Graduate students triumph at SISU's first campus marathon

ore than 400 students and teachers participated together in the first campus marathon of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) in Songjiang campus at 9:15 am, May 14th. Graduates claimed both men’s and women’s title in the students’ group. Their prominent performance proves that a higher degree doesn’t imply lower physical ability.

Hong Yuan, a third-year graduate majoring in educational technology, topped men’s group. “I cannot believe I could win a champion about sports before my graduation. It’s quite amazing.” he said. As a recreational runner, Hong said he almost unable to qualify for this running event because the 80 quotas for graduates is filled. Finally he signed up through the SISU alumni platform. “Maybe others saw me as an alumnus, so they let me win.” Hong joked.

According to Hong Yuan, he started running for fitness in 2015 and began to learn about specific skills of running until making friends with other student runners in March 2016. “Running has become more popular these years. I’m glad to participate in such a running event at our university,” he said.

“Sport is a universal language. All the students are able to involve in sport. As long as you love exercise and hang in there, you will benefit from your persistence.” Hong told that after graduation he would keep running to improve his performance and make more friends.

 “I’ve seen securities around us and some volunteers hand water to us. All of these details make me feel sweet. If there were more audience here, the game would be more exciting,” said Yang Huili, one of the student participants who reached the 12th place in women’s group.

Yang is a first-year graduate student of communications. She started running since she was a junior student and last year in November she took part in the Shanghai International Marathon, a 21 km half marathon. She said, “it’s hard for me to run 21km, but participating in such a race seems to make it easier. I am challenging myself!”

Zhang Wenxin, a first-year graduate majoring in communications, chose to participate in another event, the 8km walking, with her friends. “Influenced by my father, I keep walking more than ten thousand steps every day and it really makes me relaxed. The sports atmosphere at SISU is exhilarating, much better than my former university of undergraduate studies,” said Zhang.

The most interesting part is doing warm-up exercises under the guidance of the instructor, according to Zhang. “This running event is meaningful to me. I have forged closer relations with my fellow schoolmates and I hope there will be more quotas for graduate students next year,” she said.

This is one of the featured reports by the Global Reporting Team of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). The author is a graduate student majoring in journalism.