# Istanbul Marathon

The Istanbul Marathon (Turkish: İstanbul Maratonu, also known as Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is an international athletics event hosted in Istanbul, Turkey, in November, first held in 1979. It is the only marathon in the world whose course spans two continents, Asia and Europe.
The three race categories for men and women are: marathon, 15 km and public run. A special category for disabled persons exists also. Participation in the public run was with 150,000 people a record set in 1998.
The event is organised by Istanbul Sports Events, which also hosts the annual Istanbul Half Marathon in April.

## History

The Istanbul marathon has previously been known as "Vodafone Istanbul Marathon" as well as "Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon".
In 1997, Moges Taye of Ethiopia set the course record for men at the time of 2:13:37.
In 2005, Madina Biktagirova of Russia set the course record for women at the time of 2:34:25.
In 2006, Madina Biktagirova broke her own course record for women from the previous year with 2:28:21, and the course record for men was broken by the Lithuanian athlete Mindaugas Pukstas in 2:12:52. Also, for the first time in 2006, time keeping for marathon and 15 km was effected by means of a single-use chip, which was placed on the athlete's shoe tied by shoelaces. An athlete without this so-called champion-chip would not receive an official time. In addition, the Istanbul Eurasia Marathon that year incorporated the 4th European Police Marathon Championships for the first time, which contributed to top results.
In 2012, the month the marathon was generally held was changed from October to November. That year, the 34th edition of the marathon was named "Vodafone Istanbul Eurasia Marathon". Also that year, because the marathon had become a significant marathon event, it was awarded IAAF Gold Label status.
In 2013, around 20,000 local and foreigner athletes participated at the road race in different categories, among them wheelchair runners. The event saw also for the first time security measures concerning the bridge stability. Two years before, the running crowd on the Bosphorus Bridge caused dangerous instability by self-induced vibrations in the structure which could result in its failure. Influenced by this lesson, several start times with ten minutes intervals were held after the first start, which took place on 9:30 hours. The groups were not allowed to run on the bridge rather than to walk only. In order to avoid stopping for taking pictures, the outmost lanes of the bridge were blocked by barriers.

## Course

The course is asphalt, mostly flat and is free of traffic. It is the only course in the world where the marathon includes two continents, Asia and Europe, in one race.
The marathon starts on the Asian side of the city, shortly before the First Bosphorus Bridge, crosses the bridge giving an outstanding view of the Bosphorus and Istanbul, passes many historic sites including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and ends in the İnönü Stadium in the European part. In all, the race crosses three bridges, one over the Bosporus and two over the Golden Horn. The course changed three times over the years, therefore winning scores differ.
In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, the course was altered to begin and end in Yenikapı and cross the Bosphorus Bridge twice, so runners would start and finish the marathon in Europe, but both enter and exit Asia during the run.

## Qualification

To register for the marathon, participants must be 18 years of age or older on the race day.
In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, athletes over the age of 65 were disallowed from participating in the marathon.

## Prizes

Money prizes are given to the first 25 male athletes and 15 best female athletes in the marathon category, the first 3 ranks receiving US$35,000, US$15,000 and US$10,000 respectively. An athlete, who broke the course record, is awarded with a bonus of US$5,000. Bonuses exists also for times run between 2:14:00 and 2:04:55 or better for men and between 2:33:00 and 2:15:25 or better for women, scaled from US$500 up to US$100,000. Prizes are also provided for the best ranking athletes in other competition categories.
In 2013, the total amount of the money prizes was US$1 million.

