Tibetan female runner Medok (2nd, L), takes the first place in women's race, photo from Xinhua.

Tibetan athlete Tashi Phuntsok comes first in men's race with his best personal result, photo from Xinhua.

The 2009 Lhasa International Half Marathon Tournament started on August 25 in Lhasa with Tibetan athletes taking the first places in men's and women's races.

With his best personal result, the 20-year-old Tibetan athlete Tashi Phuntsok came first in men's race with one hour, 16 minutes and 47 seconds, while his schoolfellow Medok firstly crossed the line in female's race.

The tournament, which requires the athletes to run at an average high of 3,760 meters, starts from the square of Potala Palace, passing by the famous tourist attractions Norbu Lingka, Drepung Monastery and etc.

Men's and women's 10-kilometer marathon and 5-kilometer mini marathon were held on the same day with Tibetan athletes taking the first three places.

More than one thousand athletes participated in the tournament, 169 of whom come outside Tibet.