Nepali trail runners Sunmaya Budha and Priya Rai have delivered commendable performances at the 50K race of the Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB, which was won by Vietnam’s Hau Ha Thi.

In the HMONG 50 race held on Saturday, Budha finished fourth in the women’s category with a time of 5 hours, 24 minutes, and 22 seconds, closely followed by Rai in fifth at 5:27:48.

Hau completed the distance in 5:08:38, leveraging consistent pacing and efficient rest stops to secure victory. Martyna Mlynarczyk of Poland finished second in 5:12:50, while Takako Takamura of Japan was third in 5:14:43.

Rui Ueda of Japan won the men’s race with a time of 4:21:25. Guangfu Meng (4:23:43) and Banglin Fan (4:25:47), both from China, claimed second and third places, respectively. Full Results

The race was a challenging 53.3-km loop through Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, featuring a steep elevation gain of 2,031 meters. It also offered runners a glimpse into the local hill tribe lifestyle, including the Hmong market. The four-day event, part of the prestigious UTMB World Series Majors, attracted over 6,000 participants from 60 countries across five race categories, ranging from 12 km to 172 km.

Both Nepali runners started briskly, checking into the first point at Khun Chang Khian’s Dirt Yard in under 14 minutes, clocking a pace of over 14 km/h.

Budha demonstrated remarkable endurance, briefly outpacing Hau immediately after leaving the third checkpoint. However, her pace slowed during the demanding climbs. At the Highland Research Station (16.7 km), she increased her speed to 12 km/h.

The celebrated ultra-runner from Jumla entered the Chiang Mai event on a wave of success, having claimed three UTMB titles in just three months. Her winning streak began in September with a dominant victory at the SwissPeaks Marathon (50K), followed by an impressive win at the Ultra-Trail Ninghai by UTMB (50K) in China on October 19, and another triumph at the Tsaigu 105 (100K) on November 2.

Budha kept pace with the leaders early on, only trailing Hau by a mere 3 seconds. But by the time she reached the second checkpoint, her pace began to slow. She briefly outpaced Hau after checking out of the third service station, but the leaders, especially Hau, consistently outpaced Budha and extended their lead.

Hau’s consistent pacing, particularly in the final stretch, and faster transitions secured her victory. Her efficient rest stops, totalling under three minutes, further enhanced her time.

Meanwhile, Rai displayed resilience, recovering positions in the latter stages. While Hau’s dynamic performance highlighted her speed and strategic efficiency, the Nepali athletes demonstrated determination and adaptability, solidifying their status as top trail runners.

Rai, the winner of two UTMB titles in Malaysia in September and November, was steady but less dynamic in Chiang Mai. After a strong start, she struggled to challenge the front-runners, particularly in the middle sections. However, her resilience shone in the final leg, where she regained momentum and improved her position to finish in the top five.

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