Hoang Nguyen Thanh and Nguyen Thi Oanh break the national record of 21km.

Hanoi Two national athletes Hoang Nguyen Thanh and Nguyen Thi Oanh won the 21km distance of the Vietnam International Half Marathon with a national record.

Nguyen Thanh led the group behind for most of the race on the morning of January 1, 2024. The athlete from the Binh Phuoc athletics team won the 21km advanced event with a time of 1 hour 6 minutes 39 seconds, far surpassing Namkhet Sanchai - the Thai runner who finished second with a time of 1 hour 7 minutes 56 seconds.

Hoang Nguyen Thanh finished first in the Vietnam International Half Marathon on the morning of January 1. Photo: VIHM — Hoang Nguyen Thanh finished first in the Vietnam International Half Marathon on the morning of January 1. Photo: *VIHM*

This distance saw the participation of many strong athletes such as Nguyen Van Lai - who finished third with 1 hour 8 minutes 32 seconds, Luong Duc Phuoc (fourth - 1 hour 10 minutes 44 seconds) or Kenyan runner Victor Chepkwony Kipkemei (fifth - 1 hour 10 minutes 50 seconds). At the beginning of the race, Nguyen Thanh fiercely competed for the leading position with Sanchai. But in the second half of the race, he finished alone without encountering any obstacles.

The result of 1 hour 6 minutes 39 seconds helped Nguyen Thanh set a new national record in the men's 21km distance. This record previously belonged to Do Quoc Luat, with 1 hour 7 minutes 99 seconds.

Similarly, in the advanced 21km category for women, Nguyen Thi Oanh set a national record of 1 hour 15 minutes 10 seconds , breaking her own previous record of 1 hour 15 minutes 24 seconds. The Bac Giang runner also defended the championship she won in this tournament last year.

Nguyen Thi Oanh's main rival throughout the race was her junior on the national team, Le Thi Tuyet. The national marathon champion from Phu Yen led her senior for most of the race. However, using a wind-hiding tactic, Nguyen Thi Oanh pulled away in the final meters to win.

Nguyen Thi Oanh competes with Le Thi Tuyet in the advanced women's 21km event at the Vietnam International Half Marathon on the morning of January 1, 2024. Photo: VIHM — Nguyen Thi Oanh competes with Le Thi Tuyet in the advanced women's 21km event at the Vietnam International Half Marathon on the morning of January 1, 2024. Photo: *VIHM*

In the women's 10km advanced category, Pham Thi Hue (36 minutes) defeated two juniors Doan Thu Hang (37 minutes 32 seconds) and Dinh Thi Thu Huong (41 minutes 23 seconds) to take first place. In the men's 10km advanced category, the championship belonged to Nguyen Trung Cuong (32 minutes 09), after the Ha Tinh runner surpassed Luong Xuan Son (34 minutes 14 seconds) and Ha Minh Thai (38 minutes 43 seconds).

Results of some other events of the 2024 Vietnam International Half Marathon

21km men's amateur: Dinh Thanh Hue (1 hour 13 minutes 9 seconds), Dang Anh Quyet (1 hour 13 minutes 24 seconds), Lo Van Hong (1 hour 15 minutes 24 seconds).

21km women's amateur: Nong Thi Chang (1 hour 28 minutes 1 second), Le Minh Tuan (1 hour 30 minutes 3 seconds), Nguyen Thi Tra Giang (1 hour 30 minutes 31 seconds).

10km men's amateur: Le Anh Hao (35 minutes 52 seconds), Cam Ba Dinh (38 minutes 53 seconds), Nguyen Xuan Loi (40 minutes 34 seconds).

10km women's amateur: Doan Thi Oanh (41 minutes 5 seconds), Le Thi Thanh Quynh (41 minutes 27 seconds), Nguyen Hanh (41 minutes 40 seconds).

Quynh Chi

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