Phạm Tiến Sản (right) and Charles Kipkorir Kipsang are seen running together before Sản went ahead to win the 42km category of the Marathon Amazing Halong on September 10 in Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh Province. Photos of Marathon Amazing Halong

QUẢNG NINH — SEA Games duathlon champion Phạm Tiến Sản won the second 2023 VnExpress Marathon Amazing Halong on September 10 in Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh Province.

Sản beat favourite Charles Kipkorir Kipsang of Kenya to finish the men's full marathon event first in a time of 2hr 38.26min under the heavy rain.

Kipsang took the lead for the first 15km but was exhausted when he ran across the 1km-long Bãi Cháy Bridge, which was considered the toughest challenge of the tournament with its 50m high and sloppy terrain.

Sản caught up with him. They ran together for some kilometers before the Vietnamese went ahead to finish the race first.

Kipsang was second at 2:45.00, followed by famed amateur runner Đặng Anh Quyết who made it in 2:46.46.

Runner Bùi Thanh Tuyền and her daughter Nguyễn Khánh Linh take part in the women's 5km category of the Marathon Amazing Halong.

On the women's side, Lèo Thị Tình (3:06.57), Nông Thị Chang (3:25.30) and Nguyễn Thị Đường (3:26.00) secured the top three positions, respectively.

They were all regular faces of the marathon and usually dominated the major running events' podium nationwide in recent years.

In the half marathon events, Kenyan David Kiploech Birir proved the power of African runners as he finished first in a time of 1:10.24, leaving his nearest rival, Lý Nhân Tín of Việt Nam far behind with a gap of nearly eight minutes.

Hà Văn Dược placed third on 1:18.44.

SEA Games multi-time walking champion Nguyễn Thị Thanh Phúc won the 21km distance clocking a time of 1:29.43.

"It is my new personal record, the most successful race that I have run so far," said Phúc who has been running marathons for about a year.

"I have to work hard to conquer a zigzag slope and a challenging Bãi Cháy Bridge. Many difficulties were overcome to have my minute of glory on the podium.

"Running for the top place is a little harder than walking (as I often did) but the feeling is so great," Phúc said.

Child runner Ngô Bảo Minh crosses the finish line of the men's 5km race.

Khuất Phương Anh, a former national athletics team member, was second at 1:30.30, and Nguyễn Thị Lụa finished third at 1:36:54.

The winners of the men's and women's 10km were Hoàng Viết Vĩ (33.45min) and Nguyễn Thị Thành (40.20), respectively

Bùi Văn Trường (17.23) and Đèo Thị My (20.29) won the men's and women's 5km classes.

The second Halong Marathon saw about 11,000 runners checking the two-time World Heritage Site with stunning ocean views and beautiful landmarks through the track that led them past Cá Heo Palace, Hạ Long Bay, Bài Thơ Mountain and Tuần Châu Island.

As many as 1,500 children take part in the Kun Marathon of the Marathon Amazing Halong.

Earlier, a children's run was held on September 9 with 1,500 competitors on a 1km route of cool challenges and obstacles.

In the second race, organisers made a big change in prize policy as only the top five overall for men and women took awards.

A total of about VNĐ1 billion (US$41,500) were delivered to the high-ranking athletes. The 42km winners bagged the highest award of VNĐ44 million which included cash and gifts. The organisers also provided bonuses to winners of different age groups. — VNS