Karlovac hosted 11. the 14th edition on June 11 and 12. edition of the Karlovački cener race, the fastest cener and one of the most important road athletics events in Croatia. The ten-kilometer race has the prestigious status of World Athletics Road Label Race and is included in the World Athletics Federation calendar, which allows competitors to earn points for the world ranking and qualify for major international competitions.
The main event of the competition was held on Friday, when the best domestic and international runners took to the start line. A total of 22 male and female athletes competed in the elite race.
In the elite competition, the Kenyan Lengen Lolkurraru celebrated with a time of 29:47. The second place was won by the Slovenian Jakob Medved (30:00), while the third was another representative of Kenya, Nixon Kiprotich Kirwa (30:06). The best Croatian representative was Tomislav Novosel from AK Mladost Zagreb in fourth place with a score of 30:27.
In the women’s track and field event, Kenyan Ronah Nyaboke Nyabochoa won with a time of 34:44, ahead of Ethiopian Betelhem Derbush Tenaw (35:59). Third place was won by the best Croatian representative, Tea Faber from AK Fit Zaprešić, with a score of 36:14.
Members of the Karlovac Athletic Club also performed well. Hela Rakamarić took a high sixth place in the elite competition with a time of 37:58, while her club colleague Helena Valentić was eighth with a result of 38:43.
The main ten-kilometer race also attracted great interest, with 772 runners and 98 relay teams, or more than a thousand participants. The start of the race was marked by the mayor of Karlovac , Damir Mandić .
In the individual men’s competition, Antonio Ivančić won (33:13), second place went to Mladen Pevac (35:24), and third place went to Slovenian Gregor Laj (35:28). Among the Karlovac residents, Šimun Ivan Hajsan from the Karlovac Rowing Club stood out, finishing the race in eighth place with a time of 37:19.
In the women’s competition, the fastest was Slovenian Nina Težak (37:34), second was her compatriot Ema Žibert (38:38), while third place was won by Martina Horvat from (40:45). Among the domestic representatives, Maja Pavletić from AK RaN 047 Karlovac achieved a notable result, taking seventh place with a time of 42:42.
In the relay races, the title of winner among the men’s teams once again went to Noćna 10ka Zagreb , which set a new track record in relay races, which now stands at an excellent 31:06, while in the women’s competition, the Fit girls team was the most successful with 40:48.
This year’s Karlovački Cener once again confirmed its status as one of the largest and highest quality road races in the region. Together with children’s races, the event brought together almost 1,500 participants , making Karlovac once again the center of the running community and sports spirit.