Culture - Sports

Canadian, Belgian runners win Vietnam Jungle Marathon

Jeff Campbell from Canada and Vanja Cnops from Belgium won the 70km category of the Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VJM) held in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in central Thanh Hoa province at last weekend.
Canadian, Belgian runners win Vietnam Jungle Marathon ảnh 1Vanja Cnops on the way to winning the 70km category. (Photo courtesy of the organisers)
Thanh Hoa (VNS/VNA) - Jeff Campbell from Canada andVanja Cnops from Belgium won the 70km category of the Vietnam Jungle Marathon(VJM) held in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in central Thanh Hoa province at lastweekend.

Campbell finished first in the men’s event in seven hours.

“It was a beautiful course, one of the most beautiful I have everrun," Campbell said.

"It was challenging, and there were many strong runners.Hisashi Kitamura (the past champion from Japan) was pushing the pace early on,but then he was struggling a bit on some of the climbs, so I separated and ranthe rest on my own. All the crew were amazing, thank you to everyone that madeit a great event.”

Cnops, the winner of the women’s 70km, said this was her fifthtime racing in Vietnam at the Topas Vietnam Trail Series races, having alsotaken part in the Vietnam Mountain Marathon in Sa Pa and Vietnam Trail Marathonin Moc Chau.

When asked why she keeps coming back to Topas races in Vietnam,she said: “Because they are so well organised and it is so beautiful in Vietnam,so I love to come back every time. This time the course was really beautiful ingreat weather.”

The 42km male winner was Darren Southcott from the UK. He said:“It was amazing, super well organised and the scenery is absolutely stunning.”

On staying in remote Ban Hang village which is turned into a trailrunner’s village for the race, he added: “It’s somewhere I would not have cometo otherwise. Super friendly people and a fantastic atmosphere. The crew weresuper helpful, very encouraging, it was super well organised.”

Actor Nhan Phuc Vinh also finished the 70km. He said: “It wasgreat, and next time I will do the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 100km!”

All Vietnam Trail Series races organised by Topas have a strongcharitable focus and the total now raised through all Vietnam Trail Series racesfor good causes is almost 364,000 USD.

As well as local projects, charities that have benefited from the VietnamTrail Series races include Hue Help, Newborns Vietnam, Operation Smile and BlueDragon Children’s Foundation.

Funds over the past two years from VJM have been used for drowningprevention programmes in the areas surrounding the VJM race course.

In 2022, Topas will work with the finish line village, Ban Hang,to build new rooms at the village school which is in need of expansion andrepair.

Alongside this other charitable work, a group of 50 from BlueDragon Children’s Foundation was supported to join the VJM this year.

Co-CEO of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, Do Duy Vi said anumber of children from his organisation took part in the junior races.

“The kids who joined from Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation had anincredible experience," he said.

"Two of them made it onto the overall podium and many ontothe under 12 and under 16 podiums. They loved their time at the race and itwill be a great memory for them. They will also now be inspired to keep runningand to get ready for their next trail, the Vietnam Trail Marathon in Moc Chau.”/.
VNA
#Vietnam Jungle Marathon#marathon#race#Vietnam Plus#Vietnam News Agency#Thanh Hoa province
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