Home » Sport » Xinjiang Half Marathon Kicks Off in 12th Division

Xinjiang Half Marathon Kicks Off in 12th Division


Turuabul Torekhan And Han Meng dominate Corps’ 12th Division Half Marathon 2025

Urumqi, China – June 29, 2025 – The Corps’ 12th division’s Half Marathon, coupled with the “Running all Beautiful Xinjiang” event, ignited the Citizen Square of the 12th Division earlier today. Six thousand runners participated in the half marathon event.

Champions Crowned At Xinjiang Half Marathon

Themed “Towards The new Journey To The Joy Twelve Division,” the event featured both a Half Marathon (21.0975 kilometers) and a Healthy Run (about 5 kilometers).

Turuabul Torekhan emerged victorious in the men’s half marathon, clocking in at an notable 1 hour, 07 minutes, and 56 seconds, setting a new tournament record.Han Meng claimed the women’s title with a time of 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 28 seconds.

Champion Turuabul Torekhan Crossing The Finish Line
Champion turuabul torekhan crosses the finish line. Photo by Yang Zu

Athletes Share Their Winning Experiences

Turuabul Tolekhan, the Xinjiang marathon record holder, expressed his gratitude: “This flat and wide track and the enthusiastic shouts of the audience of the 12th Division gave me enough motivation!”

Han Meng, the women’s champion, remarked, “I started long-distance running since college, and running kept me happy. Today’s track conditions are excellent, and winning the championship is the best reward for persistence.” Both champions were awarded a prize and trophy of 5,000 yuan.

Young Aspirations And National Fitness on Display

Ma Yina, a 14-year-old sports student, successfully completed the 5 km Healthy Run with a friend.”The deafening cheering sound at the scene made us excited,” she exclaimed, adding, “In the future, I will launch an attack on the half marathon!”

Notably, the oldest athlete participating in the healthy run was 77 years old, highlighting the widespread appeal of national fitness initiatives.

Mainena And Her Friend Before The Race
Mainena, 14, (right) with her friends before the race. Photo by Yang Zu

Event Organization And cultural Importance

The event adhered strictly to the A1 standard of the China Athletics Association. The course showcased landmarks such as the 12th Division of the Xinjiang Free Trade Pilot Zone and the May Day New District Cultural and Sports Center.

Along the route, organizers provided seven cultural and artistic performance points, 11 medical stations, and numerous supply stations.

Ma Jing, from the 12th Division of Culture, Sports, Radio, film and Television and Tourism Bureau, emphasized the event’s role in promoting cultural support and tourism, integrating culture, tourism, and sports.

wheelchair Participants In The Health Run
A disabled wheelchair group also set up in the health running event. Photo by Yang Zu

Looking Ahead To Future Competitions

Relying on its proximity to Urumqi, the 12th Division has been developing into a modern city. The marathon attracted participants from Gansu, Shanxi, and beyond.

Xie Jiahao, a healthy runner from Changji, shared, “The enthusiastic shouts of the residents along the way ignited my fighting spirit. This cohesion is the charm of sports!”

Guo Suyu, a cultural and tourism representative from the 12th Division, extended an invitation: “In 2026, I look forward to gathering with you again!”

Race Highlights

Category Athlete Time
men’s Half Marathon Turuabul Torekhan 1:07:56
women’s Half Marathon Han Meng 1:22:28
Oldest Healthy Run Participant Name Not Available 77 Years Old

The Enduring Appeal of Half Marathons

Half marathons have gained immense popularity, bridging the gap between shorter fun runs and the more demanding full marathons. In 2024, Running Usa reported over 1.2 million finishers.

These races offer a challenging yet achievable goal for runners of various skill levels, promoting fitness and community engagement.

Would you consider participating in the next half marathon? What motivates you to participate in running events?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who won the men’s half marathon in the 2025 Corps’ 12th division Half Marathon?

    Turuabul Torekhan won the men’s half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 07 minutes, and 56 seconds.

  • Who was the women’s champion in the 2025 Corps’ 12th Division Half Marathon?

    Han Meng secured the women’s title with a time of 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 28 seconds.

  • What were the distances of the races at the ‘Running All Beautiful Xinjiang’ event?

    The event included a Half Marathon (21.0975 kilometers) and a Healthy Run (approximately 5 kilometers).

  • How many runners participated in the 2025 Corps’ 12th Division event?

    A total of 6,000 runners from across the country participated in the event.

  • What landmarks did the half marathon course pass through?

    The course passed through landmarks such as the 12th Division of the Xinjiang Free Trade Pilot Zone and the May Day New District Cultural and Sports Center.

Share your thoughts and experiences! Leave a comment below.

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Adblock Detected

Please support us by disabling your AdBlocker extension from your browsers for our website.