Dahlke wins EVL half marathon: A triumph for Leverkusen!

Dahlke wins EVL half marathon: A triumph for Leverkusen!

A whole sports festival took place on June 15th in Leverkusen, where this year's EVL half marathon attracted over 6,000 participants. There have never been so many runners at the EVL Half Marathon, making the event a record event for the city. The competition, which was in its 23rd edition, included not only the half marathon, but also a ten-kilometer run and a five-kilometer run, all of which took place on Sunday.

The athletes' performances were particularly remarkable. Jonathan Dahlke, 30 years old and native of Leverkusen, was able to outwit the favorites and secure victory in the half marathon with a time of 1:06:11 hours. Dahlke took the lead after just five kilometers and then ran the second half of the race almost alone, which underlined his personal triumph even more. “It’s a great experience,” said Dahlke, who also praised the varied route.

Strong competition and enthusiastic spectators

The challenge posed by the competition should not be neglected, especially Olympian Hendrik Pfeiffer, who started the race as the favorite. Despite health limitations - Pfeiffer had previously undergone foot surgery - he proved his strength. As a result, it was particularly impressive that he was able to take a respectable place in the overall field.

In the women's ranking, Josefine Rachet came in second with a time of 1:25:02 hours. Her performance is also impressive and shows that the women's competition was just as strong. Among the participants there were also many amateur runners who had prepared for this special day at the EVL running meeting.

Well prepared and informed visitors

The route of the half marathon leads through the picturesque Neue Bahnstadt Opladen and the Bay Arena, where the start and finish were on Bismarckstrasse. With a total length of 21.0975 kilometers, the run set ambitious goals for the participants. To ensure good preparation, several refreshment stands were placed on the route, which can be crucial during the competitions. There was a “marathon party” for spectators around the Ostermann Arena that ran until 2 p.m. and kept the audience excited until the last second.

When it comes to getting there, participants were advised to park under the Stelze and take a shuttle bus, as Bismarckstrasse was closed on the day of the event. This traffic concept helped to ensure that the event ran smoothly. There was also a lot of information on the EVL Half Marathon website to provide visitors with orientation.

The EVL half marathon remains a highlight in Leverkusen's sporting calendar and attracts both professional and amateur runners. It will be exciting to see what new records are set at the next event.