The 2024 Shanghai Marathon, China’s sole Candidate Race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors, took place on December 1. The event began at 6:45 a.m. with the Wheelchair Marathon, where 12 athletes started under the signal of Tang Yan, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation. The main marathon followed at 7:00 a.m., launched by Mayor Gong Zheng, who unveiled the year’s marathon route.
Elite Performances Highlight the Event
Featuring 27 international elites and 20 top Chinese athletes, the competition reached new heights. Eritrea’s Samsom Amare won the men’s race in 2:06:26, followed by Titus Kipruto and Solomon Kirwa. Ethiopia’s Bekelech Gudeta Borecha took the women’s title in 2:25:21, with Sisay Meseret Gola and Tejitu Siyum placing second and third.
Among Chinese athletes, Wu Xiangdong set a personal best of 2:09:31 to win the men’s title, with Jia E'renjia and Yang Kegu completing the podium. Zhang Deshun triumphed in the women’s race at 2:26:39, ahead of Zhang Xinyan and Yao Miao. In the wheelchair race, Luo Xingchuan (1:32:09) and Chen Xiaochun (1:51:25) secured victories in the men’s and women’s divisions.
The race concluded after 6 hours and 15 minutes, with an impressive 98.24% completion rate reported.