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RunCzech Racing

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Inspired by the legacy of running legend Emil Zatopek, together with our dearest friend, late Zane Branson (World Athletics Athletes´ Representative) in 2014 we launched a project called RunCzech Racing, aiming to develop a new generation of world class athletes.

GENERAL INFORMATION

More than 25 young elite athletes of different nationalities – from Czech Republic, France and Kenya, as of now, have their home away from home in Prague. These young and talented athletes compete in the most prestigious races on the planet and promote not only the Czech Republic but also cooperation and understanding between nations, inspiring both, adults and children, to live well and active and healthy lives.

One of the goals of RunCzech Racing team is to build and strengthen connections between elite runners and amateur runners. To make these worlds mix not only during races, but also in everyday life and training. To do so, we conduct school visits, organize workshops and enjoy meeting in the Running Mall or during training sessions in Prague’s parks.

Come to the Running Mall – our running center in Prague and meet world-class athletes of the RunCzech Racing team. You can jog with them, discuss your results and running experiences and learn more about their lifestyles and training methods.

RunCzech Racing is supported by adidas, and managed by Ikaika Sports.

AIMS

  • To develop a new generation of world class athletes.
  • To promote RunCzech Racing as one of the strongest teams in the world.

SOCIAL GOALS

  • To bring nationalities closer and improve connections between different nations.
  • To build and tighten connections between elite runners and amateur runners.
  • To motivate Czech children and juniors to run.

RUNCZECH RACING & RUNCZECH RACING ALUMNI

Since inception in April 2014 until January 2022.

  • 8 World records
  • 2 World best
  • 4 World Junior best
  • 1 World Championships medal
  • 1 World Junior Championships medal
  • 1 European Championships medal
  • 3 Olympians
  • 74 victories in world leading events
  • 55 second place positions in world leading events
  • 48 third place positions in world leading events
  • 243 Top 5 finishes

MOST NOTABLE ATHLETES 2017 – 2022

Jiří Homoláč

Date of birth: 25/02/1990

  • Nickname: Jirka, Homi
  • Height: 181cm
  • Weight: 70 kg
  • Coach: Róbert Štefko
  • Education: Mgr. (MU Brno sport management)
  • Instagram: @jirihomolac
  • Website: www.jirkahomolac.cz
  • Hobbies: golf

Best results:

  • Winner of the Czech half marathon Prague (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)
  • 14x Champion of the Czech Republic (cross, 10km, 10,000m, marathon, half marathon, hill running)

Personal records:

  • 10km 29:37
  • Half marathon 1:03:23
  • Marathon 2:14:35

Goals for the 2023 season:

  • Run my best 

Race schedule:

  • Half Marathon Ústí nad Labem
  • Half Marathon Prague
  • Prague Marathon
  • České Budějovice Half Marathon
  • Olomouc Half Marathon
  • Birell Grand Prix
Damián Vích

Date of birth: 14.8.1998

  • Height: 186cm
  • Weight: 70 kg
  • Coach: Jakub Holuša
  • Education: high school with high school diploma 
  • Instagram: damianvich 
  • Facebook: Damián Vích

Best results:

  • 14th EC 2019 – U22
  • 5x champion of the Czech Republic
  • 21 ME 2022
  • 8. ME in cross country – teams 2019

Personal bests:

  • 5 000m 14:00,51
  • 10 km 29:07

Goals for the 2023 season:

  • EC of teams (steeplechase)
  • WC 2023 qualification (steeplechase)

Race schedule:

  • 16. 9. Half Marathon Ústí nad Labem
  • 11. 2. Metz indoor meeting 3000m
  • 18.-19. 2. NC in hall 1,500m, 3,000m
  • 5. 6. Memorial of Josef Odložil 2000m SC.
  • 23.-25. 6. EC of teams 3000m b.c.
  • 13.-16. 7. WC U23
  • 2. 9. Birell Grand Prix
  • 3. 9. MČR teams
Patrik Vebr

