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Today, June 6, 2026, the 57th edition of the Zahorakska Dvadsiatka took place in Borsky Mikulas (SVK).The day included the men’s and women’s half marathon races and the men’s and women’s 10km races.
Half Marathon Men
Immediately after the start, a small group of five athletes formed: Massimo Stano (ITA), Kazuki Takahashi (JPN), Salih Korkmaz (TUR), Karl Junghannss (GER), and Akshdeep Singh (IND), who gained a few meters of advantage over their closest pursuers. After covering the first kilometer and 0.95 meters in 4:33, they increased their pace each lap, completing the 5km in 20:39. The closest chaser was another Italian athlete, Gabriele Gamba, 1:01 behind (21:38).
At the halfway point, Stano, Takahashi, Korkmaz, and Junghannss are in the lead (20:16 – 40:55), while Singh has lost ground. During the next lap, the unexpected happens: Massimo Stano is forced to make a twenty-second stop for an unscheduled restroom break, while Takahashi and Korkmaz (burdened by two red cards) continue at a pace of 4:03, and Junghannss has given up and is running at 4:27/km.
At 15km, Takahashi is still leading the race (20:16 – 1:01:01), followed a few meters by Korkmaz. Stano is about 9 seconds behind and has already made up half of the time lost during the unscheduled stop.
In the next three laps, Stano (3:58 – 3:54 – 3:57) caught Takahashi (4:03 – 3:59 – 3:59) and then overtook him in the final three laps, covering times of 3:54 – 3:54 – 3:56, while Takahashi had to settle for a good 4:02 – 4:05 – 4:05.
Victory to Massimo Stano (ITA) in 1:25:25.
Second place to Kazuki Takahashi (JPN) in 1:25:45.
Third place to Salih Korkmaz (TUR) in 1:27:19.
Fourth place to Karl Junghannss (GER) in 1:28:32.
Twenty-three athletes at the start; 17 finished, 5 DNF and 1 DQed.
Massimo Stano expressed his satisfaction after the race: “In these two close races, I achieved the times I had in mind. Here, after the short break, I managed to catch up and overtake my opponents in progression.”
Women’s Half Marathon
The women’s race was much less interesting, with only eight athletes at the start. A group of three athletes formed at the front of the race from the first kilometer: Sofia Ramos Rodriguez (MEX), Mina Stankovich (SRB), and Johana Ordonez Lucero (ECU).
They passed the 5.095km mark in 22:25, and the 10.095km mark in 44:40 (+22:15). Between the 12km and 13km marks, the Mexican pushed the pace, dropping the young Serbian athlete coached by Aleksander Rakovic and sprinting to victory.
The winner’s final time was 1:39:21.
Mina Stankovich (SRB) took second place in 1:40:35.
Johana Ordonez Lucero (ECU) finished third in 1:41:49.
Fourth place went to Anastasia Antonopoulou (GRE) in 1:45:33.
Eight athletes at the start; six finished and 2 DNF
10km Men
Victory to Bence Venyercsan (HUN) in 39:54 (19:47 + 20:07)
Second place to Norbert Toth (HUN) in 41:28
Third place to Dominik Cerny (SVK) in 42:39
Twelve athletes at the start; 11 finished ad 1 DNF
10km Women
Victory to Christina Papadopoulou (GRE) in 46:31 (22:38 + 23:53)
Second place to Hana Cerna (SVK) in 47:05
Third place to Kader Dost (TUR) in 47:31
Five athletes at the start; all finished.
Photo album by Frederic Bianchi (SWI)
