A Ukrainian refugee won a women’s marathon in Israel on Friday.
Valentyna Veretska, 31, who claims she “didn’t train,” took first place in the women’s division of the Jerusalem Marathon, finishing with a time of 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 52 seconds. Veretska, who crossed into Poland with her 11-year-old daughter days after Russia invaded Ukraine, says she “knew” she had to win for her home country.
“I feel this is for my country. That’s why I run and finished first,” Veretska told Insider.
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After finishing the marathon in rainy, cold weather, Veretska said she was both “full of energy” and a bit mystified by how well she did. “I don’t know how it’s happened, but I haven’t lost power,” she said.
“I see bombs, helicopter, everything. I just knew my daughter should be safe,” Veretska said of her escape from her city of Mykolaiv. “When we were first attacked, I took my daughter and her doll. We ran and drove. When I come to the border, it was a million people. It was horrible.”
While Veretska and her daughter were able to leave the country amid Russia’s invasion, her husband stayed behind to fight. She said her husband managed to call and congratulate her on her marathon victory, according to the report.
“This marathon was my dream, but after the war start, I didn’t train,” Veretska said, adding that she hopes she inspires the people of Ukraine with her win. “I hope the world will support us, to help Ukraine,” she said.
“We’re normal people — we want a normal life for our kids,” Veretska said. “I wish this war in Ukraine will stop and people have normal, happy life — not cry. Normal for kids and building new houses and new city.”
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More than 3.7 million refugees have fled Ukraine in the past month, according to the latest figures from the United Nations.
