Vietnamese takes fourth at Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc
Ha Thi Hau arrived fourth at the 100-km Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) race this year, becoming the first Vietnamese to ever enter the trail’s top ten.
he was also the first Southeast Asian to make it into the top ten.
The 34-year-old made history by finishing the mountain ultramarathon race in Chamonix City on Friday evening in 12 hours 38 minutes and 28 seconds.
Hau finished just 23 seconds after third place in the race’s female category.
The race’s champion was Norwegian athlete Yngvild, who completed the trail in 11 hours 51 minutes and 22 seconds. She was followed by Zimbabwean Emily Hawgood with 12 hours 28 minutes 19 seconds, and American Helen Mino Faukner at 12 hours 38 minutes 05 seconds.
In her first ever bid at the UTMB, Hau remained in the third position until reaching the 70-km checkpoint.
First held in 2003, the UTMB takes place in the Alps once a year on either the last weekend in August or the first weekend of September. It is considered the most competitive trail ultramarathon in the world.
The event is comprised of nine races, including one for kids.
Of the eight races for adults, the shortest is over 13.84 km and longest race has a distance of approximately 171 km, and a total elevation gain of around 10,040 m.
By Thuy Lien – VnExpress.net – September 2, 2023