Marathon

Triệu Tiến Luyện celebrates his win at the third VnExpress Marathon Nha Trang 2024 on August 11. Photos VnExpress Marathon

KHÁNH HÒA Triệu Tiến Luyện beat all rivals, including those from world running hub Kenya, to win the third VnExpress Marathon Nha Trang 2024 yesterday in Nha Trang City, Khánh Hòa Province.

Luyện was among national elite runners such as Đan Quyết, Dan Lee, Hứa Thuận Long, Bá Thành and Hoàng Hơn and international marathoners including Kenyan Kimutai Hillary Kipchumba at the 42km start line.

The group quickly separated from the whole crowd and maintained their pace of 3.45-3.50 in the first 20km, using the negative split plan for their race.

Luyện escaped from the group when they reached Lương Sơn Pass at the mark of 30km and he successfully ran solo to the finish without any challenge from other runners.

He won the first title of the VnExpress Marathon series in a time of 2hr 39.27min.

Kipchumba came second at 2:42.56 and Long third in 2:43.13.

Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ runs in the women's 42km category, winning in a time of 3:00.18.

In the women's race, former national runner Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ secured her 10th VnExpress Marathon series victory after a solo run from the beginning to the end.

Former SEA Games 10,000m champion Lệ finished the run in 3:00.18, becoming the most successful winner of the series.

Nguyễn Thị Thúy Vân (3:07.07) and Lê Minh Tuân (3:09.28) were second and third, respectively.

In the 21km distance the familiar faces Nguyễn Trung Cường and Đoàn Thu Hằng took the men's and women's top podiums, respectively.

Cường's run defied experts' predictions of an aggressive competition between the runners in the men's race. He took off from the pack early and set up a big gap with the nearest rivals, comfortably crossing the line in 1:10.59.

However the 24-year-old marathoner regretted not beating his own target of running sub 70 minutes.

Trương Chí Tâm (1:13.48) and Trịnh Quốc Lượng (1:14.37) were, respectively, second and third.

Hằng meanwhile was in a one-on-one race with strong rival Bùi Thị Thu Hà in the women's class, both of them having won in this category in the previous outings.

Hằng could only run away from Hà at about 200m to the end, winning in a time of 1:23.23.

Hà was 14 seconds behind her, while Lê Thị Yến Như placed third on 1:25.45.

The winners of the 10km events were Đào Minh Thiện who ran in 33 minutes in the men's side and Lê Bảo Ngọc who finished in 43 min in the women's.

Đào Minh Chí (16.03) and Hoàng Khánh Ly (20.47) secured top places in the men's and women's 5km categories.

Athletes at the start line of the VnExpress Marathon Nha Trang 2024.

More than 9,000 runners checked into the tournament, making it the largest ever event in three seasons.

They shared a bonus of more than VNĐ1 billion (US$39,500) while all finishers received medals. VNS