Khanh Hoa 2023 VnExpress Marathon Marvelous Nha Trang 42km champion Hiroki Nakajima was surprised to beat Kenyan runner Victor Chepkwony by nearly 8 minutes.
"I didn't expect to come first. I saw a Kenyan runner, and he chased me for most of the way. I know Kenyan runners are very strong, so I tried to run as fast as I could. Luckily, I came first with the expected result. This is a very good result for me," Nakajima shared.
Nakajima rejoices before reaching the finish line at VnExpress Marathon Marvelous Nha Trang 2023. Photo: Lam Thoa
Nakajima, who was little known before the race, surprised many by taking the lead 30 minutes into the race and holding onto it until the end. The Japanese runner finished in 2 hours, 33 minutes, 54 seconds, nearly eight minutes faster than second-placed Victor Chepkwony, who was considered the leading candidate for the men's full marathon title before the race.
To date, Nakajima’s personal best (PR) is 2 hours 23 minutes, while Chepkwony’s is 2 hours 19 minutes. After the race ended, the two runners shook hands and agreed to compete again in the next tournaments. Nakajima’s victory in Nha Trang today shows the unpredictability of the marathon with many influencing factors. Athletes with good PR do not necessarily have the advantage.
This is not the first time Nakajima has come to Vietnam to compete. He participated in a half marathon in Da Nang in 2018 and also won another in Ho Chi Minh City. The Japanese runner said he and his wife searched online for marathons in August and chose the VnExpress Marathon Marvelous Nha Trang. His wife - Tomomi Nakajima - also impressed when she finished second in the women's 42km distance with a time of 3 hours 1 minute 25 seconds.
Nakajima and Chepkwony pose together after competing at the VnExpress Marathon Marvelous Nha Trang. Photo: Quynh Chi
"We don't have enough money to participate in many tournaments. When we have time, we will look for potential tournaments. I found that VnExpress Marathon Marvelous Nha Trang was professionally organized, with many water stations and enthusiastic volunteers to support me so I could compete with peace of mind. The weather in Nha Trang is not as hot as where I live, in Osaka, Japan, but the high humidity challenges my endurance," Nakajima said.
Nakajima is the first Japanese champion in the VnExpress Marathon system, promising to pave the way for many runners from the land of the rising sun to come to the races in the system. With a long running tradition, Japanese runners will be a strong opponent for Kenyan runners like Chepkwony or Shelith Nyawira Muriuki - the female champion of 42km.
Quynh Chi
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