HA NOI (VNS)— Nguyen Thi Phuong won her third gold medal in a row in the women's 5,250m event of the HaNoiMoi (New Ha Noi) newspaper's Run for Peace yesterday in the capital.

Phuong of Thanh Hoa Province first took part in the race back in 2006 and won her first title in 2010.

"I feel as happy as I did the first time I was on the podium. The quality of my rivals is improving each year, and it's getting harder to win," said Phuong.

She was followed by Nguyen Thi Xuan Tot of Khanh Hoa and Loan Thi Dinh from the Border Guards.

In the men's event, Pham Ngoc Hoang of Khanh Hoa took the gold medal in the 8,750m category

Hoang has taken part in the tournament for several years, but it was the first time he has tasted triumph.

Second and third places went to Le Trong Giang of Thanh Hoa and Nguyen Dang Duc Bao of Khanh Hoa.

The success of the Khanh Hoa runners helped them win the women's and men's team events.

Run for Peace also attracted a number of foreigners living in the city.

Mel Hamada of the United Nations International School won the foreign women's category while her colleague Hugo Page took the men's event.

The organisers also presented prizes to winners of the secondary school, university, worker and soldier categories.

The 39th run, which drew the participation of more than 1,200 racers, was one of many activities to celebrate the 58th anniversary of Ha Noi's liberation, which falls on October 10, and marks the 55th anniversary of the newspaper.

Organisers also presented VND50 million (US$2,400) to Ha Noi's Fund for the Poor. — VNS