A "Nike 5K Run," with sports stars cheering on runners along the way, was held in Taipei on Sunday amid cold weather, marking Taiwans first road race of the new year.

A spokesman for Nike Group, the events organizer, said that to draw the most number of participants Nike had decided on five kilometers as the courses length, which is most suitable for all ages.

Adding that to boost competitors morale, the organizer also invited basketball baseball players Chen Chih-yuan （陳致遠）, Chen Kuan-ren, Yeh Yung-chieh and Peng Cheng-shin to cheer them on at the midway point.

While national basketball players Chien Wei-chuan and Chen Chih-yuan rode alongside runners in a press vehicle, Ho Sho-cheng, Tseng Wen-ding and Yueh Ying-li rode bicycles at the end of the route to spur runners to do their best.

Lu Chih-tsung and Lin Nien-tse, both students at the National College of Pysical Education and Sports in Kueishan, Taoyuan County, won the race in male and female categories, respectively