Mattoni Half Marathon “České Budějovice” to welcome exclusive European-only elite field

The 13th edition of the Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice is a World Athletics Road Race Label and is certified by European Athletics. It serves as the second of four races in the EuroHeroes series.

The elite field

The course will see an elite field exclusively composed of European distance runners, featuring 16 men and 14 women from eleven countries. The strong starting list includes last year’s EuroHeroes champions and defending winners in České Budějovice. Two-time German champion Sebastian Hendel will be aiming for a third EuroHeroes title, kicking off this season in South Bohemia.

The women’s champion, Ukrainian Maryna Nemchenko, holds the European race record for the České Budějovice race (1:11:26). The fastest runners on Saturday evening will receive trophies crafted by the renowned Ajeto glassworks, which also produces awards for Tour de France champions and the ATP Finals.

Among the half-marathon starters are football Euro Championship double medallist and English Premier League winner Karel Poborský.

Event 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

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

11 countries represented

• Belgium
• Czechia
• Germany
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Moldova
• Netherlands
• Romania
• Spain
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom

The starting field is composed of 58% men and 42% women. The largest number of foreign runners come, as usual, from neighbouring countries — Slovakia, Austria, and Germany — with the largest non-European group being Indian participants. The Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice will feature runners from 58 nationalities.

In case of hot weather

The Mattoni Running Festival organizers work closely with the South Bohemian Region Emergency Medical Service. During the event, one medical crew will be stationed directly on the square. Another will be available for the 5K run, and four ambulances will be positioned along the half-marathon route. “There will also be nine first aid stations staffed with trained medical personnel along the course. Since runners pass each point twice, medical coverage will effectively be available every one and a half kilometres,” explained Capalbo.

Four bicycle patrols equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) will also be active, and two additional defibrillators will be located in the guest zone near the start/finish area and in the technical zone near the changing rooms.

Organizers are paying close attention to the weather forecast, which predicts temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius (77F) on Saturday evening. Six refreshment and cooling stations will be set up along the half-marathon route, with an additional station at the finish. Each station will offer Mattoni water, and refreshment stations will also provide isotonic drinks, bananas, oranges, salt, and sugar. All stations will be connected to hydrants to ensure a water supply in case bottled water runs out. Runners can also cool down under water sprays at each station, supported by a watering vehicle. “We will inform runners on how to behave in warm weather via the RunCzech website, social media, and newsletters,” Capalbo added.

The RunCzech running series also supports good causes. The main charity partner of the 2025 Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice is the Society for Early Care, which helps families with disabled children manage difficult situations and live full lives.

The main race of the running festival in České Budějovice will, as with previous events this year, be broadcast live with Czech and English commentary. Czech Television will also air a highlights program on ČT Sport.

The RunCzech running series also supports good causes. The main charity partner of the 2025 Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice is the Society for Early Care, which helps families with disabled children manage difficult situations and live full lives.

Mattoni Running Festival Races in České Budějovice 2025:

SATURDAY, May 31
15:00 Vodafone 5K Run
15:00 Rector’s Cup 5K Run
17:00 dm family mile (1,609m)
17:45 dm bambini run (100m, 150m, and 200m distances)
19:00 2Run 10 + 11km
19:00 Half Marathon Relay (3×5km + 1×6.0975km)
19:00 Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice (main race, 21.095km)

The popularity of the Mattoni Running Festival in České Budějovice is growing. This is confirmed by participation numbers, which are nearing 7,000 this year. Over 4,500 runners have signed up for the competitive races, marking a year-on-year increase of more than one-third. “There’s been huge interest in Saturday’s Mattoni Running Festival. We had to close registration for all competitive races early because we reached capacity limits,” said Carlo Capalbo, the Chairman of the RunCzech organizing committee.