Marathon weekend

Great start: Millonig runs a great best time

Lena Millonig

(Bild: VCM / Jenia Symonds)

Great start to the marathon weekend in Vienna! One day before the race over the classic 42.195 kilometers, there were already four competitions with a finish in front of the Burgtheater, with the youngest runners impressing even in the rain in the children's races - and finally there were sensational spurt decisions in the 5-kilometer road race with very strong personal best times from Lena Millonig in 15:58 and from Marcel Tobler (14:22). 

Millonig, out of action for a long time after an obstacle crash last year, put up a thrilling fight against the Hungarian class runner Lili Anna Vindics-Tóth and was only beaten by one second in the end. After around 3.5 kilometers, Millonig had even overtaken the 25-year-old on the ring, but narrowly lost out in the exciting finish. "But of course I'm mega happy," said the Lower Austrian, who has already shown four good 5-kilometer races this year and has now significantly improved her personal best time of 16:21 set on March 10 on the Ring.

Millonig is only the fourth Austrian to stay under the 16-minute barrier. In the "eternal" Austrian best list, only Jennifer Wenth and Julia Mayer (both 15:46) and Carina Reicht (15:53) are ahead of her. Her next (very realistic) goal is to take part in the 3000 m steeplechase at the European Championships in Rome in June. She will compete in her first obstacle race this year on May 3 at the national championships in Südstadt.

Marcel Tobler

(Bild: VCM / Jenia Symonds)

Red-white-red double victory
Tobler also put on a thrilling race and together with Raphael Siebenhofer (14:27), who was narrowly defeated, ensured an Austrian double victory. With his 14:22, Tobler moved up to fifth place in the "eternal" Austrian best list in the 5-kilometer road race. Andreas Vojta (13:48) and Kevin Kamenschak (13:49) are at the top of the list. Tobler: "I'm quite happy with the race, it felt good, the pace was fast, but I still had enough energy for a fast finish." After all, the 5 kilometers are an overdistance for him as a 1500 m runner ...

In addition to the 5-kilometre road race, three other competitions were already on the program on Saturday - "The Daily Mile" over 800 m and 1600 m. Elisa Anna Milfait (2:47) from the Czech Republic and Matteo Cuoni (Austria/2:56) ran the fastest times in the girls' race over the shorter distance. Anna Molling (4:56) and Simon Dopler (both Austria/4:04) came out on top over the 1600 m. The "Coca-Cola Inclusion Run" was not timed.

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Fotos

Children give the starting signal
A special task awaits two participants in the "Daily Mile" on Sunday: they are allowed to give the starting signal for the Vienna City Marathon at 9 am. "We wanted to bring the same enthusiasm that is spread at the children's races on Saturday to the start on Sunday. That's why we called for two young participants to press the start buzzer together. We received over 300 heart-warming letters," said VCM Managing Director Kathrin Widu.

The 10-year-old Mia-Sophie from Carinthia and 8-year-old Bilel from Vienna were chosen to send the runners on their way on Sunday. Bilel is no stranger. He made headlines last year as the "runaway marathon boy". Watching from the sidelines, he was so enthusiastic that he simply ran along. His father suddenly couldn't see him anymore and completely lost sight of him. The boy ran 7 kilometers before he was found by a police officer. A story that touched many people. This year, Bilel officially took part in "The Daily Mile 800", and on Sunday he was allowed to press the buzzer ...

The results:

5 km road race men: 1st Tobler (Austria) 14:22, 2nd Siebenhofer (Austria) 14:27, 3rd Blake (Aus) 14:51

Women's 5 km road race: 1st Vindics-Tóth (Ung) 15:57, 2nd Lena Millonig (Ö) 15:58, 3rd Schauer (Ö) 16:31

Children's race - "The Daily Mile 1600": Boys: 1. Dopler (Ö) 4:04, 2. Blidar (Rum) 4:13, 3. Schöggl (Ö) 4:29 Girls: 1. Molling (Ö) 4:45, 2. Bühl (Ö) 4:46, 3. Martin (Fra) 4:56

Children's race - "The Daily Mile 800": Boys: 1. Cuoni (Ö) 2:44, 2. Nagy (Ö) 2:56, 3. Kraus (Ö) 3:10 Girls: 1. Milfait (Tsch) 2:47, 2. Vozková (Tsch) 2:48, 3. Rampasekova (Slk) 3:02