Phurba Tamang, 24, of Khotang won the 10th edition of the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon for the third time in the open category completing the race in 3 hours, 41 minutes and 31 second held on Tuesday.

Dubbed as “World Highest Marathon”, the event started from expeditionary Everest Base Camp (5364 meter), near Khumbu Glacier and ended at Namche Bazaar (3446 meter), covering a distance of 42.195 km.

Similarly, Kumar Raj Bhandari finished second completing the race in 3 hours, 54 minutes and 51 seconds while Sudip Kulung finished third completing the race in 4 hours and 54 seconds.

With the win, Tamang bagged the title along with US$ 1000 while Raj Bhandari and Kulung received US$ 500 and US$ 300, respectively.

Similarly, Tempe Cadwell of USA won the title under half marathon category finishing the race in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 39 seconds while Anthony Hull of Australia finished second finishing the race in 3 hours, 12 minutes and 12 seconds and Joseph Kurt Kowalchuck secured third position finishing the race in 3 hours, 37 minutes and 8 seconds.

Under the female category, Aang Futi Sherpa bagged the title finishing the race in 5 hours, 14 minutes and 44 seconds while Mingma Lama finished second in 5 hours, 15 minutes and 56 seconds and Tashi Jangmu Sherpa finished third in 5 hours, 43 minutes and 23 seconds.

In the foreigner category, James Scott of USA won the title finishing the race in 5 hours, 22 minutes and 7 seconds while Kelsang Dorjee of India secured second position finishing in 5 hours, 38 minutes and 22 seconds and Rayan Wolfarn of USA fisnished third finishing in 5 hours, 48 minutes and 7 seconds.

With the win, except open category all the other categories' winners bagged US$ 500, US$ 300 and US$ 200 as first, second and third prize money, respectively.

The Marathon is organised each year on May 29 to commemorate the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary on the same date in 1953. nepalnews.com