VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Tien Hung defended his title in the men’s 42km category at the Long Bien Marathon 2018 on Sunday.

Nguyen Tien Hung at the Long Bien Marathon 2018 on Sunday. — Photo webthethao.vn

Phu Tho Province runner finished in a time of 02:43.06. Cao Ngoc Ha, who finished second in the Viet Nam Mountain Marathon (VMM) 2016 in Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province, was the runner-up with a time of 02:50.18. Hugo Page of UNIS School in Hanoi came third with a time of 02:51.49.

Hung, 34, is considered the best amateur runner in the country now. He has beat more than 200 rivals from across the world to win the men’s 100km event at the VMM 2018, the country’s biggest ever mountain race in September.

On the women’s side, Nguyen Linh Chi won the title after clocking a time of 03:10:26, followed by Nguyen Thi Duong with a time of 03:44.29 and Nguyen Phuong Thuy in 03:48.47.

The race attracted around 2,500 participants from 25 countries, competing in 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km races with beautiful routes through high class residences and scenic rice paddies.

It is the only marathon in northern Vietnam that is an official International Association of Athletics Federations – Association of International Marathons event.

The not-for-profit event aimed to connect communities and build awareness of running. It also supported the Long Bien Fund for Challenged Households. 

Participants set off in Long Bien District on Sunday. — Photo webthethao.vn

Source: VNS