A total of 152 runners participated in Gangtok Road Runners event here in the capital on Sunday. The runs for 10 KMs and 3 KMs were organised by Sikkim Mountaineering Association.
Gangtok Road Runners was a promotional event for the upcoming third edition of Kanchenjunga Marathon to be held from October 31 to November 7 in West Sikkim. Kanchenjunga Marathon is the first high altitude marathon of Sikkim from the base camp of the third highest peak of the world, Mount Kanchenjunga.
The run was flagged off at Ridge Road and runners covered the route on TNA Gate, Zero Point, Swastik and Bakthang Falls and came back on the same route till Zero Point, then on Secretariat Road, Bhanu Path, Dukit Pan Dokan and ended at the starting point. Likewise, runners in 3 KMs covered the route of Ridge Road, TNA gate and then turned to Bhanu Path, Dukit Pan Dokan and concluded at the starting point.
Puran Rai finished the 10 km run with a timing of 30 minutes and 5 seconds. Uttam Bhujel emerged second with a timing of 30 minutes and 6 seconds and Suraj Raj Subba came third with a timing of 30 minutes and 57 seconds.
In 10 KMs open women category, Anjali Subba emerged champion with a timing of 37 minutes and 42 seconds, while Chandra Kala Sharma finished second with a timing of 30 minutes 55 seconds and Eaksa Hangma Limboo came third with a timing of 39 minutes and 36 seconds.
In 10 KMs veterans above 45 years, Sher Bahadur Chettri was the fastest with a timing of 35 minutes and 24 seconds, while Anup Jyoti Baniya finished second with a timing of 40 minutes and 43 seconds and MB Chettri was third with a timing of 41 minutes 19 seconds.
In 3 KMs U-14 girls, Subina Rai finished the run with 14 minutes and 29 seconds, while Nima Dolma Sherpa with a timing of 14 minutes and 30 seconds and Pushpa Chettri with 14 minutes and 53 seconds.
In 3 KMs U-14 boys, Buddha Sherpa was the winner with a timing of 12 minutes and 39 seconds. Kunga Nima Kazi was second with timing of 12 minutes and 49 seconds and Pema Galey Sherpa was third with a timing of 12 minutes and 55 seconds.
SMA is sponsoring the top three men and women in open category and the winner of veteran category of Gangtok Road Runners in the upcoming Kanchenjunga Marathon.