Despite morning rain, families and friends flocked to Dbayeh Sunday morning to support the thousands of youngsters participating in the Beirut Marathon Association’s Youth Race.

Sponsored by Bankmed, Sunday’s Youth Race was held just north of Beirut for the third year. According to the BMA, 7,079 participants competed in the run, which was composed of three separate races and a “fun run.”

At 8 a.m., children between the ages of 7 and 17 lined up at the starting point and within about an hour, all participants had crossed the finish line.

At the conclusion of the race, medallions and cups were distributed to the winners of the 5 km race and 2 km race. Prizes were given for various categories in the 2 km Special Needs race.

Kifah Mouhamad and Farah Tayyar were named the winners of the 5 km race in the boys and girls sections respectively.

“I was able to win with the crowd encouraging the race, and obviously training for six months helped,” Mouhamad said to a volunteer in an interview after his win.

“I’m happy that I won and I didn’t expect to win because I am sick,” Tayyar said, in a separate interview after finishing. “But this is a God-given talent and I like to use it. I want to thank my family for always encouraging me.”

In the 2-km Elite Runners race, Fidaa Abou Khouzam and Nay Moustapha came in first for boys and girls respectively.

In the 2 km Special Needs race, first-place winners included Radwan Chehab in the wheelchair category, Ali Lakis in the visually impaired category and Abed al-Razzak Barakat in the mentally disabled category.

Volunteers, Beirut Marathon Association president May al-Khalil and pop singer Joseph Attieh applauded runners at the finish line. During the race, Army soldiers ran alongside children, cheering them on.