May 10, 2011, By: Zuzana Lešková, P.K., Translation: Pavla Horáková

The “Srdcaři” team from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport crossed the finish line of the relay race of the University Marathon after runners from Hungary the Czech Technical University, coming third among 41 competing academic relay teams.

“The weather and atmosphere were great. Our friends came to cheer us on and perhaps thanks to them we beat the time we had envisaged by some three minutes,” Tomáš Pešek from the “Srdcaři” bronze-winning team said commenting on his team’s performance.

The Faculty of Physical Education and Sport relay team ran the distance in 2:48:02, just over a minute after the silver-winning team. The victorious Hungarian team finished in 2:35:13.

The Charles University was represented by 14 relay teams from different faculties – from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, to the Faculties of Medicine and the Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové. No other university had such strong representation in the race.

Another relay team from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport made it among the top ten teams in the Rector’s Cup Run. One of its members was the seasoned runner Petr Poldauf who has run the Prague Marathon seven times.

“The Prague Marathon has a wonderful atmosphere and this year was no exception. I always enjoy it and I’m sure my colleagues from the team would agree,” says Poldauf who ran the whole marathon by himself two years ago. “As for our performance – we wanted to keep the 4 min/km pace but in the end we finished in 2:51:24. We feel sorry for not breaking the 2:50 limit but at least there is room for improvement for next year,” he adds with optimism.

The MKPR TEAM from the Faculty of Social Sciences came thirteenth overall and third among the Charles University relay teams. The team’s Ondřej Baláž said after the race: “I am satisfied with the race. The weather was good and despite some small complications during the first baton exchange we finished the marathon successfully.”

As this year’s University Marathon was held under the auspices of Charles University, the Charles University Rector Prof. Václav Hampl will award the cup to the winning team at a ceremony on Monday May 23, 2011.