Veteran Kenyan runner to compete in VnExpress Marathon Hue

“I am ready for my first tournament in Vietnam, with the goal of winning the full marathon,” Chepkwony said. He will fly from Bangkok to Vietnam for the race.

Victor Chepkwony at the finish line of the Phang-nga International Marathon in 2022. Photo by Phang-nga Marathon

The Kenyan professional athlete set a Personal Best (PB) by finishing the full marathon in 2 hours and 19 minutes at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2019.

In 2022, Chepkwony finished second in the Phetchaburi Marathon with a time of 2 hours and 25 minutes. He won the Songkla Marathon in 2 hours and 29 minutes and the Phang-nga Marathon in 2 hours and 22 minutes.

The 26-year-old runner said he has yet to reach his PB goal.

“There are many factors that influence individual performance like the track, the weather, the opponent, and some other technical ones. I hope the VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue 2023 running race would be favorable for me to set a new personal record.”

Victor Chepkwony trains at his hometown in Kenya to prepare for VnExpress Marathon Hue. Photo courtesy of Chepkwony

In February, another Kenyan runner, Ezekiel Kemboi Omullo, won the VnExpress Midnight Marathon in Ho Chi Minh City by completing the full marathon in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 3 seconds, the fastest record ever for the 42-km race of VnExpress Marathon.

Like Ezekiel, Chepkwony is a member of the professional running team Dever. He has competed in some tournaments in Southeast Asia in recent years.

“I have never been to and rarely hear about Vietnam, so I am very excited to know more about the Vietnamese culture and experiences on the occasion of VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue,” Chepkwony said.

VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue 2023 will take place on April 16. Some 10,000 runners will go past ancient landmarks of the former imperial capital.