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Ukrainian refugee wins Jerusalem Marathon

Veretska competed in the race after fleeing Ukraine in late February with her 11-year-old daughter

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Veretska competed in the race after fleeing Ukraine in late February with her 11-year-old daughter

Highlights

  • Valentyna Veretska, 31, of Mykolaiv, Ukraine, was the first woman across the finish line in 2:45:54.
  • She was invited to the race after her third-place finish at the Riyadh Half Marathon in Saudi Arabia in early March.
  • Her husband stayed behind in Ukraine, since men of fighting age (18-60) are not allowed to leave.
  • Ageze Guadie, 33, from Israel, finished first in the men’s category, with a time of 2:37:17.
  • The race was six minutes shy of her personal best, which she ran last fall in Albania.