The landmark 20th edition of the Khon Kaen International Marathon celebrated a remarkable milestone this weekend, drawing participants from 47 countries to northeastern Thailand’s premier running event. The two-day festival of running, held January 11-12, 2025, showcased both international excellence and local talent across multiple race categories.
In the flagship marathon event, Kenya’s Barnabas Kiplimo claimed victory with an impressive time of 2:18:55,
while Ethiopia’s Tsega Desta Mehari topped the women’s division in 2:52:11.
Thai athletes made their mark with Jarun Jupoh national category with times of 2:37:55
and Linda Chantachit leading the national category with times 3:01:37 respectively.
The half marathon
saw another Kenyan triumph as Stephen Ndungu crossed the finish line in 1:03:14,
with Laos’s Lodked Inthakoumman winning the women’s category in 1:20:15.
Thai runners Nattawut Innum showed strong performances with times of 1:11:51
and Onanong Wongsorn showed strong performances with times 1:24:29.
In the mini marathon
Kenya continued its dominance with Joseph Wamuri winning in 35:30,
while Thai athletes Teerayut Kingkum
and Premkamon Wongvichai secured impressive finishes in their respective categories.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, stated:
“The Khon Kaen International Marathon is a source of pride for the people of Khon Kaen and Khon Kaen University. It has been held continuously for 20 years with world-class standards certified by AIMS since its inception. The event also features royal trophies from His Majesty the King, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.”
Mr. Panthep Saokosol, Vice Governor of Khon Kaen, added:
“Khon Kaen, the heart of the Northeast, is ready to welcome runners and tourists from around the world with its pleasant weather. Under the vision of being a ‘livable metropolis and a regional economic hub,’ we aim to impress runners with a beautiful race route. We hope the Khon Kaen International Marathon will become an unmissable event for runners in the future.”
The event’s success extended beyond the main races, featuring a vibrant KIDS RUN and FUN RUN on January 11 that attracted over 8,000 participants. The race route showcased Khon Kaen’s cultural landmarks and modern developments, while a concurrent food festival featuring 200+ vendors highlighted the region’s commitment to sustainable practices through the BCG Economy initiative.
A special “LEARN TOPIA” educational zone, organized by Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Education, provided interactive activities for families, while young runners enjoyed complimentary access to the university’s museum.
The event, themed “Food kor Fun, Run kor Muan” (Food for Fun, Run for Joy), successfully merged athletic excellence with cultural celebration, further establishing Khon Kaen’s position as a key sports tourism destination in Northeast Thailand.