Returning champions take the marathon titles

 

Bert Tippi was the first man to reach the finish in Tartu’s Town Hall Square, winning in 2:31:26. Raido Ränkel finished second in 2:32:25, followed by Franko Reinhold in 2:37:07.

 

“I opened up a gap on the downhill near Salvest. If I hadn’t run the Tallinn Marathon, I would definitely have clocked a faster time today,” Tippi said after finishing.

 

Kertu Kula won the women’s race in 3:01:11. Bret Schär took second place in 3:05:42, with Kadri Veske third in 3:10:59.

Both Tippi and Kula claimed their second Tartu City Marathon victories.

 

Deniss Šalkauskas and Liis-Grete Hussar crowned Estonian half marathon champions

 

This year’s 21 km race had extra significance, as the Tartu City Marathon also hosted the Estonian Half Marathon Championships.

Deniss Šalkauskas won the men’s race in 1:06:16, securing the national title. Karel Hussar took silver in 1:06:38, while Morten Siht earned bronze in 1:07:35.

 

“I’m very happy — this is my first half marathon title. Tartu City Marathon is my absolute favourite race,” Šalkauskas said at the finish.

Liis-Grete Hussar won the women’s half marathon and the Estonian title in 1:16:47. Külli Sizask finished second, taking national championship silver in 1:17:34, while Helen Bell claimed third place and bronze in 1:18:01.

 

“It was tough — my legs had been bothering me all week, but I wasn’t going to let victory slip away in my hometown. Go Tartu! There were so many people cheering by the Kaarsild bridge that I thought, ‘Now’s the time to push!’ So I went for it and ran the last 10 km solo,” said a delighted Hussar.

 

Jürgen Joonas and Minna Kelk fastest over 10 km

 

The day’s final main event, the 10 km run and walk, started at 2 pm.

Jürgen Joonas won the men’s race in 31:02, followed by Tiidrek Nurme in 32:03 and Sten Sihver in 32:11.

 

Minna Kelk was the fastest woman in 36:43. Helen Bell finished second in 37:12, with Kaisa Kukk third in 37:49.

 

Bell completed the half marathon and the 10 km race back to back, earning a podium place in both. “I realised I was 1.7 km short of the required distance in the Rimi City Runs series, so I signed up, thinking I could at least jog it,” she explained the day before the race.

 

Awards were also presented to the marathon age-group winners and the top men, women and teams in the Klassik series.

 

Nearly 10,000 runners and walkers fill central Tartu

 

More than 4,400 runners and walkers took part in the three main distances of the 15th Tartu City Marathon.

 

“For the first time, we had more than 10,000 registrations and over 9,500 finishers across the weekend. This is our highest-ever turnout and the largest event organised by Klubi Tartu Maraton in the city of Tartu. Alongside the participation record, we enjoyed exceptionally good weather for October and more spectators than ever before. It was a fitting finale to the Klassik season,” said Indrek Kelk, Race Director of the Tartu City Marathon.

 

The weekend began on Friday evening with the 4 km Friday Night Run, kicked off by an energetic concert. Saturday’s programme also included children’s races alongside the main distances. The 15th Tartu City Marathon was the final event in this year’s Tartu Maraton Klassik series.

 

Full results