Koji Nishizawa from Japan and Vietnam's Hoang Thi Thanh won the men's and women's marathon (42km) at the Danang International Marathon Race on August 30.

This was the second time in a row that Thanh, a member of the national athletics team of Viet Nam, won the title.

"It's a great honour for me to clinch the title again. The cool weather helped me and all participants during the race," Thanh said after crossing the finish line.

"The race is actually a tough test for us in preparation for major races in the future."

In the half-marathon (21km) event, Vietnam's Le Van Tuan finished first in the men's division, while Japanese Uekuma Hiromi from Japan stood on the victory podium for the women's event.

The race, which was organised in the city for the third time, drew 4,200 runners from 37 countries and territories competing in the marathon, half marathon and Fun Walk (5km).

The ‘Run for Peace' race, was organised by the city's Culture, Sport and Tourism Department, the World Marathon Company and Pulse Active.

It is the first Vietnamese marathon certified by the International Amateur Athletics Association-Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, and used the automatic timing system, the Chronotrack, to clock runners' times.

According to the organising committee, athletes who finish the Danang International Marathon Race are eligible to participate in the Boston Marathon.

Last year's race involved 4,000 participants, 400 of whom were professional athletes from 27 countries and territories.

VNS