NANJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Boaz Kipkemei of Kenya and Ethiopia's Mestawut Fikir Truneh won the men's and women's races respectively at the 2025 Nanjing Marathon in east China's Jiangsu Province on Sunday.

Kipkemei clocked a winning time of two hours and 12 minutes. China's Li Zicheng finished second, 39 seconds behind, while Eritrea's Berhane Tsegay Tekle took third place.

"To be honest, I wasn't in great shape today, possibly because I've been training a bit too much recently, making my legs feel heavy," said Li, who ran a marathon in Nanjing for the third time. "I gave it my all in the last kilometer."

Ethiopian runners swept the women's podium. Truneh registered 2:24:10 to secure victory, just two seconds ahead of Kumeshi Sichala Deressa, while Anchalem Haymanote Wibineh placed third.

Zheng Xiaoqian finished fifth in 2:29:07, becoming the first Chinese female runner to cross the finish line.

Since its inception in 2015, the 2025 Nanjing Marathon made its debut as a World Athletics gold label road race, attracting a total of 194,802 applicants from 60 countries and regions. 24,000 runners participated in the race.

The route passed by many of Nanjing's landmarks, connecting the city's most representative natural and cultural sights and showcasing its blend of ancient and modern elements. Enditem