Competitors line up at the start line of the Yangshan Half Marathon, which took place on the morning of March 26 in Yangshan town, Wuxi. A total of 3,000 runners from different cities in China and abroad ran in the race. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A total of 3,000 runners took part in this year's Yangshan Half Marathon in the beautiful "honey peach town" of Yangshan in Wuxi on Sunday.

The race is the first ever rural half marathon event authorized by the Chinese Athletic Association to take place in Jiangsu province.

Ngeny Kibet Eligy, a 25-year-old from Kenya, claimed first prize in the men's race in a time of 1:07:35s, while Chinese runner Zhang Yongbo won the women's event with a time of 01:19:15s.

Ngeny Kibet Eligy, a 25-year-old from Kenya, crosses the finish line to win the Yangshan Half Marathon on Mar 26. [Photo provided to China Daily]