TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2024 Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon was held on Sunday (Nov. 3) and drew almost 4,000 runners.
Now in its seventh year, the Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon is the only marathon in Taiwan that incorporates multiple islands into a single race event, reported CNA. The race kicked off at 6:30 a.m. with a course that stretched from Xiyu Township through Baisha Township, to finish in Magong City, showcasing Penghu's beautiful island vistas.
This year organizers reported that nearly 100 foreign runners representing 16 countries participated in the race. A runner from Japan, Hama Yasutaka (濱康孝), won first place among male runners for the full marathon with a time of 3 hours and 7 minutes.
The first place among female runners was a local from Penghu, Liu Hsiao-chi (劉小琪), who finished in 3 hours and 31 minutes, despite suffering injuries during the run, reported CNA. Liu was also the female champion for last year’s Cross-Sea Marathon, improving her performance by 9 minutes.
The top three winners, male and female, for the full-marathon and half marathon were awarded cash prizes. Hama and Liu, as first place finishers, were each awarded NT$30,000 (US$940) for their victories.
The full marathon measured 42 kilometers, with some runners opting for the half marathon, or the more leisurely 11-kilometer or 5-kilometer jog. The local government also organized a food market for runners and the public to enjoy local Penghu cuisine.
