Hungarians conquer Žumberak!

Sošice (Croatia), Sunday 5 September 2010

Monika Nagy, winner of the Žumberak Race 2010 (Copyright © 2010 Hendrik Böttger / runinternational.eu)

Mónika Nagy on her way to victory in Sošice

 

Over 120 athletes from five countries travelled to the remote village of Sošice in Croatia on Saturday to take part in the annual Žumberačka utrka.

The race follows a very hilly 15.5-kilometre point-to-point course through the Žumberak, a beautiful mountain range that runs along the border with Slovenia.

The start is in the tiny village of Radatovići, the finish in Sošice. In its heyday, Sošice had over 500 inhabitants, but most of them have left to find work elsewhere. Less than 100 people live now in the village, and the only shop has closed down.

The Žumberak Race is the main sports event in the region, and elite athletes as well as fun runners from many countries have participated in this unique event.

Like last year, the race had a very solid field that included several strong runners from Hungary. In the men's race, Barnabás Bene (24), an outstanding middle-distance runner, and Tamás Tóth (32), reigning Hungarian marathon champion, ran shoulder to shoulder for most of the race before Barnabás outsprinted his rival on the final 500 metres, which are very mildly uphill.

The women's race was close as well. Mónika Nagy (23) from Veszprém near Lake Balaton beat her training partner Anissa Badis (23) by just 20 seconds. Croatia's Marija Vrajić (34), winner of numerous marathons and ultra marathons, came third.

 

Tamás Toth and Bene Barnabás in the Žumberak Race 2010 (Copyright © 2010 Hendrik Böttger / runinternational.eu)

Tamás Tóth (left) and Barnabás Bene (right)

 

Results Men

1. Barnabás Bene HUN 0:52:22
2. Tamás Tóth HUN 0:52:28
3. Balázs Ott HUN 0:56:03

 

Results Women

1. Mónika Nagy HUN 1:01:25
2. Anissa Badis HUN 1:01:45
3. Marija Vrajić CRO 1:08:28

 

Full results: 15. Žumberačka utrka 2010

 

Anissa Badis of Hungary in the Žumberačka utrka 2010 (Copyright © 2010 Hendrik Böttger / runinternational.eu)

Anissa Badis

 

Žumberačka utrka 2010 - spectators (Copyright © 2010 runinternational.eu)

 

Žumberačka utrka 2010 - Žumberak Race (Copyright © 2010 runinternational.eu)

 

Žumberačka utrka 2010 - in the village of Sošice (Copyright © 2010 Hendrik Böttger / runinternational.eu)

 

Žumberačka utrka in Sošice, Croatia (Copyright © 2010 Hendrik Böttger / runinternational.eu)

 

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