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External image
	Course map of full marathon in 2020

Košice Peace Marathon
Košice Peace Marathon
Date	October
Location	Košice, Slovakia
Event type	Road
Distance	Marathon
Primary sponsor	U.S. Steel Košice, Volvo Cars
Established	1924 (100 years ago)
Course records	Men's: 2:06:55 (2023); Philemon Rono; Women's: 2:21:08 (2024); Rebecca Tanui
Official site	Official website
Participants	2,062 male and 402 female finishers (2024)

The Košice Peace Marathon (Slovak: Medzinárodný maratón mieru) is an annual road marathon held in Košice, Slovakia, since 1924. It is the oldest continuously running in the world, having been run every year since 1941. It is the oldest marathon in Europe and the third-oldest in the world (after the Boston Marathon, first held in 1897, and the Yonkers Marathon, first held in 1907). However, Boston and Yonkers have been continuous only since 2021.^[1] The marathon generally takes place each year on the first Sunday in October. The course is relatively flat and consists of two loops, mostly within the city center.

The marathon is an AIMS-certified race.^[2] It is also categorized as a Silver Label Road Race by World Athletics,^[3] and was certified as a 5-Star Quality Road Race by European Athletics Running for All in 2015.^[4]

History

The Košice Peace Marathon, first held in 1924, is the oldest marathon in Europe and the third oldest in the world. Inspired by the 1924 Paris Olympics, Košice sports enthusiast Vojtech ( born Braun) Bukovský organized the inaugural race, which began beneath the ruins of Turňa Castle. The marathon quickly gained international prestige, attracting prominent athletes like 1931 winner Juan Carlos Zabala, who went on to win the 1932 Olympic marathon. Known for its adherence to the official marathon distance of 42.195km, even in its early years, the race has hosted numerous world-class runners and witnessed historic performances, including Abebe Bikila's victory in 1961. The Košice Peace Marathon has endured through war and societal change, adapting its course and expanding to include women in 1980.^[5]

In 2016, the marathon received IAAF Bronze Label Road Race status,^[6] and in 2018, it received IAAF Silver Label Road Race status.^[7]

Course

The course is flat, completely asphalted and traffic free, two laps in the historic city center.

The cumulative elevation gain is 74 m (243 ft).^[8]

Winners

The course records are 2:21:08 for women (set by Rebecca Tanui in 2024) and 2:06:55 hours for men (set by Philemon Rono in 2023).

Note: winners are listed below for five of the seven war years (1938–44), five war winners are listed at official homepage too, although the history provided by the Košice Peace Marathon states: "The Slovakian Marathon suffered a cleft seven years wide. To some extent this was patched up with five marathons organized under the Hungarian flag during the Horthy occupation of Košice – without a single foreign runner..."^[9] Its status as the oldest marathon in Europe, and second-oldest in the world, remains undiminished by this break.

Key: Course record (in bold)

