The 2025 EuroHeroes running series is heading into its final and decisive race. After half marathons in Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice, and Olomouc, this year’s edition will conclude on the third Saturday of September in Ústí nad Labem. The battles in both the men’s and women’s categories remain intense, with the standings wide open. Multiple elite runners who have competed only once in the series still have a chance to claim the title—only the best two results count towards the overall ranking.
Battle for the Crown in Ústí nad Labem
After three EuroHeroes races, Dutch long-distance veteran Khalid Choukoud leads the men’s standings. A seasoned participant in RunCzech events, Choukoud has already reached the podium six times at these half marathons. He climbed to the top of the men’s leaderboard with a win in České Budějovice and a third-place finish in Olomouc. Not far behind are Ukrainian, Bohdan Ivan Horodyskyi and Belgian, Lahsene Bouchikhi. All three are expected to face off in Ústí nad Labem. These 3 elite runners are not the only ones with a chance at the crown—Belgium’s Dorian Boulvin, who recently showed his form by placing second in Olomouc after finishing ninth at April’s European Half Marathon Championships, also remains in contention.
What Position Will the RunCzech Racing Team Hold in the Final Standings?
Among Czech runners, Damián Vích holds the best position in the series so far. He made history by becoming the first-ever Czech winner of a EuroHeroes race with his victory in Karlovy Vary. A member of the RunCzech Racing Team, Vích has had a full season, breaking the Czech 10 km road record in January, competing across various distances in Monaco, Nairobi, Paris, and Vienna, winning the Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon, and representing the Czech Republic at both the European Road Running Championships and the European Team Championships in Madrid.
“I’ll now take a short break and then start preparing for upcoming races,” Vích said of his early July plans. He will compete in two World Athletics Bronze Label track meets in Belgium and the Czech Championships in Jablonec (steeplechase), followed by the Birell Grand Prix. “I’m really looking forward to it—this year it’s going to be special, and I definitely want to fight for the overall EuroHeroes title in Ústí,” said the 26-year-old. His time of 1:04:23 in Karlovy Vary earned him 1016 points, the third-highest score in this year’s series. The highest single score came from Germany’s Johannes Motschmann, but since he’ll only have one result, he won’t be featured in the overall ranking.
Top Female Contender Will “Defend” Her Lead Remotely
The women’s category has also seen three different winners in the first three races. Nóra Szabó of Hungary, the Karlovy Vary winner, has proven to be the most consistent of the three. Beyond winning in Karlovy Vary, she also found herself on the podium in České Budějovice and Olomouc. The Hungarian marathon record holder will watch the final race Mattoni Half Marathon in Ústí remotely, hoping her points hold up. Challenging her for the victory are Mariia Mazurenko of Ukraine (winner in České Budějovice, currently third overall), as well as athletes with strong single performances like Jacelyn Gruppen (NED), Natasha Wilson (GBR), and possibly eight-time Ukrainian champion Viktoriia Kaliuzhna.
Points Decide the EuroHeroes Champions
The overall standings are based on each athlete’s two best performances, converted into points using a scoring table. The highest combined score determines the male and female winners for the 2025 season. For example, a “world-class” time of 60 minutes in the men’s race equals 1186 points, while 70 minutes for women equals 1130 points. World records are even higher: the men’s half marathon world record (56:42) earns 1323 points, and the women’s record (1:02:52, in a mixed race) earns 1281 points.
The EuroHeroes project began with a pilot edition of two races in 2018. The following year marked the start of its current full format. EuroHeroes is a RunCzech initiative, organized in collaboration with European Athletics, aimed at identifying, promoting, and developing European athletic talent, while also encouraging the general public to embrace running. Participation in the elite field is restricted to European athletes only.
In the 2025 season, the EuroHeroes project spans the entire Czech Republic, giving runners a chance to discover the atmosphere and charm of extraordinary cities. After races in Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice, and Olomouc, the series will culminate on September 20 with the Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon. All races in the series once again earned the World Athletics Road Race Label. So far, 49 athletes from 13 European countries have participated in the 2025 edition.
EuroHeroes 2025: Standings After 3 Races
MEN
- Khalid Choukoud (NED) – 2034 (1026 + 1008)
- Bohdan Ivan Horodyskyi (UKR) – 1998 (1003 + 995)
- Lahsene Bouchikhi (BEL) – 1842 (972 + 870)
- Mykola Mevsha (UKR) – 1807 (965 + 842)
- Paulos Surafel (GBR) – 1806 (945 + 861)
- Stefan Iulius Gavril (ROU) – 1799 (903 + 896)
Top athletes with one result
- Johannes Motschmann (GER) – 1050
- Damián Vích (CZE) – 1016
- Dorian Boulvin (BEL) – 1010
- Emil Millán de la Oliva (SWE) – 983
- Paavo De Leng (NED) – 981
- Patrik Vebr (CZE) – 940
WOMEN
- Nóra Szabó (HUN) – 2197 (1109 + 1088)
- Meritxell Soler (ESP) – 2184 (1093 + 1091)
- Mariia Mazurenko (UKR) – 2170 (1084 + 1086)
- Olga Nyzhnyk (UKR) – 2039 (1004 + 1035)
- Eva Filipiová (CZE) – 1866 (916 + 950)
- Danka Truksová (CZE) – 1754 (881 + 873)
Top athletes with one result
- Viktoriia Kaliuzhna (UKR) – 1067
- Jacelyn Gruppen (NED) – 1050
- Izabela Paskiewicz (POL) – 1040
- Natasha Wilson (GBR) – 1038
- Maryna Nemchenko (UKR) – 963
