Runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh celebrates winning the VPBank Hanoi Marathon yesterday. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

By Thanh Nga

HÀ NỘI — National athletics team members Nguyễn Thị Oanh and Trịnh Quốc Lượng triumphed in the women’s and men’s 42km category at the VPBank Hanoi Marathon held in the capital yesterday.

Oanh finished first with a time of 2:50.26, followed by Lèo Thị Tình and Nguyễn Thị Ninh.

“I am very happy to complete this event safely. I am also very happy that this is also my personal record,” Oanh told Việt Nam News.

Oanh is defending SEA Games champion in the women’s 1,500m, 3,000m hurdles and 5,000m races. She once set a national record in 10,000m at the 2020 National Athletics Championships and has won many amateur titles at 21km. 

However, she has just changed her direction to the women's 42km in several marathon events and gained success.  At the Techcombank Hanoi Marathon 2022 last month, Oanh also won the women’s 42kg event.

Oanh's achievements in the marathon category have surprised many people because she usually specialises in medium and long distances.

“It is also a worthy result for me because I have trained very hard and overcome difficulties in training and life. It is also the result of the enthusiastic support of my coaches, family,  friends and fans,” Oanh, 27, added.

After this event, Oanh will focus on the National Sports Games later this year.

Meanwhile, national athletics team’s member Trịnh Quốc Lượng beat other strong rivals to finish first in the men’s 42km with a time of 02:29.12. The second and third place went to Đỗ Quốc Luật and Phạm Tiến Sản.

Runner Trịnh Quốc Lượng celebrates winning the VPBank Hanoi Marathon yesterday. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

“This is the second time I have won this distance," Lượng told Việt Nam News. 

"The weather in Hà Nội is very nice and favourable for running. The race track this year also changed quite a lot, passing through various landmarks in Hà Nội. We ran in the early morning so we enjoyed it.”

This year’s event attracted more than 10,000 runners, competing in four distances, namely 4.2km, 10km, 21km and 42km. It is one of VPBank’s largest events to realise their mission of “For a prosperous Việt Nam”, to inspire and light up the sporting spirit, and spread a civilized, positive, and spiritually ‘rich’ lifestyle in the community.

Runners prepare for the start of the VPBank Hanoi Marathon yesterday. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

The marathon carried the message “Light up Việt Nam” as an exciting greeting from Hà Nội to Vietnamese and foreign friends.

The year 2022 is the first year marking the VPBank Hanoi Marathon's membership in the Age Group Ranking System of Abbott World Marathon Majors, so results at the race can be used to qualify at any of the World Six Majors, namely New York Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Boston Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and Berlin Marathon. VNS

This year’s event attracts more than 10,000 runners. — Photo courtesy of the organisers