One of Turkey's most established sporting events, the 46th Istanbul Marathon, organized by İBB Spor İstanbul and sponsored by Türkiye İş Bankası, took place recently. Known as "the only marathon in the world that runs between continents" and classified as a "Gold Label" by the World Athletics Federation, the marathon featured Istanbul Rumeli University for the second time.
The marathon started at 9:00 AM from the 15 July Martyrs Bridge toll booths on the Anatolian side. The Eurasia Tunnel and all roads along the marathon route were closed to traffic, with vehicle traffic stopping at 3:00 AM. Representing Istanbul Rumeli University in the challenging 42-kilometer course was our national swimmer Umut Ünlü, who has won two gold medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, alongside faculty members, administrative staff, and students. Our university's wide participation reflected the spirit of unity and solidarity, showcasing our commitment to social responsibility and sports.
The race results demonstrated significant competition. In the elite men's category, Ethiopian Dejene Debela finished first with a time of 2:11:40, followed by Kenyan Matthew Samperu in second with 2:11:55, and another Kenyan, Kenneth Kiprop Kipkemoi, in third with 2:12:07. In the elite women's category, Bahrain's Ruth Jebet secured first place with a time of 2:24:25. Ethiopian athletes Erge Diro and Ayantu Abdi finished second and third with times of 2:33:37 and 2:33:49, respectively.
National athlete Hüseyin Can completed the marathon in 2:14:34, finishing sixth and becoming the only Turkish athlete in the top 10 of the elite men's category. Ömer Alkanoğlu came in second among Turkish athletes with a time of 2:20:43, placing 11th overall, while Halil Yaşın finished third among Turkish competitors with a time of 2:23:43, placing 12th overall.
As Istanbul Rumeli University, we are thrilled to be part of such a meaningful event, conveying the power of sports to the community and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Together with our students, faculty, and administrative staff, we proudly emphasize our ongoing support for sports and society in all areas. We extend our gratitude to all participants and athletes for their outstanding performance and spirit of competition.