Date of birth: 19. 11. 1998

  • Nickname: Pať
  • Height: 192cm
  • Weight: 81 kg
  • Coach: Jan Pernica
  • Education: Student VŠTVS Palestra
  • Instagram: patrik.vebr
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrik.vebr
  • Hobbies: Brazilian jiu jitsu, trips to cafes with my girlfriend
  • Motto: Even the path we follow can be a destination
    Best results:
  • Champion of the Czech Republic 5000m (2022)
  • 2. Place MČR 10,000m (2022)
  • Winner of the Czech Republic Birell Grand Prix (2022)

Personal bests:

  • 5 000m 14:30,10
  • 10 km 30:00
  • Half Marathon 1:09:22

Goals for the 2023 season:

  • 10km 29:29
  • Half Marathon 1:04:59

Race schedule:

  • 16. 9. Ústí nad Labem half marathon
  • 1. 4. RunCzech Prague Half Marathon
  • 29. 4. MČR at 10 000 m
  • 14. 5. Extraliga I. round 3000 m
  • 27. 5. Extraliga II. round 5000m
  • 3. 6. České Budějovice half marathon (or) 17.6. Olomouc half marathon
  • 29.-30. 7. MČR on the 5000 m track
  • 2. 9. Birell GP 10 km
Martin Zajíc

Date of birth: 30. 3. 2000

  • Nickname: Hare / Zajda / Sungura (Swahili for Hare)
  • Height: 178 cm
  • Weight: 58 kg
  • Coach: Róbert Štefko
  • Education: Student B.Sc. studies at Tomáš Baťa University
  • Instagram: @martin_zajic
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000492566879
  • Hobbies: Dog Chappie, specialty coffee, marketing, business/business, cooking, Traveling, filming

Best results:

  • 2x winner of the race BĚCHOVICE PRAGUE
  • BTC TRACK NIGHT 5,000M 1ST PLACE
  • INTERSTATE 5,000M 1ST PLACE
  • M CR ON 5,000M 2ND PLACE
  • M CZECH REPUBLIC AT 10,000M 1ST PLACE
  • BERLIN HALF MARATHON 45TH PLACE

Personal bests:

  • 1,500m – 3:55
  • 3,000m – 8:17
  • 5,000m 14:04
  • 10,000m – 30:00
  • 10k – 30:16
  • 1/2 marathon – 1:05:38

Goals for the 2023 season:

  • 5,000M 13:51.49 
  • 10,000M 29.20.25 
  • 10K 29:30 
  • 1⁄2 MARATHON 1:04:38

Race schedule

  • Mattoni Liberec Nature Run 30.9.
  • Cross della Vallagarina 12.2.
  • 10k Castelló 26.2.
  • 5k Lille 19.3.?
  • Berlin 1/2 Marathon 2.4.
  • MČR 10,000m 29.4.
  • Extraliga 5,000m 14.5.
  • Night of the 10,000m PBs 21.5.?
  • IFAM Outdoor Oordegen 5,000m 27.5.?
  • Sparkassen Gala Regensburg 5,000m 3.6.?
  • Vienna Mid Summer Track Night 5,000m 17.6.?
  • ME Team 5,000m 23.6.?
  • Zlatá Tretra 1,500m 26.6.?
  • UniCredit Prague Relay 28.6.
  • MČR on the 5,000m track 29.7.
  • Summer Universiade 5,000m/half marathon 5.8.?
  • WC 5,000m 24.8.?
  • Birell 10km run 2.9.
  • MČR Cooperatives 3.9.
  • Běchovice Prague (MČR 10k) 24.9.
Julia-Anna Lily Bell

Date of birth: 22/04/2001

  • Height: 166 cm
  • Weight: 54 kg
  • Coach: Jan Pernica
  • Education: High school
  • Instagram: lilyy_bell
  • Facebook: Julia-Anna Lily Bell
  • Hobbies: running, swimming, cycling, reading, drawing, animals and a dog
  • Best results: 11th place ME U23, Tallinn at 10000m

Personal bests:

