Sports News

In Sports News this week: the Prague International Marathon is won by a European runner for the first time ever; Czech tennis star Nicole Vaidisova climbs to seventh in the world rankings, her highest placing ever; and Sparta and Liberec chase the Czech football league title, while Slovacko are relegated after seven years in the top flight.

Prague Marathon won by European for first time

Photo: CTK

The centre of the Czech capital practically ground to a halt on Sunday for the 13th Prague International Marathon. But it was unlucky 13 for the African runners who have dominated the race since its inception in 1994. The Kenyan favourites apparently struggled with temperatures in the mid 20s Celsius, as the event was won by a European for the first time. Helder Ornelas of Portugal finished first in a time of 2:11:49, three minutes short of the race record. Luka Chelimo of Kenya came second, with another Portuguese, Paulo Gomes, finishing third. The women's race was won by Nailya Yulamanova of Russia in a time of 2:33:10.

It wasn't just professional runners who found the going difficult in the sunshine on Sunday. The founder of the Prague Marathon, Italian Paolo Ottone, said many of the event's 4,000-plus participants had found the heat overwhelming. He said they would consider holding the race earlier in the year in future.

Vaidisova climbs to career-best seventh in world rankings

Nicole Vaidisova has been Czech women's tennis number one for some time, but could she become world number one some day? Vaidisova, who turned 18 last month, has just risen to seventh in the world rankings, her highest ever placing.

Sparta and Liberec chase league title while Slovacko are relegated

Photo: CTK

The race for the Czech football league title remains tense, though unfortunately the top two - Sparta Prague and Slovan Liberec - were due to play one another in the capital after the recording of this programme, on Monday evening. Just behind them Mlada Boleslav are still in hot pursuit, after beating Banik Ostrava 2:0 at home. At the other end of the table Slovacko have been relegated. The small-town club, formerly known as Synot Stare Mesto, had been in the top flight for seven years.