Ethiopian Wendemu Tsegu and Kenyan Milicent Jelimo win Vodafone Prague Marathon

Old Town Square paid witness to new marathon champions on Sunday. The 31st edition of the Vodafone Prague Marathon was completed fastest by the Ethiopian athlete Wendemu Tsegu Berehanu, who crossed the finish line in an excellent time of 2:05:51.

For much of the marathon, it looked as though the eventual winner might aim for both the course record and the elusive 2:05 barrier. It was, however, a mark that, once again, proved untouchable. The pace was honest, at times daring, but ultimately the clock held firm. Kenya’s Felix Kipkoech secured second place with a composed and determined 2:07:45, while Ethiopia’s Shiferaw Andualem Belay rounded out the podium just 14 seconds adrift of Kipkoech in a tightly contested finish.

There will be mixed emotions in the camp of Justus Kipkorir. Locked in a compelling duel with champion Wendemu deep into the closing kilometres, Kipkorir appeared poised for a podium position before fading slightly in the final sprint, leaving him in the often thankless fourth place.

In the women’s race, Millicent Jelimo delivered a commanding performance, crossing the line first in 2:24:20. Her victory was decisive—more than two minutes clear of Janet Ruguru Gichumbi, who claimed second. Angela Jemesunde Tanui completed the podium, stopping the clock at 2:27:45.

The Czech National Championships added another layer of intrigue. Matěj Zima dictated the tempo through the opening half, an unexpected leader setting a confident early rhythm. However, the race shifted decisively in the second half as defending champion Yann Havlena asserted control. From that point forward, it was a solo effort—Havlena pulling away to a convincing victory in 2:17:48, sharpening his personal best in the process. Veteran Vít Pavlišta earned silver in 2:21:23, while David Vaš secured bronze with a time of 2:23:03.

In the domestic women’s race, Michaela Brtníčková was in a class of her own. She delivered a breakthrough performance, slicing nearly eight minutes off her previous best to win in 2:42:27. Eva Filipiová followed for second in 2:43:54, while Laura Matulová emerged as one of the day’s standout stories. Making her marathon debut, she ran a composed and impressive 2:46:29 to claim bronze—an effort that signals significant promise ahead.

The European Police Marathon Championship titles went to Austria’s Mario Bauernfeind, who ran 2:19:10, and Germany’s Anna Langerwisch, who led the women in 2:32:13. Meanwhile, in the Junior Marathon, Gymnázium Dr. Antona Randy from Jablonec nad Nisou continued its dominance, successfully defending its title emphatically.

Race Results