Pole wins 245km Spartathlon

The 245-kilometre and 300 meter ultramarathon is considered to be one of the toughest running competitions in the world.

It took the Pole 23 hours 1 minute and 13 seconds to cover the historic distance from Athens to Sparta.

This was Radzikowski’s best result to date in this challenging event. Last year he placed 18th and two years ago he came in a high third.

This time the 35 year-old Pole was followed at the finish line by Italy’s Marco Bonfiglio and Czech Radek Brunner.

This year’s Spartathlon gathered 392 runners from 37 countries.

The event has been held annually since 1983. It commemorates the feat of the Athenian messenger Pheidippides, who in 490 BC covered the distance to ask for help in an armed encounter with the Persians at Marathon.

(ss/pk)