Foreign runners at the event (Photo: hanoimoi.vn) Hanoi (VNA) — More than 1,500 athletes competed indifferent categories for both professional and amateur runners from both Vietnamand abroad in the 47th Ha Noi Moi (New Hanoi) Newspaper Run for Peace heldaround Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of the city on October 2.
Tran Van Dang of the host city and Nguyen Thi Oanh from Bac Giang provincefinished first in the in the men's elite 8.75km category and women's elite5.25km event, respectively.
"As an indoor middle-distance runner I am definitely nottitle favourite when running on road. I didn't think I can beat pro roadrunners, but I do," Dang told said.
"I set to follow my seniors who is a SEA Games triathlonwinner and a SEA Games 10,000m bronze medallist. Even when I was in the leadnear the finish line I was still nervous I would be caught and passed. But Imade it, I won."
Dang said the win will help him be more confident before he takespart in the National Sports Games later this year, when he is to defend histitle in the 800m event.
Benjamin Bruno Orellano from the Embassy of Argentina won themen's race for foreigners and Tracy Ramberg from UNIS school championed thewomen's class.
They participants ran in the 1.75km (one lap around the lake),3.5km (two laps), and 5.25km (three laps) categories for both amateur men andwomen; and women's 5.25km and men's 8.75km (five laps) for pros.
Organisers presented awards for the top five runners in each pooland the three best teams.
The Run for Peace was cancelled for two years in 2020 and 2021because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the annual event, Chu Xuan Dung, Vice Chairman of theHanoi People's Committee, said the Ha Noi Moi Run for Peace has become anannual popular mass sports activity attracting a large number of people fromall walks of life.
"This activity has brought positive impacts to the culturaland spiritual life of Hanoi people. It is one of the most traditional athletictournaments in Vietnam,” he said.
After two years of absence, the number of the participants this yearis higher than in previous events. It shows the development in both quality andscale, confirming the strong influence of this meaningful activity, theofficial added./.
