Salzburg Marathon 2022: Start List & Preview
The three-year break of the running festival in the city of Mozart is finally over.
The comeback succeeds with an atmospheric runners’ meeting of Salzburgers together with running enthusiasts from the other federal states and 60 nations. The focus is on the motivating togetherness in a peaceful setting, from a sporting point of view the ÖLV state championships in the marathon.
The desire to run was unbroken in the last two years, in some cases even increased. This is shown by various findings from surveys and analytical observations. The comeback of running also brings the running festival in the city of Mozart back to the running stage. “For thousands of running enthusiasts, it is a great pleasure that the Salzburg Marathon is taking place with a top-class program after a three-year break,” says Deputy Mayor Bernhard Auinger happily. The city of Salzburg has been a cooperation partner of the Salzburg Marathon since the very beginning of Salzburg’s largest active sports event, a partnership that was also stable during the pandemic.
“Running connects!”
The comeback of running together is of particular importance for organizer Johannes Langer this year: “Finally we can garnish the desire to run again with the special experience factor – and all this with an atmospheric running event.” The active week has already been opened with the first initiatives and points and finds its climax in the varied competition program at the weekend. “Running connects!” emphasizes Langer, who has sensed in the running scene the longing for the return of running laps together and the excitement and work towards competition goals over the past few months.
Running festivals bring movement to the city
The comeback of the running festival brings running and the sporting atmosphere of the event back into Salzburg city life. “This major international event leads to the most beautiful sights in the lively city of Salzburg and motivates thousands of people to exercise even more – a very important stimulus,” added Auinger. dr Sandra Woglar-Meyer, Managing Director of the Salzburg Old Town Association, is looking forward to the fact that the old town of Salzburg will be all about running for a week: “Fortunately, this top-class sporting event attracts many guests from Germany and abroad. The participants in the Salzburg Marathon and the other running competitions of the Running Festival in the City of Mozart will not only liven up the old town in a sporty way in the coming days, they will also have a positive economic impact on the inner-city shops, hotels and restaurants. The good mix of goods and the wide range of culinary offerings in the midst of the unique ambience of the old town will ensure an eventful variety at the running festival.” The Salzburg Old Town Association has been a loyal partner and sponsor of the Salzburg Marathon since the beginning.
Mag. Bert Brugger, Managing Director of Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, who has also always been a loyal partner and sponsor of the Salzburg Marathon, directs the focus to the quality of experience at the running festival: “The attractiveness of cities is largely dependent on the quality and uniqueness of their events, festivals and concrete experiences. The Salzburg Marathon convinces participants as well as fans as a great overall experience and year after year also distinguishes Salzburg as the venue of this incomparable running festival.”
A running event of versatility
At the running weekend of the Running Festival in the City of Mozart, every need for running and every running goal finds its place in a diverse program of competitions and entertainment. “It has been important to us for many years to present the sport of running in its entirety. And that in the middle of the city with the simple connection between sport and culture as well as the guarantee of a wonderful backdrop and a great experience,” said Langer. The main competitions will take place on Sunday, May 15th – in addition to the 19th edition of the Salzburg marathon with the ÖLV state championships and Austrian championships in the masters classes, there are the Sparkasse half marathon, the Hyundai relay marathon and the Hervis-10K Salzburg CityRun. The joint finish line for all Sunday competitions is in the Hofstallgasse in front of the Great Festival Hall, where the 10 km run, the first competition of the Sunday, also started at 8:45 a.m. The three other competitions get their starting signal at 9 a.m. (9:10 relay marathon) at Ferdinand-Hanusch-Platz with the starting line-up in Griesgasse.
The further program at the Salzburg Marathon
On Saturday, May 14, the Volksgarten will be all about family, charity and emotions: the extensive grounds will be transformed into a large sports and exercise arena for the colorful sports palette. At 16 sports and exercise stations, supervised by sports associations and clubs, children and young people can experience various types of sports and exercise up close. The race of the junior marathon and the charity event #OneMileForASmile – Inclusion Run by Coca-Cola take place on the running track. The weekend program starts on Friday with the two-day SportMall in the Ice Arena and the Salzburg Women’s Run in a sunset atmosphere in the Volksgarten. The Salzburg Women’s Run is in its 14th edition and is firmly anchored as the first sporting highlight of the weekend with the 5.5 km run and the “Frau walkt!” from Bio Austria over the same distance.
Marathon as big as 2019
From the very beginning of the history of the Salzburg marathon, the Salzburger Sparkasse was on board as a loyal partner. Laura Zehetner, who is responsible for press work and market runner research at the Salzburger Sparkasse, is looking forward to the motivating atmosphere that the runners radiate: “It’s always a special highlight when our city is on a stage for hobby runners up to performance-oriented and professional runners. Many participants will certainly experience their own personal #believeinyourself moment and prove what is possible when someone believes in themselves.”
