The 2025 RunCzech half marathon season concluded this weekend with the traditional Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon, which also decided the final standings of the EuroHeroes Challenge.
On the Central Square, thousands of cheering spectators under sunny skies watched Belgium’s Dorian Boulvin and Ukraine’s Valeriia Zinenko cross the finish line as champions. Czech fans had plenty to celebrate as well: Damián Vích secured third place among the men, while Tereza Hrochová finished second in the women’s race.
Men’s Race – Boulvin Shines, Choukoud Claims Series Title
From the very first kilometer, a five-man group formed at the front, led by eventual winner Dorian Boulvin, who gradually pulled away from his rivals. The Belgian, who had taken second place in Olomouc earlier this season, went on to dominate the race and secured his first EuroHeroes victory in 1:04:39.
“The race was nice, but the heat was tough, so I didn’t want to start too fast. I’m currently preparing for a marathon, so we treated this as part of the training process,” said the 28-year-old, who also finished 9th at the European Championships marathon.
Although he fell 29 seconds short of the time he needed to claim the overall EuroHeroes crown, Boulvin once again proved his consistency on Czech roads:
“Was Ústí more beautiful than Olomouc? That’s hard to say – both were amazing races, each with its own special character.”
Behind him, Khalid Choukoud of the Netherlands ran a steady pace to secure second place in 1:05:33 – his third podium finish of the 2025 RunCzech season. His consistent results from České Budějovice and Olomouc ensured that he was crowned the overall EuroHeroes men’s champion.
The home crowd cheered loudly for Damián Vích, who pushed through brutal conditions to claim third in 1:05:58:
“I gave everything, just like at the Birell 10K. Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t even make it to the finish line. The weather was extremely tough – hats off to everyone who ran today. But the atmosphere was unbelievable, as always at RunCzech events. The fans pushed me through those final meters,” said the seven-time Czech national champion.
Women’s Race – Zinenko Takes Her Third Ústí Title
The women’s contest was thrilling until halfway, when Czech star Tereza Hrochová fought bravely against a trio of strong Ukrainians. She managed to leave two behind but couldn’t match Valeriia Zinenko’s decisive surge. The reigning Ukrainian 5000m champion broke away around the 8th kilometer and steadily increased her lead, winning her third Ústí crown (2022, 2023, 2025) in 1:13:01.
“This performance was beyond my expectations – I’m so happy. Honestly, I didn’t believe I could win; it feels like a dream,” said Zinenko.
Hrochová, the Czech marathon and mountain running champion, finished second in 1:13:34, just 33 seconds behind:
“It went beautifully. On some stretches, the guys helped me with pacing, and it turned into a fantastic race. For me, this was also training, since I’m competing at the World Trail Championships in the Pyrenees in less than a week,” said the two-time Olympic marathoner, who will tackle a demanding 44.5 km course with 3700 meters of elevation gain.
Her strong performance lifted her to fourth place overall in the EuroHeroes Challenge, while the women’s series title went to Hungary’s Nóra Szabó, who had built an insurmountable lead despite not starting in Ústí.
Record Participation and Upcoming Events
The Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon 2025, carrying the prestigious World Athletics Road Race Label, welcomed a record 3,750 registered half marathon runners. Across all competitive events, 4,600 runners took part, with total participation in the Mattoni Running Festival Ústí nad Labem reaching nearly 7,000 athletes of all ages.
The RunCzech season continues at full pace with the Mattoni Liberec Trail Run on October 5, featuring two races combining city streets and nature trails, alongside two traditional non-competitive runs.
Results – Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon 2025
Men
- Dorian Boulvin (BEL) – 1:04:39
- Khalid Choukoud (NED) – 1:05:33
- Damián Vích (CZE) – 1:05:58
- Bohdan Ivan Horodyskyi (UKR) – 1:06:42
- Chakib Lachgar (ESP) – 1:07:23
- Stefan Iulius Gavril (ROU) – 1:07:58
Women
- Valeriia Zinenko (UKR) – 1:13:01
- Tereza Hrochová (CZE) – 1:13:34
- Maryna Nemchenko (UKR) – 1:15:19
- Mariia Mazurenko (UKR) – 1:15:57
- Michaela Čepová (CZE) – 1:16:54
- Gabriela Veigertová (CZE) – 1:18:21
EuroHeroes Challenge 2025 – Final Standings
Men
- Khalid Choukoud (NED) – 2034 points
- Dorian Boulvin (BEL) – 2017 points
- Bohdan Ivan Horodyskyi (UKR) – 1998 points
- Damián Vích (CZE) – 1974 points
Women
- Nóra Szabó (HUN) – 2197 points
- Meritxell Soler (ESP) – 2184 points
- Mariia Mazurenko (UKR) – 2170 points
- Tereza Hrochová (CZE) – 2089 points
