Vu Thi Huong (C) wins a gold medal in the women’s 100m race

The National Athletic Championships 2009 ended in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday with five new national records established.

The new national records are in women’s 100 meters, men’s pole vault, women’s hammer throw, women’s 4×800m relay and men’s 4×800m relay.

Hanoi topped the tally at the championships with eight gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals. The Army followed with eight gold, two silver and six bronze medals while Vinh Long came in third with five gold, two silver and three bronze.

Hosts Ho Chi Minh City failed to win a single gold medal at the event this year. Its top national athlete Truong Thanh Hang in the women’s 800 meters has left the city citing low pay.

The performance of athletes like Vu Van Huyen in the men’s pole vault and Nguyen Dinh Cuong in the men’s 1,500m is good news for the nation, signaling their good form ahead of the 25^th Southeast Asian Games in Laos in December.

Source: SGGP