Varied events for professionals, amateurs and youth will see competitors race on Tran Phu Road, along the beautiful Nha Trang beach.

At a press conference in Ha Noi yesterday, Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper, the event organiser, announced that the 21km half marathon will debut at this event, along with the traditional professional 10km run for men and 5km for women. Youth and amateur men’s 7km and women’s 3km races will also take place.

The races, which is funded by Indochina Airlines, are expected to be a tough test for participants in the lead-up to the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos this December.

The event, the biggest of its kind in Viet Nam, carries total prize money exceeding VND120 million (US$6,800).

According to the head of athletics section of the Viet Nam Sports Administration, Duong Duc Thuy, more foreigners are expected to participate in the race with the launch of the new half marathon, which is open to both amateur and professional athletes.

Thuy, who also coaches the national track and field team, added that all national members would take part in the race this year to gear up for the SEA Games.

The country’s biggest marathon has seen Hanoian Bui Luong win nine titles, and Nam Dinh’s Nguyen Van Thuyet win six on the men’s side. On the women’s side, Ha Noi’s Dang Thi Teo and Nghe Tinh’s Tran Thi Xoa took seven and six titles respectively.

Runners from Khanh Hoa have clinched the overall title 11 times, ahead of second-ranked former Ha Tay who have taken victory 10 times.

Defending champion Truong Thanh Hang may not participate in this year’s marathon due to dispute with her former HCM City team.

SEA Games winner Hang said good-bye to the team but she has not joined any other club and tournament rules do not allow free athlete to compete.

The top national runner, who has won the tournament the last five times in a row, said she would not compete, but asked organisers to let her run the event as practise.

VietNamNet/VNS