The Manulife Da Nang International Marathon 2023 officially took place at the city’s East Sea Park on Sunday.

Athletes eager to compete in the race

Launched by the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports and the Pulse Active Company, the event attracted 9,000 runners from all over the world, including nearly 1,500 international athletes from nearly 50 countries and territories, and nearly 800 children in the 1.5km race.

In addition, this year’s competition saw the participation of members from nearly 10 running clubs of Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong (China), and Malaysia.

The runners competed in a 42 km full marathon, a 21 km half marathon, a 10km run, and a 5km run, plus a 1.5km Ronny Dash run for kids aged between 3 and 10.

This year’s competition changed the track in the 42 km full marathon for the first time, aiming to help athletes discover the beauty of Da Nang.

To complete this distance, runners ran through two of the most beautiful coastal roads in the city, namely Vo Nguyen Giap and Nguyen Tat Thanh. They were able to explore famous local tourist spots such as Dragon Bridge, Han River, Son Tra Peninsula, and Marble Mountains. All distances met the standards of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The competition ended with new records set at the 42 km full marathon in both the men's and women's categories. In the men's category, Ethiopian runner Takele Ebisa excellently won the championship with a time of 2 hours 26 mins 11 secs, breaking the old record of the Japanese runners with a time of 2 hours 32 mins 16 secs.

The second prize went to Kenyan runner Kipsang Charles Kipkorir who finished the race in 2 hours 45 mins 25 secs. Meanwhile, the third prize was given to Tran Duy Quang from Viet Nam who finished the race in 2 hours 51 mins 33 secs.

In the women's category, Birehan Marta Tinsae from Ethiopia won the first prize for finishing the race in a time of 2 hours 58 mins 26 secs. The second and third prizes respectively went to Duong Thi Khanh from Viet Nam (3 hours 12 mins 48 secs) and Uchino Satomi from Japan (3 hours 21 mins 24 secs).

In the men's 21 km half marathon, the first prize belonged to Vietnamese runner Pham Tien San with a time of 1 hour 17 mins 14secs. Le Van Thanh and Trinh Minh Tam took the second and third prizes respectively.

In the women's 21 km half marathon, Shelmith Muriuki Nyawira from Kenya grabbed the first prize with a time of 1 hour 21mins 53 secs. The second and third prizes respectively went to two Vietnamese athletes, Thai Thi Kim Ngan and Le Thi Kha Ly.

In the 10km distance, the men's first prize went to French runner Charnet Stephane with a time of 35 mins 11 secs, whilst the women's first prize was presented to Vietnamese runner Nguyen Khanh Ly with a time of 40 mins 33 secs.

Two first prizes in the 5km distance category were taken by male runner Tran Minh Quy (17 mins 51 secs) and female runner Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (19 mins 16 secs).

Winners of the 42km and 21km races earned slots to participate in the Kuala Lumpur Marathon in Malaysia in late September. The fastest male and female Vietnamese athletes competing in the full marathon category won slots to the Sydney Marathon. Besides, the top 15 athletes in the distances received honourary gifts from the organisers.

This year’s race welcomed 9,000 runners from all over the world, including nearly 1,500 international athletes from nearly 50 countries and territories, and nearly 800 children to participate in 1.5km race.

Children participate in the 1.5km run

Birehan Marta Tinsae from Ethiopia wins the women's 42km full marathon with a time of 2 hours 58 mins 26 secs.

In the men's category, Ethiopian runner Takele Ebisa excellently wins the championship with a time of 2 hours 26 mins 11 secs

The organisers honour the top 3 male finishers in the 42km full marathon event

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG