Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) and Maria Jansson (SWE) are the top runners in the 21st International Association of Ultrarunners 24-Hour European Championships to take place on 22-23 October in Albi, France. The two leading athletes enter the competition with impressive personal best of 260.491km and 242.686km respectively.
The IAU is a long-standing partner of European Athletics operating under the patronnage of the IAAF.
Albi is a city located in southern, France on the River Tarn. The historical city is located 85km northeast of Toulouse and was voted as the Top Town of Sport Events in 2012 by the French newspaper l'Equipe.
In the men's field, with the absence of Florian Reus (GER), a new European champion will be crowned. Going into the race Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) is the top runner with a personal best of 260.491km this year. The Hungarian duo made up of Bela Mazur (HUN) and Zoltan Csecsei (HUN) will be looking to stay close to the Lithuanian both with similar personal bests of 247.040 km and 243.460km.
The men's field is very tight indeed when referring to the best performances achieved in 2016 prior to the race. Dietmar Korntner (AUT) and James Elson (GBR) with a distance of 243.068 and 242.490km, and veteran Irish runner Eoin Keith with a distance of 241.938km, will also be vying for that top spot.
In the women's field, Maria Jansson (SWE) is back to defend her European title gained at the World and European Championships in Turin last year. Teammates from Hungary, Viktoria Makai and Boglarka Vago with bests of 225.600km and 223.540km respectively, will also be aiming for a podium finish.
The women's field has several runners running in the 215-225km range. Anne Marie Vernet (FRA) is back in the mix having run 222.419km this year while Amy Masner (IRL) completes the top 5 with 217.068km.
The day-night event will be run around a 1120m course with 180 runners representing 24 countries.
The race starts at 10:00 am on Saturday 22 October and promises to be an exciting one.
Top 5 athletes in the field (based on 2016 results)
Men:
Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) 260.491km
Bela Mazur (HUN) 247.040km
Zoltan Csecsei (HUN) 243.460km
Dietmar Korntner (AUT) 243.068km
James Elson (GBR) 242.490km
Women:
Maria Jansson (SWE) 242.686km
Viktoria Makai (HUN) 225.600km
Boglarka Vago (HUN) 223.540km
Anne Marie Vernet (FRA) 222.419km
Amy Masner (IRL) 217.068km