Vietnamese runners are ready for the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race on Sunday. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

Marathon

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race takes place on Sunday with more than 12,000 runners, including several notable athletes from around the world.

Among the international runners making their debut in the race are Dino Sefir, Askale Margasa Tafa, and Jebesa Dabesa from Ethiopia. These accomplished athletes bring their impressive track records to the event, adding to the level of competition.

Dino Sefir, in particular, has an outstanding personal best time of 2:04:50 in the men's 42km category. He is widely expected to contend for the men's title in this year's race. Sefir previously represented Ethiopia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and achieved a top-eight finish in the prestigious Boston Marathon in 2017, completing the race in 2:14:26. He also secured a top-four placement in the men's 10,000m event at the All-African Games with a time of 28:23.40.

Prominent domestic runners, such as Hoàng Nguyên Thanh, Phạm Tiến Sản, Đặng Anh Quyết, Nguyễn Văn Lai, Lê Tấn Hi, and Lê Thị Tuyết, will face formidable international competitors as they vie for a place on the podium.

Emphasising its cultural, professional, and international significance, the Hà Nội Marathon - Heritage Race 2023 aims to "Create Hà Nội's sports heritage through running steps". The event builds upon previous successes while incorporating innovative initiatives to enhance the race's overall quality.

Associate Professor, PhD. Nguyễn Trí, general director of DHA Vietnam Company, said."The invitation extended to high-ranking professional runners from around the world is a testament to the organising committee's commitment to elevating the race's international standing. It also serves as a platform for runners, particularly Vietnamese professionals, to compete and enhance their personal achievements in preparation for international marathon competitions.

"The recent achievements of national athletes Nguyên Thanh, who recorded a time of 2:35:49, and Tuyết, who achieved 2:49:00 at the SEA Games 32, highlight the disparity between our records and those of foreign runners.

"Therefore, the Heritage Race will make further endeavors to create a competitive environment that attracts world-class runners, enabling domestic athletes to compete and enhance their performance. This will contribute to raising Việt Nam's marathon movement to new heights."

Vietnamese runners train for the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race on Sunday. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

This year, the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race has been granted an eligible position in the age group ranking system of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Consequently, participants' achievements in this race will be recognised as qualifying conditions for any of the six esteemed marathons within the Abbott World Marathon Majors system, namely the New York Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Boston Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and Berlin Marathon.

"By participating in the age group ranking system of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and attracting world-class runners to compete in the 2023 race, we are placing Vietnamese marathons on the global marathon map, further contributing to the sustainable restoration and development of Việt Nam's tourism industry," Trí added.

This year's event offers a total prize pool of VNĐ703 million (US$30,500). VNS