Tainan runners shine at Penghu Cross-Island Marathon

Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) The 2025 Penghu Cross-Island Marathon was held Sunday, attracting more than 3,400 runners from home and abroad, with participants from a Tainan-based group emerging as the biggest winners in the event's eighth edition.

A total of 3,443 runners from 19 countries took part, including 101 international athletes, 2,664 from Taiwan proper, and 678 from Penghu, according to the Penghu National Scenic Area Headquarters.

Making their debut in the island-hopping marathon, an eight-member team from Tainan led by Su Chih-pin (蘇志濱) delivered an impressive performance. Lin Chiu-chieh (林秋杰) won the men's full marathon in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 32 seconds, while Yang Chiao-chu (楊喬筑) took the women's title in 3:19:07.

Lin said after the race that Penghu's course is similar to Kinmen's and that the cool weather made for ideal running conditions. He added that he felt lucky to claim victory in his first appearance at the event.

Japan's Fusaki Sakai finished second in the men's race with a time of 2:48:48.

Su placed second in the men's half marathon in 1:25:36, behind Hsinchu runner Eric Lai (賴賢鴻). Although the team narrowly missed its goal of three titles across the full and half marathons, Su said he was pleased that three members finished among the top three overall in their categories.

Billed as Taiwan's only "cross-sea and island-hopping" marathon, the race featured five divisions -- a 42-kilometer full marathon, 42-km relay, 21-km half marathon, 11-km run and 5-km fun run.

To promote local tourism, organizers set up 10 food stations offering more than 100 local delicacies along the route and 30 food stalls at the finish line.

To further boost off-season tourism, Penghu County Government offered NT$500 (US$16) winter travel vouchers to non-Penghu participants, valid through Jan. 31, 2026.