Kiptoo rematches Nguyen Van Lai in the race with the highest prize money in Vietnam

The race route of VnExpress Marathon Volvo All Star 2025 crosses the Vietnam space center - Photo: Organizing Committee

VnExpress Marathon Volvo All Star 2025 will take place on Sunday, April 20, with the race route at Hoa Lac High-Tech Park ( Hanoi ). The tournament attracts nearly 2,000 domestic and foreign athletes.

This is the first race in Vietnam dedicated to the two distances of 21km and 42km that require entry results to be reviewed. The conditions for participation are that male athletes must have a time of under 4 hours (42km) and under 2 hours (21km), while for women, it is under 5 hours (42km) and 2 hours 30 minutes (21km).

According to the latest information from the organizers, the tournament will have the participation of Edwin Yebei Kiptoo - the Kenyan runner who "made waves" and won most of the Vietnamese races in 2024.

Waiting for Kiptoo will be the "veteran" of Vietnamese athletics, Nguyen Van Lai. At a race in November 2024, Van Lai defeated Kiptoo with a breakthrough at the finish line.

VnExpress Marathon Volvo All Star 2025 will also have the participation of athletes Hoang Nguyen Thanh, Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa, Pham Thi Hong Le and other top amateur runners.

The track is designed to approximate major standards, with flat asphalt, little slope, only 9 bends and one common turning point. The total elevation difference is about 100m. The track has been measured and certified by the Vietnam Athletics Federation.

The 42km result can be used to register for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda system, aiming for the 2026 World Championship.

On the race course, water stations are arranged every 1.8km, increasing in density from km16 to km34 - the time when athletes are likely to "hit the wall". In parallel, there are 10 medical stations, mobile medical vehicles, and ambulances always on duty.

The tournament is supported by more than 900 logistics personnel (including crew and volunteers), along with a force of more than 200 medical staff, doctors, and police, ensuring safe and professional operations.

The route has been measured and certified by the Vietnam Athletics Federation - Photo: Organizing Committee

According to Mr. Pham Trong Nghiep - head of the organizing committee of the VnExpress Marathon 2025 system - the tournament aims for a specialized standard, creating the best competition conditions, aiming to help athletes achieve PR (best personal achievement).

The prize structure is also a special feature of VnExpress Marathon with the largest total cash value in Vietnam of 700 million VND. The overall first prize receives 100 million VND, the next prizes are 50, 40, 30 and 20 million VND. In addition, the organizing committee also honored according to 4 age groups, awarding trophies to the top 3 men/women with good achievements in each group.

On April 19 , athletes will receive race-kits at Tasco Mall (Long Bien), visit the Expo area with activities such as test driving, games, and music.

The main competition day is April 20 , the 42km distance starts at 5am, the 21km distance starts at 5:30am, from the National Innovation Center (Hoa Lac) to the finish line at FPT Software headquarters.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kiptoo-tai-dau-nguyen-van-lai-o-giai-chay-co-tien-thuong-cao-nhat-viet-nam-20250415163429464.htm