Nepali runner Deepak Rai wins Everest marathon

Nepali runner Deepak Rai scored three successive victories in the 6th edition of Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, the world's highest altitude marathon on May 29, 2008, a day which was celebrated as the Mt Everest Day to commemorate the first step by humankind on top of the world’s highest peak.

Deepak, the 27-year-old farmer hailing from Solukhumbu district, some 150 km east of Nepali capital Kathmandu, set the record by completing the marathon which runs through highest glaciers of world starting from the base camp of Mt. Everest (Mt. Sagarmatha) at the altitude of 5,364 meters in 3 hours 53 minutes and 14 seconds. Deepak set the record timing in the history of marathon in 2006 by completing the race in 3 hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds.

Deepak was followed by a 20-year-old Phurba Tamang of Lukla, Solukhumbu to become second runner to reach Namche Baazar, the finishing point situated at 3450 meters while a local boy Phuri Sherpa became third by completing the race in 4 hours, 10 minutes and 29 seconds. Japanese national Isihawa Hiroki ran an amazing race to win the men's category for foreigners clocking 5 hours and 25 seconds. The 33-year-old Japanese is an athlete coach by profession.

In the women's section, 25-year-old Ang Phuti Sherpa clocked 5 hours, 33 minutes and 10 seconds to beat two fellow Sherpa girls from the same village. Ang's timing was 5 hours, 33 minutes and 10 seconds. Mingma Chamgi, 20, and Mingma Phuti Sherpa completed the race in second and third places respectively.

The event was participated by a total of 136 runners, including 48 international participants from 16 other countries besides Nepal. The youngest international participant is Jodie Symington, 23, from Britain, while the oldest participant is Japanese Miyano Katsuyoshi, 64.

Since its inception in 2003, Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon has traveled a long way in the annals of adventure sports tourism history. Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon has been included as a major event in International Sagarmatha Day by Nepali government. It signifies the importance of this event both nationally and internationally. Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is getting popular every year bearing its past legacy the most challenging and world's highest marathon. Many runners have joined this marathon this year to raise funds for their philanthropic project creating awareness about this marathon and the cause they propounded. nepalnews.com June 01 08