The Mattoni Half Maraton České Budějovice, set for the last Saturday in May, marks the second stop of the 2025 EuroHeroes series—a celebration of Europe’s top distance-running talent. This prestigious event brings together elite athletes from across the continent, all competing in a series designed to spotlight European excellence in long-distance road racing.
Among the standout contenders is Sebastian Hendel of Germany, a two-time national champion and two-time EuroHeroes series winner. After skipping the Karlovy Vary opener to focus on 10K road races earlier this spring, Hendel now returns to defend his title in České Budějovice. He’ll face stiff competition from a trio of top-tier rivals: Lahsene Bouchikhi (Belgium), Paulos Surafel (Great Britain), and Chakib Lachgar (Spain)—all of whom delivered impressive performances in Karlovy Vary and hold personal bests near the 62-minute mark for the half marathon.
In the women’s field, all eyes will be on Alina Reh of Germany, who makes her EuroHeroes Series debut. A European 10,000m bronze medalist, Reh has the fastest personal best in the field (1:08:42) and adds star power to an already formidable lineup.
Also returning to the spotlight is Hungarian Nóra Szabó, fresh off her victory in Karlovy Vary, who currently leads the women’s EuroHeroes standings. She’ll be challenged by Maryna Nemchenko of Ukraine, the race European record holder and reigning series champion, who returns to defend her crown.
While the series brings together elite athletes from across Europe, local Czech talent continues to make a strong impression. Damián Vích, who delivered a breakthrough performance by winning the opening race in Karlovy Vary, will be absent in České Budějovice but is expected to return later in the season.
“I had stomach pain and was thinking about that more than the race. But when I saw the Czech fans along the course, I knew I had to push. So, I gave everything I had in the last three kilometers,” Vích shared after his dramatic win.
Leading the Czech field in České Budějovice is Patrik Vebr, a top distance runner and proud member of the RunCzech Racing Team.
“Damián had a fantastic race. I think repeating his success is definitely within reach,” said Vebr. “But I need to manage my race calendar carefully—I’ll be running a 5000m race in Paris just a week after the half marathon.”
Vebr enters the race in peak form after a successful spring training block in Kenya, where he prepared for and ultimately claimed national titles in both the half marathon and 5K road race.
About EuroHeroes
Launched in 2018, EuroHeroes is a collaborative initiative between RunCzech and European Athletics, aimed at promoting and celebrating European distance running talent. By limiting participation in the elite fields exclusively to European athletes, the series shines a spotlight on home-grown heroes and inspires the broader public to embrace an active lifestyle.
In 2025, the series continues its tradition of racing through some of the Czech Republic’s most picturesque cities—Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice, Olomouc, and Ústí nad Labem, where the season will conclude with a celebratory awards ceremony. Previous champions have been honored in person by European Athletics’ Running Unit Responsible.
How the Series Works
Athletes’ two best performances are converted into points using the World Athletics Scoring Tables. The male and female runners with the highest combined scores will be crowned EuroHeroes champions.
For reference:
- A men’s half marathon time of 1:04:50 earns 1,000 points.
- A women’s time of 1:16:31 scores the same.
All EuroHeroes events are certified by European Athletics and hold the prestigious World Athletics Road Race Label, signifying their top-tier organizational and competitive standards. The elite field in České Budějovice includes 17 men and 14 women from 11 European countries.
EuroHeroes 2025 Race Calendar
📍 17 May – Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary
📍 31 May – Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice
📍 14 June – Mattoni Half Marathon Olomouc
📍 20 September – Mattoni Half Marahton Ústí nad Labem
and to defend his throne in České Budějovice.
