Nearly 14,000 Runners Took Part in Prague’s Birell Grand Prix at the Weekend
Three national records were broken in the night-time ten-kilometre race – more than 4,000 participants had earlier taken part in the adidas Women’s 5K Run
Foto: RunCzech
Nearly 14,000 runners from 98 countries took part in the two RunCzech races in central Prague on Saturday, 5 September. Rodrigue Kwizera and Chaltu Dida Diriba won the Birell 10K Night Race, while Josefína Šturmová triumphed in the adidas Women’s 5K Run.
Prague’s Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky) was transformed into the centre of international road running on Saturday. The programme began at 6 pm with the 26th edition of the adidas Women’s 5K Run, in which more than 4,000 women took part.
Victory went to 18-year-old Josefína Šturmová in a time of 17:19. The race is aimed at women of all ages and levels of ability. Its generous 50-minute time limit is also intended to enable less experienced runners to take part.
Foto: RunCzech
“It was a race for all women – regardless of age or physical fitness. That was precisely my greatest motivation,” said Angelika from Venezuela, who competed alongside her sister Henesis. It was her first race. The focus was therefore not on the time, but on reaching the finish line together.
Three National Records in the Night-Time Ten-Kilometre Race
The Birell 10K Night Race got under way at 7.30 pm. The elite field comprised 42 runners from 16 countries, including nine national record holders. Particular attention was focused on Spain’s Rodrigue Kwizera, who had announced in advance that he would attempt to challenge the best European times.
After the expected start, Kenya’s Victor Kipruto Kiprono took the lead at the seven-kilometre mark. However, a costly mistake in the final metres denied him a possible victory, and he ultimately had to settle for third place.
Foto: RunCzech
Kwizera won the race in 27:15, setting a new Spanish national record. Japan’s Shunya Kikuchi also set a national record, crossing the finish line in 28:07.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Chaltu Dida Diriba dominated. She won in 30:04, finishing eight seconds ahead of her sister Robe Dida Diriba. Austria’s Carina Reicht set another national record, crossing the finish line in 31:56. This made her the first Austrian woman to complete ten kilometres in under 32 minutes.
As expected, Damián Vích and Tereza Hrochová were the fastest Czech participants. Vích finished in 29:12, while Hrochová completed the course in 32:15.
Foto: RunCzech
Only a Few Medical Incidents
Medical care for the participants was provided by Prague Emergency Medical Service crews, bicycle teams equipped with automated external defibrillators and the so-called Running Doctors, a group of medically trained runners. A total of 20 people required treatment. According to project coordinator Dagmar Heroldová, this was a very low number. Based on the information available, all those treated are doing well.
The runners were also well supplied with refreshments: 2,293 kilograms of bananas, 904 kilograms of oranges, 29,500 litres of Mattoni mineral water and 2,700 litres of Gatorade were provided.
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