More than 5,000 runners, including some of the world’s finest, took part in the first ever Karamay International Marathon on Sept 25, pounding the streets of the northwestern oil city on their way to completing the grueling course.

Karamay is the first city in Xinjiang autonomous region to hold such an event, which included a full marathon (42.2 km), a half marathon (21.1 km), a 10-km race, a 4.5-km mini marathon, and a wheelchair race.

As the starter’s pistol rang out at 8:30 am on the day, the runners, which had come from all across the country, as well as 25 foreign competitors, set off along the circuit which took in some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including Century Park, Black Oil Mountain and Karamay River.

Kenyan athlete Samuel Muturi Mugo won the men’s full marathon, with Ethiopian runner Almaz Ayana coming home first in the the women’s full-distance race. In the men’s half marathon, another Ethiopian took gold, with Zhu Yingying from China claiming the women’s crown.

The event was co-organized by Karamay government, Karamay culture and sports bureau and the Wisdom Sports Group. The local government took charge of general preparations including security, medical services and transportation.

More than 5,000 runners hits the streets for the 2016 Karamay International Marathon, held on Sept 25. [Photo/kelamayi.com.cn]

Runners get into their strides during the tough race. [Photo/kelamayi.com.cn]

A sea of runners swarm across a bridge in Karamay during the event held on Sept 25. [Photo/kelamayi.com.cn]

Kenyan athlete Samuel Muturi Mugo crosses the line first to take home gold in the men’s full marathon. [Photo/kelamayi.com.cn]

Edited by Owen Fishwick