Gyeongju International Marathon

The Gyeongju International Marathon is an annual road running event over the marathon distance (42.195 km) which takes place in mid-October in Gyeongju, South Korea. It gained IAAF Silver Label Road Race status in 2010.[1][2]

Gyeongju International Marathon
The Gyeongju Public Stadium in Hwangseong Park is the finishing point of the race
DateMid-October
LocationGyeongju, South Korea South Korea
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Primary sponsorThe Dong-a Ilbo
Established1993/2006
Course recordsMen's: 2:06:46 (2012)
Kenya Wilson Loyanae
Women's: 2:31:21 (2008)
South Korea Yun Sun-suk
Official siteGyeongju Marathon

First held in 1993, the event began as an amateur competition for the city's residents and club-level runners. By 1999, over 10,000 runners took part in the day's event on an annual basis.[3] After an initial incorporation of an international race in the mid-1990s, the race again reverted to being a national Korean competition due to financial constraints. The race was moved to Seoul in 2000 but the Gyeongju marathon re-emerged in 2006 and elite foreign runners returned to the city the following year.[4]

The competition now features an international elite-level marathon race for both men and women, as well as amateur fun run events over the half marathon, 10K and 5K distances.[5] The event is one of a series of races in the country (alongside the Baekje Marathon and Seoul International Marathon) which are sponsored by The Dong-a Ilbo, a Korean daily broadsheet.[6] The competition is one of two annual road running festivals in the city, the other being the Gyeongjyu Cherry Blossom Marathon which is held in April when the trees come into blossom.[7]

The course of the marathon begins in Hwangseong Park and ends on the running track of the Gyeongju Public Stadium within the park.[5] The men's course record for the marathon is 2:08:52, which was set by Yemane Tsegay in 2008, while the women's record is held by national runner Yun Sun-suk, whose mark of 2:31:21 was set in 2007.

Past winners

Key:   Course record

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 2007  Edwin Komen (KEN) 2:09:44  Yun Sun-suk (KOR) 2:35:53
2nd 2008  Sylvester Teimet (KEN) 2:09:53  Yun Sun-suk (KOR) 2:31:21
3rd 2009  Yemane Tsegay (ETH) 2:08:52  Kim Young-jin (KOR) 2:46:42
4th 2010  Dejene Yirdaw (ETH) 2:09:13  Chung Yun-hee (KOR) 2:32:09
5th[8] 2011  Wilson Loyanae (KEN) 2:09:23  Lim Kyung-hee (KOR) 2:38:21
6th[9] 2012  Wilson Loyanae (KEN) 2:06:46  Choi Bo-ra (KOR) 2:42:20
7th 2013  Joel Kemboi (KEN) 2:07:48  Choi Bo-ra (KOR) 2:42:40
8th 2014  Silas Cheboit (KEN) 2:07:15  Lim Kyung-hee (KOR) 2:39:56
9th 2015  Wilson Loyanae (KEN) 2:07:01  Lee Sook-jung (KOR) 2:39:21
10th 2016  Filex Kiprotich (KEN) 2:06:58  Kang Su-jung (KOR) 2:45:57
11th 2017  Filex Kiprotich (KEN) 2:06:54  Lee Sook-jung (KOR) 2:39:59
12th 2018  Kennedy Cheboror (KEN) 2:08:26  Lee Sook-jung (KOR) 2:36:44
13th 2019  Kennedy Cheboror (KEN) 2:08:23  Baek Sun-jung (KOR) 2:42:58
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak

References
  1. IAAF Road Race Label Events. IAAF (2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  2. Jalava, Mirko (2010-10-17). Yirdaw takes 2:09:13 victory at Gyeongju International Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  3. 2006 Dong-A Marathon Opens in Gyeongju. The Dong-a Ilbo (2006-10-25). Retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  4. Kenyan Marathoners Sweep Gyeongju Marathon. The Dong-a Ilbo (2007-10-22). Retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  5. Dong-A Ilbo 2010 Gyeongju International Marathon Information. Gyeongju International Marathon. Retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  6. 50-Years-Old Marathoner Seizes Dong-A Best Runner’s Award . The Dong-a Ilbo (2007-12-15). Retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  7. Gyeongjyu Cherry Blossom Marathon Race Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine. GCB Marathon. Retrieved on 2010-10-17.
  8. Jalava, Mirko (2011-10-16). Loyanai leads Kenyan sweep in Gyeongju. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-10-17.
  9. Jalava, Mirko (2012-10-21). Loyanai sizzles 2:06:46 course record in Gyeongju. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-10-31.
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