ZHENGZHOU, China, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Twenty thousand athletes are expected to run in the Zhengkai Marathon on March 31 in central China's Henan province, organizers said on Wednesday.

10,000 athletes will run in the full marathon, and the others will run in the half-marathon.

"The Zhengkai Marathon, which has been held for 12 years, was voted a gold medal race by the Chinese Athletic Association. This has attracted more and more athletes to run," said Yao Haitao, an official with the Henan sports bureau.

The Zhengkai Marathon, first held in 2007, is the only marathon race in China that connects two ancient Chinese capitals: Zhengzhou and Kaifeng.

The men's and women's champions will receive 20,000 US dollars if they finish within 2 hours and 13 minutes (men) and 2 hours and 32 minutes (women), according to the organizers. Otherwise the prize will be 12,000 dollars.

Chelimo Eliaskemboi from Kenya won the men's title at the 2018 Zhengkai Marathon in 2:13:53, and his compatriot Mukhwana Ednah won the women's title in 2:30:24.