2024-09-24 05:19:33
Favorable weather, challenging peaks and demanding terrain – for the eighth year Pirin Mountain tested the physical and mental endurance of mountain runners from all over the world. More than 1,000 participants from 39 countries took part in the eighth edition of the Pirin Ultra ultramarathon. The event was held from September 21 to 23, and this year offered 4 courses to the runners: Course A 160K, Course B 66K, the shortest, but most technical and extreme – Course C Pirin Extreme 38K and the new, shortest distance Pirin Trail 25K.
The participants of the Pirin Trail 25K started at 10 am on 21.9.2024 from the Banderishka Polyana area, and the Final was at the central square in the city of Bansko. The winner of this distance was Olivier Moreau from Canada. He finished with a time of 2:23:20. The second finish was crossed by the Romanian Christian Vlad, who covered the distance in 2:39:26. Third place went to Evgeni Tsvetkov from Kazakhstan, 2:40:16. In the women’s category, the winner was Snezhana Djuric from Serbia, with a time of 3:05:51. A few minutes after her, the Bulgarian Ivelina Numerova took second place, finishing in 3:13:46. The third place was also for Bulgaria – Vanina Milusheva crossed the finish with a time of 3:29:41.
Over 300 participants stood at the start of Pirin Extreme, which was given on 22/09/2024, at exactly 08:00. The route is 38 km long and 3300 m+, and passes through one of the most technical sections of the mountain, namely Koteshki chal , Koncheto, the ascent from the Premkata area to Vihren Peak, the northern edge of Todorka Peak. The winner on this route was Marcin Rzeszczotko from Poland. He ran the distance in 4:59:54. Three minutes after him, the representative of North Macedonia, Alekdander Stojkoski, finished with a time of 5:01:43. The third place was won by the Bulgarian Yordan Todorov, with a time of 5:15:15.
In the women’s race, the winner was North Macedonian Elena Rtoska, who ran the distance in 6:27:31. Eniko Bartok from Romania came second, with a time of 7:08:58, and the third place was also here for a representative of Bulgaria – Sara Minkova passed the final in 7:23:32.
Two hours before the start of Pirin Extreme, at 6 a.m. on 22.09.2024, in clear and cold weather, the start was also given for the middle distance – Route B 66K. It took the runners to the Kuklite peak, with a height of 2868m. The fastest among the participants was the Bulgarian Tony Petkov. He covered the distance in 9:52:28. The second place was taken by the representative of Greece, Akakis Javakhadze, with a time of 10:00:37. The third place was once again the representative of Bulgaria – Slavyan Genchev. He ran the course in 10:03:00.
Among the ladies, the first place was taken by the Bulgarian Rositsa Stefanova, who covered the distance in 12:52:43. The second place again went to a Bulgarian representative – Miglena Petkova with a time of 14:05:37. The third place was won by the Lithuanian Inga Okstuolite, who crossed the final exactly 14:15:10 after the start.
The start of the classic distance in Pirin Ultra – the route with a length of 160 km, was given on 21.09.2024, at 06:00. The competitors started in cloudy skies, but as the day progressed the conditions improved and their long adventure in the heart of the Pirin Mountains passed in calm and calm weather.
In this distance this year there was a new record in the men’s race and absolute dominance by Bulgaria. Dimitar Atanasov made a historic run, covering 160 kilometers in 27:21:52. Vladimir Milushev came second, with a time of 30:17:29. The third place was taken by Bozhidar Antonov, who passed the final in 30:59:45. In the women’s race, the first place was taken by the Romanian Oana Marina, with a time of 36:38:07. Bulgarian Poli Ivanova came second, avoiding the distance in 49:27:52. The mayor of Bansko Municipality, Mr. Stojcho Banenski, was present at the award ceremony, who also presented the prizes to the winners of the longest distance of Pirin Ultra.
During the race, 12 aid stations were organized on the mountain, and a team of 70 people monitored the safety of the competitors, 30 of them were involved in safety on the Pirin Extreme course. Electric cars took care of the movement of the teams.