Dong Nai athletics targets marathon gold at Tien Phong Marathon 2026

The 67th National Marathon Championship - Tien Phong Newspaper 2026 will take place in Khanh Hoa province this weekend. Dong Nai athletics is highly determined to win the gold medal in the marathon, an event counted toward the medal tally of the 10th National Sports Games in 2026.

Athlete Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa (Dong Nai) trains to get herself familiar with the race route at the 67th National Marathon Championship – Tien Phong Newspaper 2026.

Dong Nai’s athletics team competes in the 67th National Marathon Championship – Tien Phong Newspaper 2026 with 17 athletes competing in various distances.

Since March 18, the team has sent three coaches and 17 athletes to Nha Trang for early training to acclimate to the course and competition conditions. The lineup features key athletes such as Hoang Nguyen Thanh, Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa, Luong Duc Phuoc, Sam Van Doi, along with promising young runner Nguyen Hoang Thinh.

Hoang Nguyen Thanh, winner of the men’s 42.195km marathon in 2025, is Dong Nai’s leading gold medal hope at this year’s competition.

Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa (Dong Nai), the 2025 women’s marathon champion.

According to the coaching staff, the team’s objective is to achieve the best possible results in its strongest events. In particular, in the 42.195 km marathon, which counts towards the National Sports Games 2026, Dong Nai is targeting gold medals in both the men’s and women’s marathons. These are also the most promising events, as the team has experienced long-distance runners. 

The 67th National Marathon Championship – Tien Phong Newspaper 2026 will be held in Khanh Hoa province from March 27 to 29, carrying the inspiring message “Welcoming the Sunrise.” The event not only features a record participation of over 12,000 athletes but also marks a turning point as marathon results are now included in the National Sports Games.

In the men’s 42.195km marathon, Dong Nai’s gold hopes rest on Hoang Nguyen Thanh, who has dominated Vietnam’s marathon scene for nearly a decade and is widely regarded as the “king” of this distance. Nguyen Thanh has claimed six consecutive titles at the National Marathon Championship - Tien Phong Newspaper and is also the reigning champion in the men’s marathon (42.195 km).

Meanwhile, the reigning women’s marathon 42.195 km champion Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa is also expected to win a gold medal for Dong Nai. However, at this year’s competition, Ngoc Hoa faces stiff competition from Pham Thi Hong Le (Gia Lai), who is currently in excellent form. Recently, Pham Thi Hong Le defeated Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa to win the 31st National Cross-Country Mountain-Climbing Tournament “Conquering Ba Ra Peak” in 2026 held earlier this year in Dong Nai. 

Coach Nguyen Ngoc Quang (third from left) and Dong Nai athletes are in Khanh Hoa to acclimate to local weather conditions.

Apart from the marathon, Dong Nai athletics also aims to compete for medals in the men’s 10 km elite and men’s 10 km youth events. National team athletes Luong Duc Phuoc and Sam Van Doi are expected to shine in the men’s 10 km elite, with Duc Phuoc having won a silver medal in the 10 km event for men in 2025.

In addition, young athletes Nguyen Hoang Thinh, Nguyen Xuan Toan, and Le Kim Duong are given the opportunity to compete in the men’s 10 km youth category to gain experience and gradually assert themselves at a higher level.

Athlete Hoang Nguyen Thanh said, “To prepare for the 67th National Marathon Championship – Tien Phong Newspaper 2026, I have been training intensively according to the coach’s program. My goal is to be in the best possible condition to achieve the highest results at this competition.”

Sharing ahead of the competition, coach Nguyen Ngoc Quang said, “The entire Dong Nai athletics team has prepared thoroughly in recent times and is ready to compete at the Tien Phong Marathon 2026. The athletes have undergone high-volume, high-intensity training to ensure optimal fitness and form. The team’s goal is to strive for gold in the marathon event, while also competing for medals in other disciplines. However, this year’s tournament gathers many strong athletes from across the country, so our runners must stay focused and give their maximum effort if they hope to achieve the best results.”

With a lineup of experienced athletes, Dong Nai athletics is expected to make a strong mark at the National Marathon Championship – Tien Phong Newspaper 2026, further affirming its position within the national athletics system.

By Huy Anh – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho