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NAMCHE BAZAR, May 30 - Defending champion Deepak Rai braved his ailing knees through the highest glaciers and moraines in the world Tuesday to win the fifth edition of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon billed as the world's highest altitude marathon. The 25-year-old farmer from Gundel-8, Solukhumbu led all the way from the starting point at Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) clocking 3hr:59min:24sec to finish six minutes 15 seconds ahead of two-time champion Dangima Sherpa in the 42.195 km race. The race was organized by Himalaya Expeditions to mark the first ascent of Mt Everest by Tenzing Norgey Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. Rai's buddy from Gundel-8, Milan Kulung came third at 4hr:07min:04sec to finish third while former winner Uttar Kumar Rai was fourth with a timing of 4hr:08min:27sec.
"I had damaged my knees while running in the Kathmandu Marathon last November. I even thought about not competing in this event but gave it a go only after insistence from my friends," a relieved looking Rai, who set the record of 3hr:28min:27secs last year, told The Kathmandu Post. Dangima Sherpa made a valiant attempt to put pressure on Rai overtaking armyman Dilli Bahadur Pulami, who eventually finished fifth, at Sanasa but failed to close the gap that Rai had built earlier. "I was busy with my paper-works for London Marathon and reached base-camp just a day earlier. So, I couldn't train properly for this race," Sherpa lamented. In the women's section, 19-year-old 12th grader from Lincoln College Yangdi Lama Sherpa took honors at 5hr:27min:41sec ahead of local girl Mingma Chhami Sherpa, also aged 19 years, who clocked 5hr:29min:26sec. Yangdi took lead from Mingma at Gorakshep and never lost it to win the race while 20-year-old Phurba Yangji Sherpa was third at 5hr:36min:51sec. Phurba collapsed after crossing the finish line and had to be air-lifted to Khunde Hospital for medical supervision. She later walked back to Namche from Khunde after recovery at the hospital. French photographer with Le Point magazine ran an amazing race to win the men's category for foreigners clocking 4hr:51min:10sec. The 34-year-old, who assisted cameraman Eric Guichard of famous film Caravan, finished a whopping 1hr:15min:05sec ahead of 25-year-old British student Alan Heaton and was placed an encouraging 16th overall. Thirtyone-year-old American computer engineer Tom Dmukauskas of Lithuanian origin endured broken right little finger to finish third among the foreigners at 6:06:47 secs. "We cannot beat Nepalis as they know exactly where to put their feet on the stones in the glaciers till Gorakshep. They fly on the stones," said the Frenchman, who looked satisfied with the result, in praise of Nepali runners. "The course is very hard on the muscles as one has to jump over the stones and ice at a very high altitude," Bonfils added. The Frenchman, whose regular event is 10,000m, was running his first ever full marathon. "It has nothing to do about courage. It is all about the love for Nepal and the Nepali people," explained the genial man adding that he chanted Om Mane Peme whenever he felt difficulty when asked about the reasons for his participation. Japanese duo of Yoshiaki Ishihara aged 62 years and Toshio Ohmori, the oldest participant of the event at 66 years, also completed the race clocking 8hr:26min:05sec and 8hr:39min:11sec respectively. Television journalist Miki Upreti working with NHK completed the course in 10hr:25min:58sec. The event featured 130 runners with 53 foreigners including 10 females. "The event has been a great success. Every year there are a few minor glitches but these things happen in such a big event," managing director of organizing Himalaya Expeditions Bikrum Pandey evaluated the event and promised to improve on every sector in the next year. "There has been a lot of international interest and the participation of nationals from 13 countries proves it. We started airlifting facility for emergency from this year and it must have come as a huge relief for the family of the international runners," Pandey added. The top three of the main category bagged US $ 1,000, 500 and 300 respectively while the women's section (for both Nepali and foreigners) carried cash award of US $ 500, 300 and 200 for the top three finishers. There was also cash prize in the men's category for foreigners equivalent to the women's category. Chief guest German Ambassador to Nepal Franz Ring, Pakistani Ambassador Sohil Amin and Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Madhav Prasad Ghimire awarded the winners.
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