SHILLONG: The Rotary Sohra Marathon, which recorded 800 participants this year, was flagged off by Speaker Donkupar Roy at one of the wettest places on earth on Saturday morning.
The drizzle that started in the morning continued but runners from all age groups and walks of life were not deterred as they started their run at 7.05am.
There were participants as young as seven years and as old as 71 years. There were four international participants, two each from Kenya and Ethiopia. The participants took part in the Full Marathon (42km), Half Marathon (21km) and 10km.
The first prize in the open category was bagged by local boy Tlanding Wahlang from Mawkyrwat and the second prize went to Ding Moo, from Arunachal Pradesh and the third prize went to Adinew Meconnen from Ethiopia.
In the female category the winners were Shyamali Singh, Darishisha Iangjuh and Daphika Pakyntein.
In the lucky draw, the first prize of Maruti Celerio was won by Munivson Dom Mylliemngap and the 2nd prize, a Bajaj Pulsar, was won by a 10-year-old girl Ferdelycia Wann from Saitsohpen village in Sohra where the event took place.
The marathon was meticulously planned and there were 17 water stations, one every 2 km on the incline and 2.5 km in other areas.
It was a mini India at Saitsohpen on Saturday with runners from all over the country.
The run started with cheerleaders dancing with pom-poms and encouraging the runners. There was also presentation of dances of the northeastern states. There were five ambulances to take care of any emergency.
The male winners of the half marathon were Ram Naresh, Sanjog Gurung and Bharat Bhushan. The female winners were Makak Mayum Minararashi, Dateibankynmaw Marwein and Sevika Rai.
In the 10km run the winners were Shynsharlang Wahlang, Ratna Bahadur Thapa Magar and Tapir Yorpen.
