Marathon

Hoàng Nguyên Thanh wins the men's 21km class of the Run to Live 2024 on March 10 in HCM City. Photos of organisers

HCM CITY — Hoàng Nguyên Thanh and Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa won the first edition of the Run To Live 2024 on March 10 in HCM City.

The two national team members did not meet many difficulties on their way to the finish line at Trần Bạch Đằng Street of the new city of Thủ Đức.

National and former SEA Games champion Thanh wrapped up the 21km run in a time of 1hr 9.29min.

He was followed by Lê Hữu Lộc (1:13.41) and Trương Văn Tâm (1:14.12).

"I am really happy to run here with the strong support of many people," said Thanh.

"Thanks to all of you for cheering me and other runners. Congratulations to everyone who finishes the races today."

Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa finishes first in the women's 21km class of the Run to Live 2024 on March 10 in HCM City.

Thanh said he trained for the tournament since after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. His designed plan which included running in the heat and over bridges so that he could ensure his target.

On the women's side, Hoa was under strong threat from former SEA Games 10,000m champion Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ who just won the HCM City VP Bank Midnight Marathon last week.

The pair raced neck-to-neck from the beginning and throughout the tournament.

However, marathon was Hoa's strong point as she won SEA Games bronze medal in 2022. She sprinted the final kilometres to cross the finish line after 1:17.37.

Hồng was four minutes later at 1:21.57 and took silver. She was followed by Lê Thị Kha Ly who ran 1:25.58.

In the 10km categories, Nguyễn Anh Trí won the top place of the men's side on 35.39min.

Đặng Anh Quyết (36.16) and Huỳnh Thạnh (36.44) came second and third, respectively.

Meanwhile Phạm Thị Thuý Hạnh took the women's first position, clocking 42.20.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Hà (44.52) and Trần Thị Ny (45.39) were the two runners-up.

The 5km classes saw Nguyễn Chí Kiên (17.04) on the male side, and Lê Thị Hà (19.38) on the female, take the win.

More than 6,000 athletes registered to the Run To Live 2024 which was organised by the Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper, HCM City's Department of Culture and Sports and Miracle Entertainment Group.

About 6,000 runners take part in the first Run To Live event.

The tournament aimed to encourage people's love for sports, especially running, which would lead to healthy and happy life.

Through the marathon, organisers raised funds to support athletes with disabilities of HCM City and projects for the community of the Việt Nam Volunteer Resources Information Centre under the Central Committee of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union.

According organisers, the national records were not broken. Therefore, these two special prizes of VNĐ100 million (US$4,100) each for runners who set new records would be added to the Run To Live season 2.

Thus, record-breaking runners next year will pocket VNĐ400 million.

Also the full marathon of 42km category will be considered in 2025. VNS