200,000 runners cross from Asia to Europe

Some 200,000 runners gathered yesterday on Istanbul's Asian side to participate in the world's only marathon spanning two continents. Runners in the shortest segment of the race, the eight-kilometer fun run, spent the approach to the Bosphorus Bridge, the official starting line for the 32nd Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, zigzagging through a carnival-like atmosphere. As the crowds of walkers continued streaming through the end of the eight-kilometer course outside Inonu Stadium, the winner of this year's marathon, Kenyan runner Vincent Kiplagat, was crossing the finish line in Sultanahmet.