Trail Run

Hà Thị Hậu at the finish line of the women's 100km category at the 2023 Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB. — Photos of Doi Inthanon Thailand

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's super trail running star Hà Thị Hậu championed at the world-level Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB 2023 which finised on December 10 in Chiang Mai.

She was faster than strong rivals from Europe and China to top the podium of the 100km category in a time of 12hr 9.02min.

She left two nearest rivals, Ragna Debats of the Netherlands (12:43.25) and Emilie Maroteaux of France (13:26.39) far behind.

Her outstanding performance helped her place No 16 in the overall ranking for both men and women.

During the livestream of the event, a commentator even said that the women's 100km race seemed 'bored' as Hậu was better than all the other runners from the beginning. She led from the off and nobody came anywhere near to catching her.

Last year, in her debut at the Doi Inthanon, Hậu won the 50km category.

Triumphs of the Vietnamese woman broke China's dream of winning all titles of ultra distances at the Doi Inthanon event.

They dominated the men's 175km, took all top three position in the women's 175km and men's 100km, and secured the first place in the men's 50km.

Đỗ Trọng Nhơn finished third in the men's 25km of the Doi Inthanon Thailand event.

Việt Nam also had Đỗ Trọng Nhơn on the podium in the men's 25km. Nhơn came to the event mainly to support his teammates but he successfully finished third in a time of 2:33.03 behind Daniel Curts of the US (2:16.45) and Toby Sparkes of Australia (2:23.21).

Doi Inthanon was organised from December 7-10 at the Royal Park Rajapruek. This year, more than 5,000 athletes from 80 countries and regions registered to race.

Next year race is scheduled for December 6-8. — VNS