Top runners aim for race records and EuroHeroes glory in the West Bohemian spa city
The Mattoni Half Maraton Karlovy Vary is once again shining a spotlight on Europe’s top distance runners as part of the EuroHeroes, which continues with upcoming RunCzech half marathons in České Budějovice, Olomouc, and Ústí nad Labem. Athletes arriving in this picturesque West Bohemian spa town will not only be chasing podium finishes—but possibly rewriting the race’s history books. Especially in the men’s field, where three runners hold personal bests faster than the event record of 1:02:59, set by Italy’s Yassine Rachik in 2019.
Will the European Race Record Fall? Three Men Ready to Challenge History
Leading the field is Paulos Surafel of Great Britain, with the fastest PB in the field with 1:01:21, set in Belgium last March. At 28, Surafel is preparing for his sixth half marathon. He made his debut in 2022 and has raced on Czech soil before, finishing seventh in the Prague Half Marathon last year. Earlier this season, he also completed his marathon debut in Seville, finishing with 2:17:49.
With a personal best of 1:01:45 from the 2023 Azpeitia Half Marathon and a world title over 50 km, Spain’s Chakib Lachgar returns to Karlovy Vary this year, aiming for a podium finish after placing fourth last year (2024).
Belgium’s Lahsene Bouchikhi, the 2022 national champion over 10,000 m, is also expected to be a strong contender. The 31-year-old set his personal best of 1:02:28 in Valencia and competed in the EuroHeroes series last year, finishing seventh in České Budějovice and sixth in Olomouc.
Fierce Battle in the Women’s Field
A tight contest is expected in the women’s race, with Spain’s Meritxell Soler emerging as the frontrunner. She owns the fastest personal best in the field—1:10:21—and narrowly missed the podium at last month’s European Half Marathon Championships, finishing fourth just 13 seconds behind third place. Soler has already claimed two major half marathon victories on home soil.
Hot on her heels is Jacelyn Gruppen of the Netherlands, a consistent performer who completed six half marathons last year alone. She has consistently run under 1:15 for the past five seasons and set her personal best of 1:10:35 in Valencia last October. Gruppen has been racing the distance since 2011.
Hungary’s Nóra Szabó, a five-time national champion across various distances, will also be one to watch. She won the Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon last season and finished second in Karlovy Vary. In December, she broke the Hungarian marathon record in Valencia. She’s already improved her PBs in both the 10,000 m and the half marathon this year, running 1:10:49 in Paris in March.
Another strong contender is Ukraine’s Maryna Nemchenko, who ran three RunCzech races last season and claimed the overall EuroHeroes series title. Her victory in České Budějovice marked her third career half marathon win. The reigning Ukrainian champion over 10,000 m and the marathon, Nemchenko also finished third in Poznań this April.
Top Czech Runners Ready to Challenge
Among the Czech athletes, two stand out: Jiří Homoláč, a national team regular at the EuroHeroes Half Marathon, Cross Country, and Mountain Running Championships, is targeting all the key RunCzech races this year. He started his 2025 season as the third-fastest Czech at the Prague Half Marathon and recently placed eighth at the Czech Marathon Championships. He also claimed bronze at the national half marathon and fourth at the 10,000 m track championships.
Damián Vích, a member of the RunCzech Racing Team, returns to racing after a productive three-week altitude camp in Sierra Nevada. The 26-year-old is enjoying a strong season, having set a new Czech national record in the 10K (28:21) in January in Valencia. While the half marathon isn’t his primary focus, Vích has run 1:06:10 for the distance and is determined to be the top Czech finisher in Karlovy Vary.
Start of the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary 2024
Meritxell Soler (personal archive)
Nóra Szabó at the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary 2024
