Valentyna Veretska wins Jerusalem Marathon after leaving native Ukraine due to Russian invasion

JERUSALEM — A Ukrainian who fled the country with her daughter has won this year's Jerusalem Marathon.

Valentyna Veretska, 31, competed in Friday's race after fleeing with her 11-year-old daughter from the southern city of Mykolaiv shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Her husband stayed behind.

Organizers said Veretska finished the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 45 minutes, 54 seconds. Ageze Guadie, 33, from Israel, finished first in the men's category in 2:37:17.

Veretska, 31, is ranked 444th worldwide among female marathon runners and most recently finished first in the October 2021 Tirana Marathon, according to World Athletics.

She was invited to take part in the Jerusalem Marathon earlier this month. Organizers said around 40 Ukrainian immigrants and refugees competed among thousands of runners.