Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat participates in the 2012 Jerusalem Marathon. This year's winner was Tadesse Yae Dabi of Ethiopia. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Tadesse Yae Dabi, 26, of Ethiopia, won the fifth annual Jerusalem Marathon on Friday.

Dabi completed the 26.1-mile course in 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 20 seconds, The Jerusalem Post reported. As many as 25,000 people participated in the marathon, with nearly 2,200 people from 60 countries other than Israel.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who participated in the race, wrote on his Facebook page, “Even if you’re not taking part, come down to cheer on the runners in the streets of Jerusalem and to enjoy performances and bands along the route… and one big celebration throughout the city.”

The Jerusalem Marathon is considered to be more difficult than the older and larger Tel Aviv Marathon due to the former’s hilly terrain around the Israeli capital. Last year, Kenyan Ronald Kimeli Kurgat, 28, won the marathon with a record-setting time of 2 hours, 16 minutes and 9 seconds.