Lots going on at the half marathon
The Sparkasse half marathon is the competition with the most participants of the weekend. The registrations for the marathon went particularly well, the dimensions of which even slightly exceed the registration result from 2019 and form an international field of participants with a strong focus on marathon guests from European countries. Langer looks back: “The start on Sunday marks the end of a long preparatory tour that we have been taking through many European countries since last summer and in recent weeks through the ‘Salzburg is running!’ campaign. connected with the runners at many running clubs in the city and state of Salzburg. With the nomination result, our concept is confirmed and the effort we put in is rewarded – an important motivational boost for us as organizers to continue on this path in the coming years.”
List of participants Salzburg Marathon: Wutti Favoritin
The sporting highlight of the weekend is the Salzburg Marathon, during which the ÖLV state championships and Austrian masters class championships are held. The favorite for the women’s title is Eva Wutti (SU TRI STYRIA), who, after a late start to training, has gotten into good shape through systematic training work in recent weeks and is aiming for the European Championship qualification for Munich at the Salzburg Marathon. A direct qualification is possible with a performance under 2:32:00 hours, with a good performance in Salzburg the Carinthian could also improve her world ranking position for the international championships in summer.
In the men’s race, there could be an exciting three-way battle for the title of state champion. Mario Bauernfeind (KUS ÖBV Pro Team), who twice increased his half-marathon record this spring (most recently to 1:05:35 in Vienna), is entering his third marathon and is optimistic about his record of 2:29:23 hours to improve significantly. Isaac Toroitich Kosgei (TGW Zehnkampf Union) has already been national marathon champion twice, including in 2018, when the title was last awarded at the Salzburg Marathon. At that time he ran a time of 2:20:59 hours and crossed the finish line as second overall. In autumn 2021, the 41-year-old won the three-country marathon with a personal best of 2:19:41 hours. The third medal candidate is Georg Wardrobe (runninGraz), fifth in the Graz Marathon in autumn in a time of 2:24:50 hours. A good two weeks ago he completed the half marathon at the Vienna City Marathon in 1:08:08 hours when Bauernfeind won.
A special team experience
The Hyundai relay marathon offers a special team experience and thus a powerful symbol for togetherness. Four runners split the marathon distance into two 15.2 kilometer stages and two 5.9 kilometer stages. Peter Herzog started together with ski jumping team Olympic champion Jan Hörl and two amateur runners, who were drawn by Hervis in a competition, in a sports aid relay. “The running community is a big family and actually every running event is a team experience. But this one will be special,” says the Olympic participant and ÖLV marathon record holder. The premium mobility partner of the Salzburg Marathon, which has been on the domestic market for three centuries, not only shares the passion for the community, but also for stamina and perseverance with the participants of the running festival: “Further and faster – and the whole thing is climate-friendly. These are the parallels that describe the motto with which we support the running festival in the city of Mozart,” explains Rasin Kamali, spokesman for Hyundai. “Sustainability is a top priority at the running festival – that suits Hyundai perfectly. All escort vehicles are emission-free on the road.”
Herzog, who is aiming for the European Cup over 10,000 m at the end of May, did not want to fall on his appearance at his home race. “This special competitive feeling together with thousands of runners is incredibly motivating and enriching. Running events stand for running together and mutual exchange among like-minded people,” said the Pinzgauer about important training kilometers with a start number. Kamali adds: “At the Hyundai relay marathon, the following applies: motivation, team spirit, cohesion, cheering, give everything for the team!
Salzburg Marathon: All winners
marathon men
2019 Victor Kipchirchir KEN 2:17:03
2018 Wesley Kemboi KEN 2:19:26
2017 Hosea Rutto KEN 2:17:49
2016 Timisoara Bekele ETH 2:23:11
2015 Karl Aumayr AUT 2:26:08
2014 Edwin Kemboi KEN 2:22:00
2013 Eliud Kiplagat Ken 2:14:16
2012 Martin Kiprugut Kosgey KEN 2:16:36
2011 Victor Bushendich Chelokoi KEN 2:14:49
2010 Thomas Nagelel KEN 2:20:30
2009 Christian Pflug AUT 2:23:32
2008 John Kiprono KEN 2:18:52
2007 Mike Rotich KEN 2:18:41
2006 Josephat Kiprono-Rotich KEN 2:27:42
2005 Josephat Kiprono-Rotich KEN 2:21:46
2004 Peter Ndirangu KEN 2:19:25
marathon women
2019 Gadise Negesa ETH 2:46:37
2018 Theresa Omosa KEN 2:43:24
2017 Tunde Szabo HUN 2:54:06
2016 Fatuma Tayr ETH 2:39:15
2015 Shewaye Gemechu ETH 2:45:09
2014 Nancy Rotich KEN 2:48:30
2013 Nancy Rotich KEN 2:36:10
2012 Nancy Rotich KEN 2:36:08
2011 Risper Kimayo KEN 2:35:05
2010 Viola Bor-Chepting KEN 2:39:34
2009 Ursula Bredlinger AUT 2:49:20
2008 Sabine Hofer AUT 2:54:01
2007 Eva Maria Gradwohl AUT 2:46:31
2006 Sabine Hofer AUT 2:56:31
2005 Lucia Mwihaki Kimani KEN 2:48:20
2004 Eva Trost DE 2:47:02
To the Salzburg marathon