Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ celebrates her win at the Tiền Phong Newspaper National Marathon Championship on Sunday. Photo tienphong.vn

GIA LAI — Vietnamese national team runners Hoàng Nguyên Thanh and Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ triumphed in the men’s and women’s marathon event of the Tiền Phong Newspaper National Marathon Championship in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai yesterday.

This is the second time in a row Thanh has took the title of this category after the race held in Lý Sơn Island, Quãng Ngãi Province last year.

Thanh won with a time of 2:26.56, followed by Bùi Thế Anh of the Military team with a time of 2:29.03 and Phạm Tiến Sản of Bắc Giang with a time of 2:29.51.

"Today's race was very difficult with many slopes. In the first 30km, I had to compete fiercely with Anh of the Military team. The last kilometres I could speed up. I am very happy as I defended my title in the marathon event successfully. The result in this race is the best achievement in my career up to now,” said Thanh.

The title in this event will be a driving force for Thanh to seek a gold medal in the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Việt Nam later this year.

On the women’s side, SEA Games bronze medallist Lệ finished first with a time of 2:52.13. Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa of Bình Phước and Lèo Thị Tình of Sơn La were the runners-up.

Lệ had carefully prepared for this year's race and travelled to Gia Lai in early March to train.

"The track was quite challenging for the athletes because of many ramps, but I didn't feel pressured because I carefully prepared for the race. I am very happy to triumph in this year’s event," said Lệ.

In the 21km event, former SEA Games champion in the 5,000m and 10,000m Nguyễn Văn Lai of the Military team won by clocking a time of 1:12.10.

Meanwhile, Đỗ Quốc Luật of the Military team won the men’s professional 10km event with a time of 32:34, leaving behind Lê Trung Đức of Thanh Hóa and his teammate Nguyễn Quốc Anh.

Luật is SEA Games defending champion in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.

The race saw a record of the largest number of participants with about 5,000 registered in both professional and amateur categories. — VNS