zhengzhou, China, received the race in 2:15:03, in a dash end forward of former Hangzhou Marathon champion Su Guoxiong and Ethiopia’s Belete Mekonen. Hongwei instructed native reporters he was in disbelief after considering he was in second place till late within the race.
杭州马拉松，原本遥遥领先的外籍选手后来身体不适退赛，中国选手第一名冲线！#marathon #Chinese language #hangzhou #winner #champion #chilly pic.twitter.com/AGj4VsTxyw
— Blueberry TV (@BlueberryTV3) December 17, 2023
The Kenyan runner, who had a considerable lead of a kilometre across the midway mark, started experiencing signs of hypothermia. Sadly, by the 25-kilometre level, he collapsed close to Hangzhou’s Xixing Bridge, needing fast medical consideration which led to his withdrawal.
The race witnessed the coldest situations in its 36-year historical past, with temperatures reaching -1 C at 7:30 a.m., considerably decrease than the seasonal common temperature of 8 C in Hangzhou this time of yr. The marathon was initially scheduled for Nov. 19, however was postponed by a month to Dec. 17 resulting from course building.
Hongwei, taking part in solely the third marathon of his profession, broke the tape in a shock win amidst sub-zero temperatures. Remarkably, this was his third marathon within the final three months, with earlier races in Beijing and Hengshui in September and October. Hongwei holds a private greatest of two:12:39 from the 2023 Beijing Marathon, the place he completed eleventh total.
The Hangzhou Marathon, acknowledged as one in all 23 World Athletics Gold Label highway races, attracted an enormous subject of 36,000 members. The occasion comprised 20,000 members for the marathon, 12,000 for the half marathon, and 4,000 for the enjoyable run, making it a big race on the worldwide and Chinese language home marathon calendar.
