Foreign runners leave their mark at VnExpress Marathon 2022

Alexandre Videau from France: runner-up, 10km distance

The VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2022 on November 27 witnessed fierce rivalry between Vietnamese Cao Ha and Frenchman Alexandre Videau in the last kilometers of the men’s 10km race.

Crossing the finish line a few seconds after Ha, Videau felt a little bit of regret. However, he made an impression with his efforts all the way to the finish line, and ended up the only foreigner to receive a top prize in the 10km distance at the Hanoi night race.

Videau has lived and worked in Vietnam for many years.

In 2020, Videau and his friend Chris Devoize took 20 orphans from Elite Orphans running club to participate in VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon. He founded the club to train orphans to become runners, contributing to building Vietnamese sports spirit.

Alexandre Videau at VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2022. Photo by VM

Marlon from the Philippines: top 7 overall, 21km distance

VnExpress Marathon Marvelous Nha Trang this year attracted a large number of foreign participants, including a group of runners from the Philippines. One of them was Marlon, who completed 21km in 1 hour and 18 minutes to stand third in the under-30 age group and seventh overall.

“I was quite surprised with the result, although it was not my best one,” Marlon said. The 21-year-old runner revealed that he would compete at the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh.

Marlon at VM Nha Trang. Photo by VM

Sueyoshi Tomohiro, Japan, top 3 for 40-49 age group, 42km distance

Akane Nemoto, Harada Tamae and Sueyoshi Tomohiro, who are all Japanese living and working in Vietnam, were among the Top 30 at VnExpress Marathon Ha Long.

Tomohiro, ranked 22nd, previously finished two VnExpress Marathon tournaments in Hue and Quy Nhon with results that were close to sub3 full marathon. He ranked second at VnExpress Marathon Spakling Quy Nhon and third at VnExpress Marathon Amazing Ha Long for the 40-49 age group.

Sueyoshi Tomohiro at VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon. Photo by VM

Harada Tamae from Japan: top 2 for 31-39 age group, 42km distance

Harada Tamae finished second in the 42km distance of the 31-39 age group at VM Hue, ranked 23rd overall in VM Hue and VM Quy Nhon 2022.

At VM Amazing Ha Long, she maintained her position in the top 50. “I want to enjoy all the tournaments of VnExpress Marathon,” she said.

After nearly 10 years of running, Tamae is familliar with most marathons in Vietnam.

“I like running in Vietnam more than Japan. In Japan, there is no organization that holds competitions across the country like VnExpress Marathon,” said the Japanese runner.

Harada Tamae at VM Quy Nhon. Photo by VM

Akane Nemoto from Japan: top 5 in 31-39 age group, 42km distance

Akane Nemoto has lived and worked in Vietnam for 5 years, participating in many VnExpress Marathon races.

In VM Hue 2022, she reached sub3 full marathon for the first time.

“That’s the goal I always aspire to conquer after six years of running. It’s great to have broken my limit at VnExpress Marathon,” Nemoto said.

For the Japanese runner, Vietnamese marathons help her discover the Vietnamese culture, people and nature.

Akane Nemoto. Photo by VM

Andrea Tucker from South Africa

Andrea Tucker registered for VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2022 to experience the feeling of running at night.

Having attended many tournaments in Austria and Italy, that was the first time she joined a marathon in Asia.

“I found out about Hanoi night race when looking for interesting marathons around the world, and then decided to come to Vietnam,” said the runner from South Africa.

VnExpress Marathon tournaments 2023 have welcomed a large number of foreign athletes to sign up. The Ho Chi Minh City night run, which will be held in February, has attracted more than 100 foreign registrants.

Andrea Tucker at VM Hanoi Midnight 2022. Photo by VM