Ukrainian marathoner and refugee Valentyna Veretska has won the Jerusalem Marathon in a time of 2:45:54. Upon crossing the finish line, Veretska waved Ukrainian and Israeli flags.
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Tens of thousands of Israeli and international runners from Israel lined up to run the 11th annual Jerusalem Winner Marathon on Friday.
At 7 a.m., Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion fired the starting pistol, sending the marathoners off in temperatures of 3 degrees Celsius (37 F) and blustery winter winds.
Video: Jerusalem Winner Marathon
Veretska, 31, is one of Ukraine's most prominent marathoners, with a personal best of 2:38:51. Recently she reached out to the organizers of the Jerusalem Marathon on social media and asked them to help her come to Israel so she could share the horrors of what has been happening in her native country since the Russians invaded 30 days ago.
Veretska told the marathon officials she had managed to flee to Poland with her daughter, while her husband stayed in Ukraine to fight against Russia.
Interviewed at the finish line, Veretska said the race had been "tough, with strong wind. Twenty km [12.4 miles] in, there was a difficult uphill, but it was a beautiful place. This is my first time in Israel."
"We have a difficult situation in Ukraine, and I am running for peace. I wish for peace not only for the Ukrainians, but the entire world, for the sake of a better future for our children," she said.
"Here, in Jerusalem, the whole world can hear me. All my family are still in Ukraine, and I can't stay in touch with them every day, because they're living in a bunker. They are safe, and that's what matters," Veretska added.
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