News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 13 September (BelTA) – Belarusian runner Olga Mazurenok won the Minsk Polo Marathon that took place in Minsk, Belarus on 13 September, BelTA has learned.

Winner and prize-holder of many marathons, European silver medalist Olga Mazurenok clocked 1:12.02 at the 21.1km race. “It was great to run along Minsk streets. Many of my friends supported me,” the winner said. The second and third places were taken by Belarus’ Marina Domantsevich (1:13.11) and Nina Savina (1:13.34).

Among the men to claim victory in the 21.1km event was participant of the Olympic Games in London (4^th at the Boston Marathon) Vitaly Shafar of Ukraine (1:04.38). Just four seconds behind was another Ukrainian runner, Nikolai Yukhimchuk (1:04.42). Third was Sergei Popov of Russia with the result of 1:05.21.

The 10km race was won by Belarus’ Maxim Yushchenko. His result is 32.42. Second came in Dmitry Seregin of Latvia (32.45). Third was Dmitry Gramatovsky of Belarus with the result of 33.07. The women’s 10km podium comprised Belarusian runners: Anastasia Ivanova (36.24), Olga Kravtsova (36.32), and Tatiana Stepanenko (37.13).

Partaking in the Minsk Polo Marathon on 13 September were 16,099 professional runners and amateurs. The event included 5km, 10km and the 21.1 km semi-marathon races. The event featured representatives of 36 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Georgia, China, the United States, Finland, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Norway, Turkey and Uganda.

The event was organized by the Belarusian Athletics Federation in cooperation with the Sports and Tourism Ministry and the Minsk City Hall. The name sponsor of the Minsk Polo Marathon 2015 was the car manufacturer Volkswagen.