## Winners

Key: Course record (in bold)
| Ed. | Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 1 | 1979 | Hasan Saylam (TUR) | 2:35:40 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 2 | 1980 | Necmettin Sağlam (TUR) | 2:36:00 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 3 | 1981 | Süleyman Sılacı (TUR) | 2:31:40 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 4 | 1982 | İsmail Karagöz (TUR) | 2:41:13 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 5 | 1983 | Ian Thompson (GBR) | 2:32:35 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 6 | 1984 | Mehmet Yurdadön (TUR) | 2:22:30 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 7 | 1985 | Mehmet Terzi (TUR) | 2:12:50 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 8 | 1986 | Hanifi Atmaca (TUR) | 2:23:20 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 9 | 1987 | Jens Wørzner (DEN) | 2:16:08 | Fatma Erkan (TUR) | 3:08:36 |
| 10 | 1988 | Ahmet Altun (TUR) | 2:15:06 | Keriman Günaydin (TUR) | 3:12:35 |
| 11 | 1989 | Aydın Çeken (TUR) | 2:27:41 | winner data not available | winner data not available |
| 12 | 1990 | Gazi Aşıkoğlu (TUR) | 2:23:09 | Ayşegül Battal (TUR) | 3:46:24 |
| 13 | 1991 | Terry Mitchell (GBR) | 2:22:09 | Jacqueline Davis (GBR) | 2:49:24 |
| 14 | 1992 | Cihangir Demirel (TUR) | 2:23:28 | Aurica Buia (ROM) | 2:46:29 |
| 15 | 1993 | Jacob Ngunzu (KEN) | 2:20:43 | Yelena Sipatova (RUS) | 2:48:10 |
| 16 | 1994 | Bigboy Goromonzi (ZIM) | 2:24:58 | Serap Aktaş (TUR) | 2:46:42 |
| 17 | 1995 | Stephen Langat (KEN) | 2:17:56 | Firaya Sultanova (RUS) | 2:34:44 |
| 18 | 1996 | Stephen Langat (KEN) | 2:18:51 | Elena Plastinina (UKR) | 2:37:38 |
| 19 | 1997 | Moges Taye (ETH) | 2:13:37 | Adriana Barbu (ROM) | 2:34:39 |
| 20 | 1998 | Moges Taye (ETH) | 2:15:28 | Natalya Galushko (BLR) | 2:38:10 |
| 21 | 1999 | Moges Taye (ETH) | 2:13:58 | Adriana Barbu (ROM) | 2:35:57 |
| 22 | 2000 | Josephat Rop (KEN) | 2:17:03 | Rodica Chiriţă (ROM) | 2:37:39 |
| 23 | 2001 | Bedaso Turbe (ETH) | 2:18:21 | Lyudmyla Pushkina (UKR) | 2:38:21 |
| 24 | 2002 | David Chepkwony (KEN) | 2:18:42 | Rimma Dubovik (UKR) | 2:37:20 |
| 25 | 2003 | Belaye Wolashe (ETH) | 2:18:29 | Rimma Dubovik (UKR) | 2:36:49 |
| 26 | 2004 | David Chepkwony (KEN) | 2:18:19 | Svetlana Demidenko (RUS) | 2:36:44 |
| 27 | 2005 | Joseph Mbithi (KEN) | 2:15:13 | Madina Biktagirova (RUS) | 2:34:25 |
| 28 | 2006 | Mindaugas Pukštas (LTU) | 2:12:52 | Madina Biktagirova (RUS) | 2:28:21 |
| 29 | 2007 | David Cheruiyot (KEN) | 2:11:00 | Atsede Baysa (ETH) | 2:29:08 |
| 30 | 2008 | Kasine Adilo (ETH) | 2:11:16 | Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS) | 2:30:17 |
| 31 | 2009 | Kasine Adilo (ETH) | 2:12:14 | Bizunesh Urgesa (ETH) | 2:32:45 |
| 32 | 2010 | Vincent Kiplagat (KEN) | 2:10:42 | Ashu Kasim (ETH) | 2:27:27 |
| 33 | 2011 | Vincent Kiplagat (KEN) | 2:10:58 | Alemitu Abera (ETH) | 2:27:56 |
| 34 | 2012 | Stephen Chebogut (KEN) | 2:11:05 | Koren Jelela (ETH) | 2:28:06 |
| 35 | 2013 | Siraj Gena (ETH) | 2:13:19 | Rebecca Chesire (KEN) | 2:29:05 |
| 36 | 2014 | Gebo Burka (ETH) | 2:12:23 | Amane Gobena (ETH) | 2:28:46 |
| 37 | 2015 | Elias Chelimo (KEN) | 2:11:17 | Amane Gobena (ETH) | 2:31:58 |
| 38 | 2016 | Evans Kiplagat (AZE) | 2:13:30 | Agnes Barsosio (KEN) | 2:28:25 |
| 39 | 2017 | Abraham Kiprotich (FRA) | 2:11:22 | Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) | 2:22:36 |
| 40 | 2018 | Felix Kimutai (KEN) | 2:09:57 | Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) | 2:18:35 |
| 41 | 2019 | Daniel Kibet (KEN) | 2:09:44 | Hirut Tibebu (ETH) | 2:23:40 |
| 42 | 2020 | Benard Cheruiyot (KEN) | 2:11:49 | Diana Kipyokei (KEN) | 2:22:06 |
| 43 | 2021 | Victor Kiplangat (UGA) | 2:10:18 | Sheila Jerotich (KEN) | 2:24:15 |
| 44 | 2022 | Robert Kipkemboi (KEN) | 2:10:16 | Sechale Dalasa (ETH) | 2:25:53 |

