Ukrainian refugee Valentina Verzka came in first on the annual Jerusalem Marathon on Friday with a time of 2:45:54.
Soon after the war started on Feb. 24, Verzka fled Poland with her daughter, leaving her husband behind to fight Russia. She is an esteemed international runner who has won many prizes for her racing.
“Today is a beautiful and special day in my life, to win a marathon is a dream for me,” she said in a statement. “My country is proud of me, my daughter and my parents are proud of me, and I send my love to Ukraine and to the whole world.”
Verzka said that even as she was running, “the pressure and concern for Ukraine does not leave. I am here physically, but the concern does not stop.”
She said she is always trying to get her husband or parents, who remain in Ukraine, on the phone to make sure they are OK.
“I want everyone to understand that this is real; there is a real war in Ukraine,” she said. “I came to the marathon to make my voice heard, and to call on everyone to unite for the end of the war.”
Verzka is not the only Ukrainian who ran in the 11th annual marathon, according to the organizers said. Some 40 other immigrants and refugees who recently arrived in Jerusalem took part in the race.
In total, there were 25,000 runners who took part in six heats: a full marathon (42.2 kilometers), a half-marathon (21.1 kilometers), a 10K race, a 5K event and a 1.7K family-friendly race.
The male winner of the full marathon was Agzi Guadi, 33, from Israel, with a time of 2:37:17. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion ran the 10K.
Runners trek through the often windy streets of Jerusalem, passing several historic and modern landmarks from the Israel Museum, Supreme Court, Presidential Palace of Israel, Old City Walls and Armenian Quarter to the Tower of David, Khan Theater and Sultan’s Pool.
“I received endless support and love at the Jerusalem Marathon,” Verzka said. “I felt the love of the city of Jerusalem.”
