Dino Sefir from Ethiopia celebrates winning the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race 2023 on Sunday. — Photos courtesy of the organising board

Marathon

Thanh Nga

HÀ NỘI — Dino Sefir from Ethiopia and Lê Thị Tuyết from Việt Nam emerged victorious against tough competitors in the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race 2023 held on Sunday.

Sefir, who previously represented Ethiopia in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and achieved an impressive top-eight finish in the renowned Boston Marathon in 2017, clinched the men's full marathon category by completing the race in an impressive time of 2:16.28, securing the title.

"I am thrilled to have won the event held in Hà Nội. This was my first time participating in this tournament, and I was extremely satisfied with the track and the organisation of the event," Sefir told Việt Nam News.

"I hope to return to Hà Nội next year to participate again because I am genuinely happy with the people and everything here."

Winners of the men's 42km category.

Sefir's teammate, Jebesa Dabesa, secured second position with a time of 2:27.31, while Hoàng Nguyên Thanh from the Vietnamese national team finished third in a time of 2:29.19. Thanh's performance in the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race was an improvement over his time of two hours and 36 minutes, which earned him a bronze medal in the SEA Games 32 held in Cambodia in May.

In the women's category, national team member Lê Thị Tuyết triumphed without facing any strong competitors, crossing the finish line with an impressive time of 2:44.36. Askale Magarsa Tafa from Ethiopia secured second place with a time of 3:00.49, while Lèo Thị Tình finished third with a time of 3:04.32.

Winners of the women's 42km category.

In the men's 21km category, Tống Văn Hoàn emerged victorious with a time of 1:12.31, defeating Đinh Thanh Huệ and Hà Văn Được. Vàng Như Quỳnh claimed the women's title with a time of 1:28.17, followed by Lý Ngọc Hà with a time of 1:29.14 and Trần Thị Duyên with a time of 1:29.24.

The men's 10km division was won by George Schrank from Austria, who completed the race in 33:56. Nguyễn Việt Ái and Vũ Anh Đức secured the second and third positions, respectively.

"It was my first time racing here, and it was a truly fantastic event. Athletics in Việt Nam is highly developed. Thank you for organising such a remarkable event," Schrank expressed to Việt Nam News.

"Although I'm not accustomed to the high temperature and humidity, despite spending a lot of time in Việt Nam and training here, the race was challenging due to the rare situation of 24 degrees Celsius and 80 per cent humidity," he added.

"One thing I vividly remember is passing by the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, as I had never been so close to it before," Schrank shared.

This year's event featured more than 12,000 runners.

On the women's side, Bùi Thị Thu Hà claimed the first position with a time of 36:28, surpassing Trần Hồng Thúy and Lưu Thị Thanh Tâm.

The Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race this year featured more than 12,000 runners from Việt Nam and around the world. The race provided a unique experience, combining a traditional marathon with a tour of six major districts and numerous historical and cultural landmarks in the Old Quarter of Hà Nội. Participants had the opportunity to explore the peaceful, charming, and historic city, which boasts 11 heritages and landmarks such as the Hà Nội Opera House, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, and Trấn Quốc Pagoda.

With its cultural, professional, and international significance, the Hà Nội Marathon - Heritage Race 2023 aimed to establish Hà Nội's sports heritage through the rhythm of running. Building on previous successes, the event incorporated innovative initiatives to enhance the overall quality of the race.

The Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race has earned a prestigious position in the age group ranking system of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Consequently, participants' accomplishments 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. VNS