Marathon

Kenyan Edwin Yebei Kiptoo runs to win the 2024 International Vietcombank Mekong Delta Marathon on July 7 in Hậu Giang Province. Photos courtesy of Nexus Sport Events

HẬU GIANG – New records were set at the 2024 International Vietcombank Mekong Delta Marathon on Sunday.

The race, in Hậu Giang Province, was the fifth in the series and attracted nearly 11,000 international and local runners taking part in the 5km, 10km, half marathon and full marathon categories along, with track routes for children.

Considered the longest established running event of the region, the Mekong Delta Marathon, as a colourful event, with some interesting costumers, both old and young marathoners and even pregnant competitors.

Kenyan Edwin Yebei Kiptoo won the marathon, finishing the men's 42km in a time of 2:29.23 setting a new tournament record.

Last year, former SEA Games champion Hoàng Nguyên Thanh won, with his time of 2:37.04. This year, his strong effort helped him to shorten his time to 2:35.52, but he was not fast enough to defend his first place on the podium.

Veteran runner Lê Văn Tuấn came at third, clocking in at 2:44.10.

It was Kiptoo's third marathon win in a row in Việt Nam. Earlier, he triumphed at the VNExpress Marathons in Huế in April and Quy Nhơn last month.

In the women's race, SEA Games silver medallist Lê Thị Tuyết not only defended her crown but also set new record of 2:54.13. Last year, she ran at 2:59.29.

National champion Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa came second with 2:57.17 and Vũ Khánh Linh was third on 3:17.07.

In addition to the bonuses for the winners, Kiptoo and Tuyết received an additional special prize of VNĐ100 million each for their successful achievements.

Lê Thị Tuyết crosses the finish line and sets a new record in the women's 42km category.

Tuyết as the best runner of the tournament also gets an offer to run in one of the six World Marathon Majors -- Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon -- next season.

The organisers also presented bonuses to winners of the 21km Nguyễn Đăng Khoa (men) and Phạm Thị Thúy Hạnh (women), champions of the 10km Lý Nhân Tín (men) and Nguyễn Thị Phương Trinh (women) and 5km Mao Quốc Tiến (men) and Hà Thị Cẩm Anh (women).

"The fifth season was super successful and featured many new milestones as well as records from runners," said Trương Cảnh Tuyên, standing vice chairman of Hầu Giang People's Committee.

"It is the largest competition of its kind, attracting a huge number of domestic and foreign athletes, bringing the image of Hậu Giang land and its people together as friends.

"Under the theme Shine Together the marathon definitely made its mark. We hope that, from here in Hậu Giang, runners will go on in the future to join other world events."

International Vietcombank Mekong Delta Marathon is one of the Vietnam Nexus Marathon Series, a road marathon event system organised and operated to international standards by Nexus Sport Events. Runners taking part in the VNMS will experience a professional, standardised race system certified by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS) and have their own scoring systems and point tables that give them opportunities to receive prizes of up to VNĐ100 million. VNS