Congratulations to all! Anticipation rises for the Vienna City Marathon in six week
Andreas Vojta won today's Vienna Calling Half Marathon with start on the Reichsbrücke and finish in the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna in personal best time and new Viennese (WLV) record of 62:30 minutes. He thus moved up to second place on the Austrian all-time list.
The Olympic and World Championship participant completed a successful dress rehearsal for his marathon debut in six weeks at the Vienna City Marathon on 23 April.
"This was a good test and gives me confidence for the start of the marathon. The result was a precision landing. I knew that I could run such a time even in marathon preparation. The route from the Reichsbrücke to the Hauptallee is notoriously fast“, commented Vojta.
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Vojta's previous best was 63:18 minutes, which he had run in Prague in April 2022.
He was supported by his training colleague Dominik Stadlmann for the first ten kilometres in about 29:40 minutes. After that, he single-handedly kept up the pace. So far, only Günther Weidlinger was faster than Vojta with his Austrian record of 61:42 minutes in Udine 2007.
Myth of the Hauptallee: Fast times in the World Athletics Heritage Site
In the race "in the footsteps of Eliud Kipchoge" with start on the Vienna Reichsbrücke and finish in the World Athletics Heritage site Prater Hauptallee, Vojta's club colleague Martin Mistelbauer took second place in 1:09:33 while Pierrick Mialle (VIC Runners) came third in 1:12:16.
Fastest female runner on the half marathon distance was 24-year-old Sophie Grabner (LT Gmünd). The multiple medallist at Austrian championships also achieved a personal best in 1:17:05 hours (previously 1:19:43). She will run her debut on the classic distance at the VCM. Five-time marathon national champion Karin Freitag (LG Decker Itter) in 1:22:04 and Nicole Herbst in 1:23:04 took second and third place.
Momentum in the running community
"This race makes our anticipation for the Vienna City Marathon even greater. The great performances and the strong participation show what great momentum there is in the running community," says VCM Managing Director Kathrin Widu.
A total of 1,400 runners had registered for the event organised by the Vienna City Marathon Team and got motivation and a boost for their form - 778 at the half marathon, more than 600 at the distances of 5 km and 10 km, which took place in the Prater Hauptallee. Never before had there been such high registration numbers for an event of the VCM Winter Running Series. 1,133 runners crossed the finish line.
The temperatures were still close to freezing point at the half marathon start at 8am. The storm from the day before had subsided, so that the conditions for the run were very good. At the finish line, all finishers received flowering primroses as a spring greeting.
Motivation and top performances over 5 and 10 kilometres
In the 10 km race Felix Geieregger (run2gether) won in 31:09 minutes and Larissa Matz (ULC Riverside Mödling) in 35:22 minutes, both with personal bests. Over 5 kilometres Domenik Vizani (LC Neufurth) in 15:49 minutes and Zofia Nanova (Slavia STU Bratislava) 16:48 minutes showed strong winning performances.
The Vienna Calling Half Marathon and the 5km and 10km races are listed in the World Athletics Global Calendar. They were officially measured (AIMS) and the results are recognised by the athletics federations for best lists and records.
In the 5km race we had official tail runners from the Donaupark Parkrun team who accompanied and supported the participants at the end of the field. Thanks to Benjamin Robinson and Lukas Gärtner! We plan to have tail runners / tail walkers at the various events during the VCM weekend as well.
Dress rehearsal for record attempt: Thanks for taking part!
During the race the dress rehearsal for a record attempt took place. Together with Wiener Städtische and you, we want to create the longest picture painted by runners at the Vienna City Marathon on 23 April!
Many of you participated on a banner on the running course and painted during the run. Thank you very much! It was an important test for the big project on 23 April.
