The 20th „Smoki Smokić Children’s Marathon“ Held in Belgrade/Serbia

Slight drizzle that accompanied the qualifications for the 20^th "Smoki Smokić Children's Marathon", held on Saturday the 13th of April in the traditionally welcoming setting of the Belgrade Zoo – failed to wipe away the smiles from the faces of 140 "bitter" rivals.

They attended the final event as the fastest of the 14.000 of their peers aged 5 and 6 years, a title earned at the qualifications that took place in the preschool institutions of the fifteen Belgrade municipalities. They demonstrated their speed on the 230m long course around the elephant enclosure – first in twelve qualification heats and then in the final.

The fastest of the fastest, twice, was Nikola Sudimac from the preschool „Ljolja" (Voždovac), who set the qualification record with 39:02 and then bettered it in the final to 38:58.

The vice-champion of this year's "Smoki Smokić Children's Marathon" was Andrej Svetličić („Žirić", Čukarica), while the third place went to Davor Ćosić („Košuta", Čukarica). The title of the "super snail" awarded for the last place in the final, one that nobody likes even though it comes with great prizes, went to Nikola Vićovac („Duga", Mladenovac).

Other finalist, the winners from the qualification heats, were Aleksandar Popara ("Biser" Vračar), Mija Brajović ("Čigra", Novi Beograd), Andrea Prvanović ("Pčelica Maja", Zemun), Strahinja Veselinović ("Lane", Grocka), Anastasija Milošević ("Bubamara", Zemun), Mina Jovanović ("Bubamara", Čukarica"), Danijel Stoisavljević ("Petar Pan", Zemun) and Ivan Trač ("Mali princ", Zemun).

The participants of the "Smoki Smokić Children's Marathon" final, organised in cooperation with the Secretariat for Education and Child Protection, was also supported by ŠTARK – a friend and partner of the Children's Marathon for a decade, UNICEF and Mini Music Academy – whose performances in the official programme impressed all guests, teachers, parents, media representatives and children.

 

Dejan Nikolic

 

Belgrade Marathon

 

Link of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2ZU6mS47sEQ