### By country

| Country | Men's race | Women's race | Total |
| Kenya | 15 | 4 | 19 |
| Ethiopia | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| Turkey | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| Russia | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Romania | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Ukraine | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| United Kingdom | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Azerbaijan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Denmark | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| France | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Lithuania | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Belarus | 0 | 1 | 1 |

## Recent results
### 2016

38th marathon was held on November 13, 2016
| Overall Evans Kiplagat Barkowet 2:13:28 Shura Kitata Tola 2:14:08 Peter Kiptoo Kiplagat 2:14:33 | Women's Agnes Jeruto Barsosio 2:28:23 Sechale Dalasa Adugna 2:33:36 Rahma Tusa Chota 2:33:43 |

### 2015

37th marathon was held on November 15, 2015.
| Overall Eliaz Kemboi Chelimo 2:11:17 Evans Kiplagat 2:12:51 Sliah Kipkemboi Limo 2:14:02 | Women's Amane Gobena Gemeda 2:31:54 Zerfie Limeneh Tadese 2:40:47 Meryem Erdoğan 2:46:37 |
Prize money (both for men and women):
* Winners: US$50,000
* Runner-up: US$25,000
* Third place: US$15,000

### 2014

36th marathon was held on November 16, 2014.
| Overall Hafid Chani 2:11:53 Gebo Burka 2:12:23 Michael Kiprop 2:12:39 | Women's Amane Gobena 2:28:47 Salomie Getnet 2:30:38 Olena Burkovska 2:31:32 |
* Winners: US$50,000
* Runner-up: US$25,000
* Third place: US$15,000
Wheelchair runners:
* Winners: US$5,000
* Runner-up: US$3,000
* Third place: US$2,000

### 2013

35th marathon was held on November 17, 2013.
| Overall Siraj Gena Amda 2:13:19 Evans Kiplagat 2:14:43 Ketema Tadesse 2:14:52 | Women's Rebecca Chesire 2.29.05 Elvan Abeylegesse 2.29.30 Sultan Haydar 2.29.40 |
NB Original race winner Abraham Kiprotich was disqualified for a doping offence.
* Winners: US$50,000
* Runner-up: US$25,000
* Third place: US$15,000
Wheelchair runners:
* Winners: US$5,000
* Runner-up: US$3,000
* Third place: US$2,000

### 2012

34th marathon was held on November 11, 2012.
| Overall Stephen Chebogut 2:11:05 Kiprotich Yegon 2:15:35 Evans Kiplagat 2:16:43 | Women's Koren Jelela Yal 2:28:06 Amane Gobena 2:28:38 Sultan Haydar 2:29:41 |

### 2011

33rd marathon was held on October 16, 2011.
| Overall Vincent Kiplagat 2:10:58 Tariku Jufar 2:11:31 Tsegay Gebreselassie 2:13:39 | Women's Alemitu Abera 2:27:56 Fatuma Sado 2:28:01 Tsega Gelaw 2:28:38 |

### 2010

32nd marathon was held on October 17, 2010.
| Overall Vincent Kiplagat 2:10:39 Dereje Yadete Wolde-Giorgis 2:11:53 Girma Assefa 2:13:37 | Women's Ashu Kasim Rabo 2:27:25 CRW Alemitu Abera 2:27:54 Amane Gobena 2.32:28 |

