Jerusalem Marathon
Annual race in Israel held since 2011
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The Jerusalem Marathon (Hebrew: מרתון ירושלים) is an annual marathon running event held in Jerusalem during the month of March or April. The course begins at Israel's parliament (the Knesset) and the Israel Museum, passes through Mount Scopus and the Old City, and finishes at Sacher Park. The course record in the men's category was set in 2014 by Kenyan runner Ronald Kimeli Kurgat, and the course record in the women's category was set in 2016 by Kenyan runner Joan Jepchirchir Kigen.
| Jerusalem Marathon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Date | March |
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Marathon |
| Primary sponsor | Toto Winner |
| Established | 2011 (current era) |
| Course records | Men's: 2:16:09 (2014) Ronald KurgatWomen's: 2:38:24 (2016) Joan Kigen |
| Official site | Jerusalem Marathon |
| Participants | 466 finishers (2022) 426 finishers (2021) 1,498 finishers (2019)[1] 1,262 finishers (2018)[2] |
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Races at shorter distances (a 21.1km half-marathon, 10km and 5km races, a family race of 1.7km and a community race of 800m) are held in conjunction with the marathon.[3]
The 2025 marathon, held on April 4, was won by Semenovych Bogdan from Ukraine at 02:22:47 and for women by Salgong Pauline Jepkirui from Kenya at 02:51:58 with about 40,000 participants. [4]
History
Prior to the formation of the current event in 2011, a Jerusalem Marathon was staged for three years running between 1992 and 1994.[5][6] Half-marathon races were held in the city after that and a subsequent push from Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat resulted in the re-establishment of an international standard marathon in the city.[7]
The marathon was reestablished in March 2011 and drew 10,000 participants from 40 countries. That year, the three leading runners in the men's race veered off course and arrived at the wrong finish line.[8][9]
The 2012 event, which drew 15,000 runners including 1,500 from 50 countries outside Israel, was marked by rain, strong winds, and pounding hail.[10][11]
In 2013, twenty thousand runners from 54 countries participated in the third Jerusalem Marathon.[12] The Palestine Liberation Organization called for participants and sponsors to boycott the race in 2013.[13]
In 2014, the number of participants rose to over 25,000.[14]
The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of transferring their entry to 2021 or obtaining a refund.[15][16][a]
The 2024 edition was held in honour of the Israeli security forces. Saucony created the official race shoe, with IDF reservist Orr Sheizaf acting as the shoe brand's ambassador for the event.[19] In September 2025, Saucony ended its sponsorship of the race after boycotts by groups in the UK running community.[20][21]
Course
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The starting point of the marathon is Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in the western part of the city. Runners thence loop around the Giv'at Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, pass alongside the Valley of the Cross, and cross through various neighborhoods on their way up to Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus in eastern Jerusalem. The route then descends to the Old City, taking runners through Jaffa Gate and the Armenian Quarter and out Zion Gate, on their way to the Jerusalem Forest. The race's finishing point is Sacher Park.[22][23] Jerusalem's hilly terrain makes the marathon especially challenging.[24]
Winners
Key: Course record (in bold)
Initial era
Current era
| Ed. | Year | Men's Winner | Time[b] | Women's Winner | Time[b] | Rf. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 | Raymond Kipkoech (KEN) |
2:26:44 |  Oda Worknesh (ETH) |
2:50:05 | [28] |
| 2 | 2012 | David Toniok (KEN) |
2:19:52 | Mihret Anamo (ETH) |
2:48:38 | [29] |
| 3 | 2013 | Abraham Kabeto (ETH) |
2:16:30 | Mihret Anamo (ETH) |
2:47:27 | [30] |
| 4 | 2014 | Ronald Kurgat (KEN) |
2:16:09 | Alemtsehay Mesfin (ETH) |
2:47:24 | |
| 5 | 2015 | Tadesse Yae (ETH) |
2:18:20 | Joan Kigen (KEN) |
2:45:55 | |
| 6 | 2016 | Shadrack Kipkosgei (KEN) |
2:16:33 | Joan Kigen (KEN) |
2:38:24 | |
| 7 | 2017 | Shadrack Kipkogey (KEN) |
2:17:35 | Emily Samoei (KEN) |
2:49:25 | [31][32] |
| 8 | 2018 | Shadrack Kipkogey (KEN) |
2:21:26 | Emily Samoei (KEN) |
2:52:33 | [33] |
| 9 | 2019 | Ronald Kurgat (KEN) |
2:18:47 | Nancy Kimaiyo (KEN) |
2:44:50 | [34] |
| — | 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | [15] | |||
| 10 | 2021 |  Yimer Getahun (ISR) |
2:24:07 | Anna Prais (ISR) |
3:25:50 | [35] |
| 11 | 2022 | Noah Kigen (KEN) |
2:18:13 | Margaret Njuguna (KEN) |
2:52:44 | [36] |
| 12 | 2023 | Ageze Guadie (ISR) |
2:37:17 |  Valentyna Veretska (UKR) |
2:45:54 | [37] |
| 13 | 2024 | Jember Melkamu (ISR) |
2:35:39 | Noah Berkman (ISR) |
2:55:42 | [38] |
| 14 | 2025 | Bohdan Semenovych (UKR) |
2:22:47 | Pauline Jepkirui (KEN) |
2:51:58 | [39] |
Other records
- Fastest Israeli man: 2:23:18, Amitai Yonah, 2025
- Fastest Israeli woman: 2:55:42, Noah Berkman, 2024
- Men's half marathon course record: 1:05:55, Onesmus Serem, Kenya, 2011
- Women's half marathon course record: 1:18:00, Margaret Njuguna Wangui, Kenya, 2016
- Fastest Israeli in the half marathon course: 1:07:50, Haimro Alame, 2021
- Fastest Israeli woman in the half marathon course: 1:19:29, Selamawit Teferi, 2022
- Men's 10 km course record: 31:19, Haimro Alame, Israel, 2013
- Women's 10 km course record: 37:31, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Israel, 2016
