Runner Hoang Nguyen Thanh was surprised with his achievement at the Hong Kong Marathon last weekend, and is waiting for the Vietnam Athletics Federation to recognize the record.
"I have planned for a long time and prepared very carefully for the tournament. But I am also surprised that I have achieved this difficult goal," Hoang Nguyen Thanh told VnExpress this afternoon.
Hoang Nguyen Thanh (right) with coach Tran Doan Minh Thien and Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa after finishing the race at the Hong Kong Marathon on January 21. Photo: Facebook/Hoang Nguyen Thanh
On the morning of January 21, Nguyen Thanh finished 10th overall in the men's full marathon distance of the 2024 Hong Kong Marathon. He achieved a time of 2 hours 18 minutes 42 seconds, thereby breaking the old record set by legend Nguyen Chi Dong with 2 hours 21 minutes 51 seconds when he won the silver medal at the 22nd SEA Games in Hanoi in 2003.
This result also helped Nguyen Thanh set a new personal record, after the mark of 2 hours 25 minutes 07 seconds when he won the marathon gold medal at the 31st SEA Games in My Dinh, Hanoi in 2022. On January 1, Hoang Nguyen Thanh also set a Vietnamese half marathon record with 1 hour 6 minutes 39 seconds at the Vietnam International Half Marathon. These achievements help the Binh Phuoc runner maintain his position as the best marathoner in Vietnam.
Currently, the Vietnam Athletics Federation has not commented on Hoang Nguyen Thanh's new record, similar to the case of Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa - who also broke the Vietnamese women's marathon record with 2 hours 44 minutes 51 when running the Hong Kong Marathon on the same day, January 21.
The Hong Kong Marathon is recognized by World Athletics as the Asian Marathon Championship. The course of the race is also measured by World Athletics and classified as Gold Label Road Races - the world's leading road racing group. Athletes participating in the Hong Kong Marathon can use the results to apply for Olympic qualification - 2 hours 8 minutes 10 seconds for men, and 2 hours 26 minutes 50 seconds for women. Therefore, the possibility of Hoang Nguyen Thanh being recognized by the Vietnam Athletics Federation for his record is very high.
"I believe I will be recognized for the record, but I still have to wait for confirmation from the Federation. Before that, the Federation's General Secretary Nguyen Manh Hung congratulated me," said the 29-year-old runner.
Spring Gentle - Quynh Chi
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