### 2009

31st marathon was held on October 18, 2009.
| Overall Kasime Adilo Roba 2:12:14 Faisal Bader Shebto 2:12:54 Joseph Kahugu 2:13:32 | Women's Bizunesh Urgesa 2.32.45 Ashu Kasim Rabo 2.34.54 Svetlana Semova 2.37.04 |
Awards:
* Winner men's: US$50,000
* Winner women's: US$50,000

### 2008

30th marathon was held on October 26, 2008.
| Overall Kasime Adilo Roba 2:11:16 CRM $^†$) Lishan Yigezu Fanta 2:11:37 Iaroslav Muşinschi 2:11:43 | Women's Nailya Yulamanova 2:30:17 Yuliya Gromova 2:31:36 Mehtap Sızmaz 2:33:17 |
$^†$) Course changed
Prize money:
* Winner men's: US$60,000
* Winner women's: US$60,000
* Course record: US$10,000
* World record: US$100,000

### 2007

29th marathon was held on October 28, 2007. Motto: "Sağlıklı Çevre, Sağlıklı Nesiller, Yaşanabilir Bir Kent" (Healthy Environment, Healthy Generations)
| Overall David Emmanuel Cheruiyot 2:10:56 CRM Mark Windot Yatich 2:11:02 Tariku Jufar 2:11:04 | Women's Atsede Baysa 2:29:05 Małgorzata Sobańska 2:31:08 Olga Glok 2:31:10 |
Awards:
* Winner men's: US$60,000
* Winner women's: US$60,000
* Course record: US$10,000
* World record: US$100,000

### 2006

28th marathon was held on November 5, 2006. Motto: "Sigarasız Bir Dünya İçin Koşuyoruz" (Smoke-Free World)
| Overall Mindaugas Pukstas 2:12:52 FCRM Andriy Naumov 2:12:59 Sergey Lukin 2:13:08 | Women's Madina Biktagirova 2:28:21 CRW Liliya Yadzhak 2:29:22 Natalya Volgina 2:30:07 |

### 2005

27th marathon was held on October 2, 2005.
| Overall Joseph Mbithi 2:15:13 Hillary Koech Kipkering 2:15:47 Benson Mutisya Mbithi 2:16:07 | Women's Madina Biktagirova 2:34:25 FCRW Natalia Volgina 2:36:42 Zhanna Malkova 2:37:33 |

### 2004

26th marathon was held on October 10, 2004.
| Overall David Kiptanui 2:18:19 Konstantin Permitin 2:18:25 Yuriy Hychun 2:18:35 | Women's Svetlana Demidenko 2:36:44 Zhanna Malkova 2:39:36 Olga Glok 2:42:45 |

### 2003

25th marathon was held on October 19, 2003.
| Overall Belay Wolashe 2:18:29 Oleg Strijakov 2:18:48 Bedasso Turbe 2:18:54 | Women's Rima Dubovik 2:36:49 Svetlana Demidenko 2:38:34 Irina Safarova 2:39:41 |

### 2002

24th marathon was held on October 27, 2002.
| Overall David Kiptanui 2:18:42 Frans Chauke 2:18:51 Belay Wolashe 2:19:37 | Women's Rima Dubovik 2:37:20 Svetlana Tkach 2:37:57 Irina Permitina 2:40:50 |

### 2001

23rd marathon was held on October 11, 2001.
| Overall Bedasso Turbe 2:18:21 Sreten Ninković 2:18:22 Erraoui Mohammad 2:18:35 | Women's Lyudmyla Pushkina 2:38:21 Mehtap Sızmaz 2:39:13 Milka Mihailova 2:40:39 |

### 2000

22nd marathon was held on October 14, 2000.
| Overall Rop Josephat 2:17:03 Moges Taye 2:18:21 Frans Chauke 2:18:43 | Women's Adriana Chirita 2:37:39 Constantina Diţă 2:37:57 Natalia Galshko 2:38:17 |
* CRM Course record Men's
* CRW Course record Women's
* FCRM Former Course record Men's
* FCRW Former Course record Women's

## Notable participants

* Ian Thompson in 1983
* Mehmet Terzi in 1985
* Terry Mitchell in 1991 and 1992
* Elvan Abeylegesse in 2013