Athletics

Trần Văn Đảng finishes first in the men's elite event of the 47th Hà Nội Mới (New Hà Nội) Newspaper Run for Peace on October 2. Photos courtesy of Hồ Như Ý

HÀ NỘI — Trần Văn Đảng and Nguyễn Thị Oanh were the winners of the 47th Hà Nội Mới (New Hà Nội) Newspaper Run for Peace held around the city's Hoàn Kiếm Lake on Sunday.

Oanh from Bắc Giang Province finished first in the women's elite 5.25km event. The national athlete left behind Lò Thị Thanh of Sơn La and Hoàng Thị Ngọc Anh of Hải Dương to top the podium for the first time.

Meanwhile, Đảng of the host city enjoyed his first tournament victory in the men's elite 8.75km category.

His runners-up were Phạm Tiến Sản from Bắc Giang and Lê Văn Thao of Thanh Hóa.

"As an indoor middle-distance runner I am definitely not title favourite when running on road. I didn't think I can beat pro road runners, but I do," Đảng told Việt Nam News.

"I set to follow my seniors Sản, who is a SEA Games triathlon winner, and Thao who is a SEA Games 10,000m bronze medallist. Even when I was in the lead near the finish line I was still nervous I would be caught and passed. But I made it, I won."

Đảng said the win would help him be more confident before he takes part in the National Sports Games later this year, when he is to defend his title in the 800m event.

Benjamin Bruno Orellano from the Embassy of Argentina won the men's race for foreigners and Tracy Ramberg from UNIS school championed the women's class.

More than 1,500 athletes competed in different categories for both professional and amateur runners from both Việt Nam and abroad.

They ran in the 1.75km (one lap around the lake), 3.5km (two laps), and 5.25km (three laps) categories for both amateur men and women; and women's 5.25km and men's 8.75km (five laps) for pros.

Nguyễn Thị Oanh of Bắc Giang (left) and Lò Thị Thanh of Sơn La are during the Run for Peace on October 2.

Organisers presented awards for the top five runners in each pool and the three best teams.

The Run for Peace was cancelled for two years in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the annual event, Chử Xuân Dũng, Vice Chairman of the Hà Nội People's Committee, said: "Hà Nội Mới Run for Peace has become an annual popular mass sports activity attracting a large number of people from all walks of life".

"This activity has brought positive impacts to the cultural and spiritual life of Hà Nội people. It is one of the most traditional athletic tournaments in Việt Nam.

"After two years of absence, the number of participants this year is higher than in previous events. It shows the development in both quality and scale, confirming the strong influence of this meaningful activity." VNS