Shamha wins silver at Runtalya Marathon

Maldivian long-distance runner Shamha Ahmed secured a silver medal this past weekend in the women’s category at Runtalya, the annual marathon held in Antalya, Türkiye.

The race kicked off at 9:00 AM local time on Friday, starting from the Atatürk Cultural Center Footbridge. Shamha clocked in at 3 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds (03:11:53), comfortably within the six-hour cut-off time. The gold medal went to Natalya Carmen, who crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 57 seconds.

Held over three days from 4–6 April, Runtalya has become a staple in Türkiye’s running calendar, now in its 20th year.

Shamha’s coach, Narullah Ahmed, also took part in the event—marking his 99th marathon, according to Mihaaru Sports.

Currently the national record holder in the women’s marathon, Shamha has held the title for 2 years, 6 months, and 14 days.

The sprinter-turned-marathon-runner broke the national record at the Belin Marathon 2022, having crossed the finish line in 03:02:41.