A running spectacle was offered today in front of thousands of enthusiastic spectators in Peuerbach. At the 40th Int. Raiffeisen Silvesterlauf, the Serb Elzan Bibic repeated his victory in the Biogena Lauf der Asse from the last edition in 2019. With a time of 18:54.76 he won just ahead of the Kenyan Isaac Kipkemboi Too and Andreas Vojta from Austria. The 47-time national champion thus fulfilled his long-standing dream of a podium finish at the New Year’s Eve run. In the women’s race, the Ethiopian runner-up in the 3,000m steeplechase, Werkuha Getachew, won in 16:01.10 minutes, just ahead of Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok. With Julia Mayer, the best Austrian ended up in an excellent 5th place. The audience was enthusiastic about the performance of the world-class field. A slightly wet track prevented new course records from being set, but the excitement at the races could hardly be surpassed. A total of 996 participants registered in 11 competitions.
14 nations at the start in Peuerbach
The New Year’s Eve run in Peuerbach once again lived up to its status as one of the top 5 New Year’s Eve runs in Europe. All in all, top runners from 14 nations were at the start in the district of Grieskirchen. With exactly 996 registrations, the number of participants was just below the record number of participants. Never before have there been more starters in the Held & Francke fun run over 6,800 meters, a total of 420 runners decide to end the year in a sporty fun run. The commitment of 120 volunteers from IGLA long life made this sensational event possible in the first place. The show program by Mayor Roland Schauer and his uncles – the “Guitar Brothers” – delighted the audience.
Elzan Bibic secures victory again
In the Biogena race of the aces men, Elzan Bibic and the Kenyan Isaac Kipkemboi Too fought a thrilling duel. They were already well ahead of the rest of the field by halfway through the 6.8-kilometre distance. The Kenyan attacked on the penultimate lap and was able to pull away from the Serb, who caught up again on the last lap and won the race in a time of 18:54.76 minutes by 2.11 seconds. “It was a brilliant race, I’m so happy, the audience was unbelievable again today,” said the Serb happily at the finish. Behind him, the Austrian Andreas Vojta secured third place in 19:05.23 minutes, leaving strong competition such as Mike Foppen from the Netherlands, fifth in the European Championship, behind him. “Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we managed to get on the podium in Peuerbach,” said Vojta, overjoyed at the finish.
Victory in the women goes to Ethiopia
The women’s title went to the favorite from Ethiopia: Werkuha Getachew, current Vice World Champion over the 3,000 meter obstacle course, fought a gripping duel with Edinah Jebitok from Kenya. Towards the middle of the 5,100 meter long competition, they broke away from the field and ran head to head towards the finish line. In the final sprint, the Ethiopian had the faster legs and won after 16:01.10 minutes by just 0.82 seconds. At her first start in Peuerbach, Julia Mayer secured 5th place in this world-class field, just ahead of Lena Millonig, who finished 7th.
Austria secures second place in the national ranking
The nation ranking, in which the placings of the fastest woman and the fastest man of a country are added up in the Biogena race of aces, was won by Kenya, second place went to Austria with Julia Mayer and Andreas Vojta and third place to Germany.
996 starters in 11 competitions at the start
With exactly 996 registrations, the 1,000 mark in registrations was almost reached in 2022. “It was a successful restart after 2 cancellations due to corona and a worthy anniversary for the 40th New Year’s Eve run, I’m proud that the event was so well received by participants, spectators and the media,” said the new OC boss Carsten Eich. that the int. The first competitions showed that Raiffeisen Silvesterlauf Peuerbach, with its world-class athletes, is also the largest children’s sports festival at the end of the year: more than 400 boys and girl there. Cheered on by parents and spectators, tomorrow’s stars ran from the 100-meter sprint to the “Schartner Bomb Mile” over 1,700 meters. The Held & Francke fun run over 6,800 meters was a special experience again this year, more than 400 starters made Peuerbach the capital of running. A year can hardly end better than with the folk festival of running in Peuerbach, the capital of New Year’s Eve!
Captions (photos free of charge, photo credit Andreas Maringer)
Image 1: Elzan Bibic wins again in Peuerbach
Image 2: Vice World Champion Verkuha Getachew from Ethiopia celebrates a narrow victory
Photo 3: Andreas Vojta is happy about third place
Image 4: More than 400 runners took part in the fun run
Photo 5: There was great enthusiasm at the children’s races in Peuerbach