Thousands of runners and traditional sports athletes gathered in Gia Lai over the weekend as sporting events added excitement to the Gong Festival - Wild Sunflower Week - Chư Đang Ya Volcano 2026, combining athletic challenges with opportunities to experience the Central Highlands' landscapes and cultural heritage.
The Gia Lai City Trail – Dream of the Great Highlands 2026, held from October 30 to November 1 in Bien Ho commune, attracted 3,500 domestic and international runners. This year's competition introduced five distances – 6 km, 12 km, 30 km, 50 km and 70 km – offering participants a wider range of challenges.
The 70 km race, known as the “Great Highlands Warrior,” emerged as the toughest event. Starting at 3 a.m. on October 31, 290 runners faced steep climbs, dirt roads and forest trails, including eight mountain peaks that demanded considerable endurance and careful energy management.
In the men's 70 km category, Tran Van Que from Ia Ko commune, Gia Lai province, secured first place in more than eight hours and 29 minutes. He built an early lead across the first 25 km of relatively flat terrain before maintaining his advantage through the demanding mountain sections.
Que said the climb from Chu Dang Ya to Chu Nam was particularly difficult, especially under the midday sun. He described the race as an immersive experience and said the victory fulfilled his personal goal.
The women's 50 km race also tested participants with demanding terrain and an expanded route. Phan Thi Tuong Vy from Pleiku ward, the category's champion, said the course included about 8 km of additional mountain and trail sections compared with previous editions, while offering spectacular scenery.
Beyond competition, the Gia Lai City Trail attracted international runners seeking to explore the region.
Thirty-four athletes from 14 countries took part, passing hillsides covered in wild sunflowers and golden rice fields during harvest.
Japanese runner Nishishita Ryosuke, who visited Gia Lai for the first time and competed in his first race in Vietnam, completed the 50 km distance after participating in a 42 km race in Japan a week earlier.
He said he planned to visit local landmarks, explore tourist attractions and sample regional specialties with friends, adding that he hoped to return to Gia Lai.
Meanwhile, the Gia Lai Provincial Ethnic Minority Sports Festival took place from October 30 to November 1 at the Pleiku Museum grounds in Pleiku ward.
Organized by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event brought together nearly 200 athletes from 14 communes and wards in the western part of the province.
Competitors contested three traditional sports for a total of 32 medal sets, with stick pushing, tug-of-war and stilt racing drawing enthusiastic crowds.
The stick-pushing matches featured closely contested encounters, while tug-of-war competitions generated particularly strong cheering during decisive rounds.
Spectator Trinh Sam Trinh from Dien Hong ward said the festival offered an opportunity to learn more about traditional ethnic minority sports, while fostering a spirit of solidarity and celebration.
Stilt racing, held on the morning of November 1, tested athletes' agility, balance and speed. The sport remains closely connected to the daily lives and festivals of ethnic minority communities.
Three siblings from Op village in Pleiku ward – Puih Thong, Puih Thom and Puih Thuc – won six medals across different distances. Puih Thuc, born in 2016, was the youngest competitor but secured silver in the 200 m and bronze in the 100 m.
Thuc said his elder brother Thong had coached him for three months ahead of his first competition. Watching Thong win two gold medals further motivated him to perform well.
The sporting events formed part of efforts to preserve and promote traditional ethnic minority sports, while introducing local cultural identity to residents and visitors during Gia Lai's festive season.
