Dear Journalists and Running Enthusiasts,
We’re excited to present the official Press Guide, and Elite Start List for the upcoming Mattoni Running Festival České Budějovice! This year’s race will feature world-class athletes from across Europe as we come closer to the second race of the EuroHeroes Series. Strong contenders come from Spain, UK, Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, and Czechia. Get ready for thrilling competition and the potential for record-breaking performances!
As part of the EuroHeroes initiative—developed by RunCzech in collaboration with European Athletics—the event will spotlight European talent and deliver thrilling competition, with the potential for record-breaking performances.
Everyone can follow the race live with English commentary, ensuring fans and media from around the world can stay connected to all the action.
Key Race Details
- Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
- Start Time: 19:00 PM
- Official Name: Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice (CZ: Mattoni 1/2Maraton České Budějovice)
- Title Partner: Mattoni
- Main Charity Partner: Společnosti pro ranou péči (Eraly care) – Early care is an outreach social service providing free, professional support to families with children with disabilities from birth to age seven.
- 13th Edition – First held in 2012
- Part of the EuroHeroes Series, in cooperation with European Athletics
- One of the events in the RunCzech Halfs project
- Holds a World Athletics Road Race Label
Time Table
- 15:00 – Vodafone 5K Race
- 17:00 – dm family mile
- 17:45 – dm bambini run
- 19:00 – Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice
- 20:02 – Estimated Finish of the First Man
- 20:10–20:15 – Estimated Finish of the First Woman
- 20:10–20:15 – Estimated Finish of the First Woman
What is EuroHeroes?
EuroHeroes is an initiative by RunCzech, developed in cooperation with European Athletics, with the aim of identifying, developing, and promoting local athletic heroes while inspiring the public to lead a more active lifestyle. The project launched with a pilot phase in 2018, featuring two RunCzech races, and officially began in full in 2019.
Four Mattoni Half Marathons are dedicated to the EuroHeroes initiative:
- Karlovy Vary
- České Budějovice
- Olomouc
- Ústí nad Labem
The EuroHeroes Challenge is a special ranking system within the EuroHeroes series. It encourages athletes to compete in all four designated races. Participants have the opportunity to earn podium finishes at each event and accumulate points toward the overall Challenge standings. The top-performing athletes are honored at the final award ceremony, where they can earn the title of EuroHero.
Course Overview
The course has been slightly modified compared to 2024—the uphill section on the highway around the 15th kilometer has been removed. Instead, runners can look forward to a smoother route and an impressive start and finish at one of the largest squares in the Czech Republic: Přemysla Otakara II. Square.
Participation & Statistics
- 7 000 participants – SOLD OUT
- Runners from 58 different countries.
- Top participating countries:
- Slovakia 2.1%
- Austria 1.4%
- Germans 1.4%
- Ukainians 1.1%
- Indians 0.7%
- British 0.5%
Genders: 59% of men, 41% women.
Oldest participants:
- Men: Trevor Wallinger (GBR) – 77 years
- Women: Libuse Volmanova (CZE) – 72 years
Live Broadcast with English commentary by James Thie will be available on the runczech.com web site and RunCzech YouTube channel.
Participation & Statistics
- 7 000 participants – SOLD OUT
- Runners from 58 different countries.
- Top participating countries:
- Slovakia 2.1%
- Austria 1.4%
- Germans 1.4%
- Ukainians 1.1%
- Indians 0.7%
- British 0.5%
Genders: 59% of men, 41% women.
Oldest participants:
- Men: Trevor Wallinger (GBR) – 77 years
- Women: Libuse Volmanova (CZE) – 72 years
Live Broadcast with English commentary by James Thie will be available on the runczech.com web site and RunCzech YouTube channel.
Previous records
Race record men: Daniel Chebii (KEN) 59:49 from 2012
Race record women: Agnes Jeruto (KEN) 1:09:53 from 2017
European race record men: Yassine Rachik (ITA) 1:03:02 from 2019
European race record women: Maryna Nemchenko (UKR) 1:11:26 from 2024
Czech race record men: Vit Pavlista 1:06:43 from 2018
Czech race record women: Tereza Hrochoca 1:12:04 from 2022
Athletes & Countries represented at the Mattoni Half Marathon Ceske Budejovice
Men:
- GER Sebastian Hendel – Two time EuroHeroes Champion, PB 1:01:52 – Berlin 2023
- GBR Paulos Surafel – Fifth in Karlovy Vary two weeks ago, PB 1:01:21 – Gentbruggen 2024
- BEL Lahsene Bouchikhi – Third in Karlovy Vary two weeks ago, PB 1:02:28 – Valencia 2023
- CZE Patrik Vebr – PB 1:03:24 – Valencia 2024
- NLD Khalid Choukoud – PB 1:01:53 – Berlin 2023
- MDA Maxim Raileanu – PB 1:03:09 – Boulogne-Billancourt 2022
- UKR Bohdan Ivan Horodyskyi – PB 1:00:40 – Gdynia 2020
Women:
- GER Alina Reh – PB 1:08:42 – Sevilla 2023
- ESP Meritxell Soler – PB 1:10:21 – Santa Pola 2024
- HUN Nóra Szabó – PB 1:10:49 – Paris 2025
- UKR Maryna Nemchenko – PB 1:11:13 – Warsaw 2024
- UKR Viktoriia Kaliuzhna – PB 1:11:16 – Warsaw 2024
All 11 countries represented in this race of EuroHeroes are:
- Belgium
- Czechia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Moldova
- Netherlands
- Romania
- Spain
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Start lists
