Phạm Thị Huệ (left), Peris Cheptoof (right) and Hà Thị Hậu (behind) set up a leading group during the Huế Marathon -- Heritage Journey on June 25. Huệ won the elite event while Hậu took the amateur title. Photos of the organisers

HUẾ — Phạm Thị Huệ and Victor Kipkemei Chepwony won the Huế Marathon -- Heritage Journey on Sunday but Hà Thị Hậu was in the spotlight of the event which was organised for the first time in the old Imperial City of Huế.

Huệ came first in the elite women's half marathon category in a time of 1hr 23.31min. 

She was followed by Kenyan Peris Cheptoof and Vietnamese Lê Thị Bích.

Chepwony of Kenya had no worthy rival in the elite men's race. He finished first after 1:12.29.

Former SEA Games 3,000m steeplechase champion Đỗ Quốc Luật and defending SEA Games duathlon winner Phạm Tiến Sản were second and third, respectively.

The amateur men's gold went to veteran runner Nguyễn Văn Long who clocked 1:15.30. His runners-up were famous marathon Đặng Anh Quyết and Trương Văn Tâm.

Meanwhile Hậu won the amateur women's title clocking 1:23.37. Đoàn Thị Hiền and Lèo Thị Tình were left far behind with a gap of about seven minutes.

The 34-year-old was the national trail running star as she has won most domestic events that she took part in her three-year career. The rising star has also made her name internationally, being the first Vietnamese winner of Ultra-Trail Australia By UTMB in the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Trail Run Championship in April. She has qualified for the world championship in October in the US.

Hậu had difficulty to overtaking all rivals to lead the amateur race from the beginning to the end. She joined Huệ and Cheptoof to make up the leading group of the women's race.

Onlookers cheered near the finish line as she nearly caught up with elite runner Huệ who won SEA Games 10km gold in 2019.

Hậu made a rapid sprint in the last metres but she was about seven seconds behind Huệ at the finish.

However, her performance received great appreciation from supporters and fans who strongly congratulated her at the spot and on her Facebook.

In other categories, Đoàn Thu Hằng and Nguyễn Quốc Anh were winners of the women's and men's 10km, respectively. Phạm Trần Thuỳ Anh and Trần Minh Quý dominated the women's and men's 5km.

Thousands of runners took part in the first Huế half marathon, the Heritage Journey on June 25 in Huế Imperial City.

The athletes were among some 5,000 marathoners at the Heritage Journey which was designed to lead runners through Huế's royal citadel, national heritage sites and local landmarks such as Trường Tiền Bridge, Chi Lăng Old Quarter and the ancient two-storey wooden building Phu Văn Lâu.

All routes have been internationally recoganised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). The results of the runners can be submitted to register for high-profile marathons around the world.

The half marathon was one several sporting events of the Huế Sports Festival which is still ongoing around the city until July 2.

The organisers say the event brought both local and visiting runners a special a experience as well as prizes of VNĐ300 million for high-ranking competitors. They also hoped to push the development of provincial tourism, introducing Huế's beauty to friends around the world.

The Huế Sports Festival 2023 is organised by the Huế City People's Committee in coordination with the Group 75 Company. VNS