2015 Kosice Marathon dedicated to Aurele Vandenriessche – In the Footsteps of Marathon Legends.

The oldest marathon in Europe is a real source of historical inspiration.  If we leaf through the chronicle  of the Kosice Marathon, we cannot fail to notice the great number of true legends of this athletic discipline who have been here.

Stepping out in their tracks today are young people who  compete  to be part of the  final Junior Relay team bearing every year one of names of  these  marathon legends.

The upcoming Kosice Marathon is dedicated to former Belgium  champion Aurele Vandenriessche. He came to Kosice in 1965 as two times Boston Marathon winner (1963, 1964) and European Championship 1962 silver medal holder. Vandenriessche beated in hot weather British runners Bill Adcocks and Brian Kilby in Kosice.

During the long history of the world oldest marathons (Boston since 1897, Kosice since 1924) there are only 2 runners who have won both of them.

Beside Aurele Vandenriessche it is also Swedish runner Gösta Leandersson. He won Kosice Marathon in 1948 and year later triumphed also in Boston.

Aurele Vandenriessche (83) lives in city of Anzegem and he is looking forward to see his name once again in program of Kosice Marathon.

Let us remind that in 2014 it was  British legend Ron Hill who came to  Kosice 40 years  after his first visit here. In the past  the project "In the Footsteps of Marathon Legends" was dedicated  to another big names of Kosice Marathon history like Abebe Bikila, Juan Carlos Zabala, John Farrington or Leonard Buddy Edelen.

Brano Koniar
Race director

Kosice Marathon