Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat congratulates winner
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat congratulates winnerFlash 90

Over 26,000 runners from 60 countries are taking part Friday morning in the fifth Winner Jerusalem Marathon, the largest international marathon in Israel, which this year includes 2,500 participants from abroad.

The capital's hotels are at max capacity with 8,000 reservations, and 60 leading international media crews arrived to cover the event.

The Jerusalem Marathon was selected as one of the top ten best spring races by a leading British racing magazine, and this year it includes seven versions: the full marathon, a half marathon, a 10 kilometer version, 5 kilometers, a family run of 1.7 kilometers, a 16 kilometer wheelchair race, and a special 800 meter social race.

The winner of the full marathon, 26-year-old Davi Tedse from Ethiopia, was announced several hours after the race begin. His running time was clocked in at 2 hours, 18 minutes and 20 seconds.

Numerous roads in Jerusalem were closed starting at 5:30 a.m., and they will be opened again at 2 p.m.

The roads include Rupin, Natanel Lorch, Chaim Hazaz, Tchernichovsky, Hapalmach, Hanasi, Keren Hayesod, King George, Yafo, Tzahal Square, Hatzanhanim, Chaim Bar-Lev, George Adam Smith, Lechi, Martin Buber, Binyamin Mazar, Churchill, Kariv, Yafo Gate, the Armenian Patriarchate, Zion Gate, Hativat Yerushalayim, David Remez, King David, Jabotinsky, Emek Refaim, and many others.

Police will not allow car traffic from the French Hill junction to the south, in the direction of the Old City, and from Derech Hevron from the Cinematek up to Moshe Baram junction.