Hanoi: Nguyn Th Oanh and Ho ng Nguyªn Thanh asserted their dominance as Vietnam's top runners by clinching victory at the Vietnam International Half Marathon (VIHM), marking the first running event of the year on January 1.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Oanh successfully defended her title in the women's 21km category, finishing with a time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 37 seconds. This victory marks her fourth consecutive win in the event since its inception in 2023. Oanh expressed her excitement about starting 2026 with a win, noting that the new route, which led runners out of the city center, presented unique challenges with its bridges. She highlighted the vibrant atmosphere shared by the 7,000 participants.
In the women's race, Lª Th? Lam secured second place, achieving her personal best time of 1:18.22, followed by Nguy?n Kh¡nh Ly at 1:21.31. The men's competition saw a close contest between Ho ng Nguyªn Thanh, SEA Games champion Nguy?n Trung Cu?ng, and Kenyan runner Edwin Kiptoo. Thanh emerged victorious with a time of 1:07.42, marking a successful comeback after missing last year's event. Cu?ng and Kiptoo followed in second and third place, respectively, with Cu?ng finishing at 1:11.06.
In other categories, T²ng Van Ho n and B¹i Thu H?ng were the winners of the men's and women's 10km races. Meanwhile, Luong ?c Phu?c and B¹i Th? Thu H , both medallists from the 33rd SEA Games, claimed victory in the men's and women's 5km races.