  • 10000m 34:44.48 (34:30 from the road)
  • 5000m 16:34.58
  • 3000m 9:39.76 (indoor)
  • 1500m 4:32.08

Goals for the 2023 season

  • Top 6 at ME U23, Helsinki at 10000m

Launch schedule

  • 16. 9. RunCzech Ústí nad Labem half marathon
  • 22. 4. Regensburg 10000m,
  • 14. 5. Extraliga 1st round,
  • 27. 5. Extraliga 2nd round,
  • 1. 7. MČR U23,
  • 13. – 16. 7. WC U23,
  • 2. 9. Birell GP 10km,
  • 3. 9. MČR cooperatives,
Eva Vrabcová Nývltová – Runczech Racing
  • 2018 European Championships Bronze medailist (marathon)
  • Czech National Record holder – marathon (2:26:31, Berlin 2018) and half marathon (1:11:01, Prague 2018)
  • 2021 Olympian. 
  • World Athletics page
Joyciline Jepkosgei – RunCzech Racing alumna
  • Multiple 10K and half marathon World Record (WR) holder.
  • Six WRs during seven-month period in 2017.
  • 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships silver medalist.
  • 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon.
  • 2019 TCS NYC Marathon Champion in her debut.
  • 10K PB: 29:43 WR, Prague 2017.
  • Half marathon PB: 1:04:51 WR, Valencia 2017.
  • World Athletics page
Rhonex Kipruto – RunCzech Racing alumnus
  • 5K and 10K World Record (WR) holder.
  • 2019 IAAF World Championships 10,000m bronze medalist.
  • World U20 Champion 10,000m, Tampere 2018.
  • 2018 African Junior Cross Country Champion.
  • 2021 Olympian.
  • World Junior Best over 10K set twice in 2018.
  • 10K PB: 26:24 WR, Valencia 2020.
  • 10,000m PB: 26:50.16, Stockholm 2019.
  • World Athletics page
Abel Kipchumba – RunCzech Racing
  • Course record holder of 15K Nocturna Valencia Banco Mediolanum.
  • Winner of 2021 Valencia Half Marathon and 2021 adizero: Road to Records event. 
  • Half marathon PB: 58:07, Valencia 2021.
  • World Athletics page
Bethwell Yegon – RunCzech Racing
Stephen Kiprop – RunCzech Racing alumnus
Philemon Kiplimo Kimaiyo – RunCzech Racing
  • Winner of 2021 Bahrain Night Half Marathon and 2019 Boston Half Marathon.
  • Half marathon PB: 58:11, Valencia 2020.
  • World Athletics page
Mathew Kimeli – RunCzech Racing alumnus
  • Set World Junior Best over 10K and 15K in 2017.
  • Half marathon PB: 58:43, Valencia 2021.
  • 10K PB: 27:07, Prague 2019.
  • World Athletics page
Benard Kimeli – RunCzech Racing alumnus
  • Two-time winner of Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon (2018 and 2019).
  • 2017 World Leader over 10K with 27:10 from Prague 2017.
  • 10K PB: 27:10, Prague 2017.
  • Half marathon PB: 59:07, Prague 2019.
  • World Athletics page
Jacob Krop – RunCzech Racing alumnus
  • 2019 IAAF World Championships 5000m – 6th place.
  • U20 African 5000m silver medallist, Abidjan 2019.
  • 5000m PB: 13:03.08, Doha 2019.
  • World Athletics page
Bravin Kiptoo – RunCzech Racing
Weldon Langat – RunCzech Racing alumnus
Brenda Jepleting – RunCzech Racing
  • Half Marathon PB: 1:05.44, Valencia 2021.
  • Winner of 2021 adizero: Road to Records event. 
  • World Athletics page
Festus Talam – RunCzech Racing alumnus
  • Two-time winner of Eindhoven Marathon (2016 and 2017).
  • Marathon PB: 2:06:13, Eindhoven 2017.
  • World Athletics page
Robert Kiprop Koech – RunCzech Racing alumnus