Magong:Taipei The chief of a local police station achieved first place in the 2026 Penghu Cross-Island Marathon on Sunday, with Finland's top representative in Taiwan closely following in second place. Both competitors completed the race in under three hours.

According to Focus Taiwan, Wang Yi-hsien, chief of the Penghu Police Department's Aimen Police Station and a seasoned marathon runner, completed the 42-kilometer course in 2 hours, 57 minutes, and 44 seconds. Lauri Raunio, Director of the Finland Trade Office, secured second place with a time of 25913, marking the marathon's only other sub-3-hour finish.

In the women's category, Yang Chiao-chu won the full marathon title for the second year in a row, clocking in at 32401. The marathon saw participation from 4,112 runners from 22 countries, including 137 international athletes. Among the participants was Dan Stuart, Deputy Director of the Australian Office in Taipei, who also competed in the full marathon.

The Penghu Cross-Island Marathon, known as Taiwan's only "cross-sea and island-hopping marathon," included four divisions a 42-kilometer full marathon, a 21-kilometer half marathon, an 11-kilometer run, and a 5-kilometer fun run. The full marathon began at Xiyu West Fort Visitor Center on Xiyu Island, with runners crossing the Great Penghu Bridge onto Baisha Island, continuing to Penghu's main island, and finishing at Guanyinting Recreation Area in Magong City.

To boost local tourism, the event organizers established 10 food stations along the route, offering over 140 local delicacies such as spiny lobster, cuttlefish balls, and small squid for runners to enjoy.