Oanh set a personal record of 4 minutes and 12.28 seconds, which was only 13th out of 14 athletes competing in the third race. The heats had four races, with only the top six from each advancing to the semifinals.

Nguyen Thi Oanh competes at SEA Games 32 in May 2023.

In the same race as Oanh, there were two other athletes who also set personal records, but also didn’t get through. To reach the semifinals, Oanh would have had to beat Australian sprinter Linden Hall's time of 4 minutes 01.45 seconds.

Overall, Oanh ranked 51st out of 56 athletes. Among Asian athletes, the 28-year-old ranked behind two Japanese sprinters, Nozomi Tanaka with 4 minutes and 4.36 seconds and Yume Goto with 4 minutes and 10.22 seconds.

Topping the heat was the 20-year-old sprinter Nelly Chepchirchir from Kenya, who finished her run in 4 minutes and 0.87 seconds, nearly 12 seconds ahead of Oanh.

At the 2018 Asian Games, Oanh finished fourth in the final of the women’s 1,500m event on 4 minutes and 15.49 seconds. If Oanh continues to improve her performance, she can compete for a medal at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September 2023.

Oanh was six seconds faster than her time at the Asian Athletics Championships in July, when she finished fifth with 4 minutes and 18.84 seconds.

However, Oanh still couldn’t break the national record held by Truong Thanh Hang at the 2010 Asian Games with 4 minutes and 9.58 seconds. Hang also holds the SEA Games record for the women’s 1,500m, with 4 minutes and 11.6 seconds in 2007.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships is taking place in Budapest, Hungary from August 19-27. Oanh is the only Vietnamese athlete in the tournament, thanks to a special qualification as her result was not enough to qualify on merit.

Bac Giang province honors and rewards star runner Nguyen Thi Oanh

(BGO) - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Bac Giang provincial Party Committee (PPC), Head of the Provincial National Assembly Duong Van Thai on May 11 led a delegation to visit and congratulate family of athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh in Nhuan village, My Ha commune (Lang Giang district).  

Nguyen Thi Oanh wins miracle double gold in 30 minutes

Despite facing an arduous challenge due to schedule change, Nguyen Thi Oanh did a miracle run to win goal medals in the 1,500 m run and 3,000 m hurdles in just 30 minutes. Oanh is currently the best middle-distance runner in Southeast Asia. She attended the first SEA Games in 2013 and won a silver medal in the 3,000 m hurdles. She has dominated this event for the last three SEA Games editions.

Bac Giang star runner Nguyen Thi Oanh secures two golds in just 20 minutes

Vietnamese runner Nguyen Thi Oanh pocketed two gold medals in just 20 minutes at the ongoing 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) in Cambodia on May 9.

Bac Giang runner Nguyen Thi Oanh wins gold medal at SEA Games 32

(BGO)- On May 8 afternoon, female track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh from Bac Giang province competed in women’s 5,000m event at SEA Games 32. The golden girl of Vietnam’s track and field pocketed a gold medal with a record of 17 minutes and 0.28 seconds. Her teammate Pham Thi Hong Le bagged a silver medal.

Athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh takes Asian Indoor Championship title

(BGO) - Bac Giang born athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh made a triumphant statement by securing a gold medal in the women's 1,500-metre event at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2023 in Astana City, Kazakhstan, on February 11.

Source: VnExpress