Poland Hosts 24-Hour Championships

The winners of the 2010 edition are looking for repeats.

Some of the the world’s best long-distance runners are gathering in Katowice, Poland this weekend for the 9th IAU 24-hour championships.

The 2010 world champions, Shingo Inoue from Japan and Anne Cecile Fontaine of France, are the pre-race favorites.

When he won the 2010 edition of the race, Inoue covered a staggering 273.708km (approximately 169.6 miles)–an Asian-best performance. Italy’s Ivan Cudin, who won bronze in 2010, is the next-best runner with a 263.841 km personal best.

Rounding out number three in the ranking is France’s Marc Bordus (260.147 km).

The women’s race should pit Anne Cecile Fontaine versus Japan’s Mami Kudo who won the 48-hour championships.

A total of 269 athletes from 35 countries will race.

The race’s course is a 1,554m looped route in Park Slaski, which is located near the Katowice city center. According to race organizers, it’s a fast and flat course with just a few rolling hills.

An additional 150 crew members will be present on the course to assist the athletes.

For More: IAAF