Valentyna Veretska wins Jerusalem Marathon after leaving native Ukraine because of Russian invasion

JERUSALEM — A Ukrainian athlete who fled the nation along with her daughter has gained this yr’s Jerusalem Marathon.

Valentyna Veretska, 31, competed in Friday’s race after fleeing along with her 11-year-old daughter from the southern metropolis of Mykolaiv shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Her husband stayed behind.

Organizers stated Veretska completed the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 45 minutes, 54 seconds. Ageze Guadie, 33, an Ethiopian-born Israeli runner, completed first within the males’s class in 2:37:17.

Veretska, 31, is ranked 444th worldwide amongst feminine marathon runners and most just lately completed first within the October 2021 Tirana Marathon, in keeping with World Athletics.

She was invited earlier this month to participate within the Jerusalem Marathon. Organizers stated about 40 Ukrainian immigrants and refugees competed amongst 1000’s of runners.