ISTANBUL
Spanish athlete Adel Mechaal, who won the men's 1920 Running Race, and Derya Kunur, who claimed victory in the women's category, praised Sunday’s event in the Turkish capital Ankara.
Mechaal, who claimed the 1920 Running Race crown, praised the atmosphere of the event, held to mark the 106th anniversary of Anadolu, saying: "Anadolu Agency has done a very good job."
"I think it has been great. Anadolu Agency has done a very good job—the organization was great, and the course is truly beautiful," Mechaal told Anadolu.
The Spanish athlete said he enjoyed running the course, which began and ended at Anadolu headquarters.
"We come together here to enjoy a beautiful Sunday," he said, adding that he hopes for 100 more years of the same race under the auspices of Anadolu.
Mechaal, 35, said the 1920 race was a milestone after his recovery from an injury.
"I really feel excited because after a really long injury, now it's been racing 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). I raced in Ibiza last weekend, I race here now, and I feel good," he said.
Mechaal also said the course presented a welcome challenge to the runners.
"We watched the parkour and the course, and we saw it was a very hard pace. A hard course, it was hilly. And I was thinking, the Kenyan athletes, most of the runs they do are on a hilly course," he said.
Though he had expected the hills to be challenging, Mechaal found himself struggling a bit more than anticipated, he said.
"In the last 400 meters, I changed the pace, and I took the victory. But it was a very nice race with two athletes fighting until the last 8 kilometers. And I'm excited for the next few races," he said.
Kunur hails event
Derya Kunur, the winner of the women's category, praised the initiative, saying it was great that Anadolu is establishing a sports club and organizing the race.
"It's a great event, we want more such events. As long as it is organized, I would like to participate every year," said the Turkish runner.
Kunur, 26, travelled about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Türkiye’s eastern Mus province to the capital to run the race.
"The first race organized by Anadolu was good, but the course was a bit challenging. It went well, thank you for the event," she added.
She emphasized her determination to win, having set her goal to finish first, saying: "My competitors didn't push me too hard; it was easy for me.”
