14 July 2020, 10am
On 11 July in Karlovac, Croatia, the 8th Heineken 0.0 Karlovački cener became the first World Athletics “label” race to be held since 8 March.
To comply with local health and safety recommendations participation was limited to 545 runners in the mass race and 36 in the elite race which followed an hour later. Heavy rains and high winds kept spectators away but conditions had improved by the time the elite field started.
Sebastian Hendel (30:13) of Germany and Croatia’s Matea Parlov Kostro (33:57) were convincing winners. Joash Kipruto Koech, a Kenyan runner currently based in Italy, and Burundi’s Jean Marie Niyomukiza – who are both in the same training group – followed Hendel home in 30:50 and 31:07 while Hendel’s wife Kristina (34:07) and Clementine Mukandanga of Rwanda completed the women’s podium.