46th Istanbul Marathon to be run tomorrow: How many athletes will participate, what are the prizes?

"The world's only intercontinental marathon", which holds the "Gold Label" status from World Athletics, will be held for the 46th time.

The event, which will start on the Asian side and end on the European side, will be held in the categories of marathon (42.195 kilometers), 15-kilometer run, 8-kilometer corporate run, and 8-kilometer public run. The children's marathon will take place on Saturday, November 2, at 11:00 AM at the Yenikapı event area.

A total of 17,500 chip-timed athletes will take part in the race, with 5,500 in the 42-kilometer category and 12,000 in the 15-kilometer category. Including the 23,000 runners in the corporate and public run categories, more than 40,000 athletes in total will compete in the organization across all categories.

A total of 44 elite athletes from 4 different continents, including 30 men and 14 women, will participate in the Istanbul Marathon. Among these athletes are 8 elite Turkish athletes, 7 men and 1 woman.

Kenyan Kenneth Kiprop Kipkemoi and Ethiopian Abebe Negewo, both with times under 2:05, will also run in the marathon. Moroccan Mohcin Outalha, who is considered in the "Gold Athletes" category by World Athletics, will also compete in the marathon.

In the women's category, Kenyan Sharon Jemutai Cherop, who has a world marathon third-place finish, a Boston Marathon championship, and four major marathon podium finishes in her career, will compete in the Istanbul Marathon. Cherop finished second in the Hannover Marathon in April. Ethiopian Sintayehu Lewetegn, who has a personal best of 2:22:36, will be the fastest female athlete on paper to take to the course.

The marathon, title-sponsored by Türkiye İş Bankası, will start at 09:00 AM on the Asian side, approximately 250 meters before the 15 July Martyrs Bridge toll booths.

After crossing the bridge, the athletes will turn off at the Beşiktaş exit, descend to Beşiktaş via Barbaros Boulevard, and reach Karaköy by following the coastal road. After the Galata Bridge, the athletes will turn toward Sirkeci, follow the coastal road, and return in the direction they came from in front of the Bakırköy Air Force Academy.

Continuing along the coastal road toward Gülhane Park and passing through the park, the athletes will emerge onto Sultanahmet Square via the tramway line. The race will end at the "Hippodrome" (At Meydanı), which was the meeting and sports center of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, between the entrance gate of the Blue Mosque and the Obelisk.

The race will be broadcast live on TRT Spor Yıldız.

PRIZES

In the 46th Istanbul Marathon, a cash prize of 45,000 dollars each will be awarded to the winners in the men's and women's categories.

Those who finish second in the marathon will receive 20,000 dollars each, and those who finish third will receive 10,000 dollars each.

For Turkish athletes, those who finish the marathon in first place will receive 50,000 liras each, second place 40,000 liras each, and third place 30,000 liras each.

Additionally, if the course records of 2:09:44 for men and 2:18:35 for women are broken, an additional 5,000 dollars bonus will be awarded. A total of 180,000 dollars in prize money will be distributed among the elite athletes.

ROADS TO BE CLOSED IN ISTANBUL

The course and connecting roads for the 46th Istanbul Marathon will be closed to vehicle traffic.

On the European side, all roads leading to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge will be closed to traffic starting at 03:00 AM, and the Galata Bridge will be closed to two-way traffic starting at 06:00 AM. The 15 July Martyrs Bridge will reopen to traffic at 14:00, and the entire course will reopen at 15:30.

As an alternative to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridges can be used.

News Source: AA