Ed.	Year	Men's winner	Time^[a]	Women's winner	Time^[a]	Rf.
1	1924	Karol Halla (TCH)	3:01:35	not held
2	1925	Pál Király (HUN)	2:41:55
3	1926	Paul Hempel (GER)	2:57:02
4	1927	József Galambos (HUN)	2:48:25.2
5	1928	József Galambos (HUN)	2:55:45
6	1929	Paul Hempel (GER)	2:51:31
7	1930	Istvàn Zelenka (HUN)	2:50:59
8	1931	Juan Carlos Zabala (ARG)	2:33:19
9	1932	József Galambos (HUN)	2:43:15
10	1933	József Galambos (HUN)	2:37:54
11	1934	Josef Šulc (TCH)	2:41:26.3
12	1935	Artūrs Motmillers (LAT)	2:44:58
13	1936	György Balaban (AUT)	2:41:08
14	1937	Désiré Leriche (FRA)	2:43:41.7
15	1938	not held due to World War II
16	1939	József Kiss (HUN)	2:47:47.6
17	1940	not held due to World War II
18	1941	József Gyimesi (HUN)	2:56:17.8
19	1942	József Kiss (HUN)	3:02:27
20	1943	Géza Kiss (HUN)	2:50:14.0
21	1944	Rezsö Kövári (HUN)	2:58:49
22	1945	Antonín Špiroch (TCH)	2:47:21.8
23	1946	Mikko Hietanen (FIN)	2:35:02.4
24	1947	Charles Heirendt (LUX)	2:36:06.0
25	1948	Gösta Leandersson (SWE)	2:34:46.4
26	1949	Martti Urpalainen (FIN)	2:33:45.6
27	1950	Gösta Leandersson (SWE)	2:31:20.2
28	1951	Jaroslav Štrupp (TCH)	2:41:07.8
29	1952	Erkki Puolakki (FIN)	2:29:10
30	1953	Walter Bednář (TCH)	2:53:33
31	1954	Erkki Puolakki (FIN)	2:27:21
32	1955	Evert Nyberg (SWE)	2:25:40
33	1956	Thomas Nilsson (SWE)	2:22:05.4
34	1957	Ivan Filin (URS)	2:23:57.8
35	1958	Pavel Kantorek (TCH)	2:29:37.2
36	1959	Sergei Popov (URS)	2:17:45.2
37	1960	Samuel Hardicker (GBR)	2:26:46.8
38	1961	Abebe Bikila (ETH)	2:20:12.0
39	1962	Pavel Kantorek (TCH)	2:28:29.8
40	1963	Leonard Edelen (USA)	2:15:09.6
41	1964	Pavel Kantorek (TCH)	2:25:55.4
42	1965	Aurèle Vandendriessche (BEL)	2:23:47
43	1966	Gyula Tóth (HUN)	2:19:11.2
44	1967	Nedo Farčić (YUG)	2:20:53.8
45	1968	Václav Chudomel (TCH)	2:26:28.4
46	1969	Demissie Wolde (ETH)	2:15:37
47	1970	Mikhail Gorelov (URS)	2:16:26.2
48	1971	Gyula Tóth (HUN)	2:21:43.6
49	1972	John Farrington (AUS)	2:17:34.4
50	1973	Vladimir Moseyev (URS)	2:19:01.2
51	1974	Keith Angus (GBR)	2:20:10
52	1975	Choe Chang-sop (PRK)	2:15:47.8
53	1976	Takeshi So (JPN)	2:18:42.4
54	1977	Go Chun-son (PRK)	2:15:19.4
55	1978	Go Chun-son (PRK)	2:13:34.5
56	1979	Jouni Kortelainen (FIN)	2:15:12
57	1980	Aleksey Lyagushev (URS)	2:15:25	Šárka Balcarová (TCH)	2:50:15
58	1981	Hans-Joachim Truppel (GER)	2:16:58	Christa Vahlensieck (GER)	2:37:46
59	1982	György Sinkó (HUN)	2:18:48	Gillian Burley (GBR)	2:43:26
60	1983	František Višnický (TCH)	2:16:52	Raisa Sadreydinova (URS)	2:34:41
61	1984	Lee Dong-myong (PRK)	2:18:59	Christa Vahlensieck (GER)	2:36:56
62	1985	Valentin Starikov (URS)	2:17:13	Lutsia Belyayeva (URS)	2:38:19
63	1986	František Višnický (TCH)	2:18:43	Christa Vahlensieck (GER)	2:41:08
64	1987	Jörg Peter (GER)	2:14:59	Christa Vahlensieck (GER)	2:38:40
65	1988	Michael Heilmann (GER)	2:17:52	Christa Vahlensieck (GER)	2:39:03
66	1989	Karel David (TCH)	2:18:39	Alena Peterková (TCH)	2:31:28
67	1990	Nikolaj Kolesnikov (URS)	2:20:28	Carol McLatchie (USA)	2:46:00
68	1991	Vlastimil Bukovjan (TCH)	2:18:21	Marika Starowská (TCH)	2:46:00
69	1992	Wieslaw Palczyński (POL)	2:16:24	Dana Hajná (TCH)	2:43:27
70	1993	Wieslaw Palczyński (POL)	2:14:11	Elena Plastinina (UKR)	2:42:11
71	1994	Petr Pipa (SVK)	2:15:03	Ľudmila Melicherová (SVK)	2:40:27
72	1995	Marnix Goegebeur (BEL)	2:13:57	Gouzel Tazetdinova (RUS)	2:43:03
73	1996	Marnix Goegebeur (BEL)	2:17:41	Gouzel Tazetdinova (RUS)	2:44:28
74	1997	My Tahar Echchadli (MAR)	2:16:22	Wioletta Uryga (POL)	2:38:56
75	1998	Andrzej Krzyścin (POL)	2:14:29	Wioletta Uryga (POL)	2:46:23
76	1999	Róbert Štefko (SVK)	2:14:10	Katarína Jedináková (SVK)	2:55:39
77	2000	Ernest Kipyego (KEN)	2:14:35	Ivana Martincová (CZE)	2:46:17
78	2001	David Kariuki (KEN)	2:13:27	Galina Zhulyeva (UKR)	2:36:55
79	2002	David Kariuki (KEN)	2:12:40	Tadelesh Birra (ETH)	2:36:49
80	2003	Grigoriy Andreyev (RUS)	2:13:24	Alena Mazouka (BLR)	2:39:23
81	2004	Adam Dobrzyński (POL)	2:12:35	Rika Tabashi (JPN)	2:33:52
82	2005	David Maiyo (KEN)	2:16:07	Edyta Lewandowska (POL)	2:37:48
83	2006	Edwin Kiptum (KEN)	2:12:53	Natallia Kravets-Kulesh (BLR)	2:36:47
84	2007	William Biama (KEN)	2:09:53	Natallia Kravets-Kulesh (BLR)	2:34:50
85	2008	Dejene Yirdaw (ETH)	2:10:51	Selina Chelimo (KEN)	2:34:23
86	2009	Jacob Chesire (KEN)	2:10:59	Olena Burkovska (UKR)	2:30:50
87	2010	Gilbert Chepkwony (KEN)	2:08:33	Almaz Alemu (ETH)	2:36:35
88	2011	Elijah Kemboi (KEN)	2:11:15	Maryna Damantsevich (BLR)	2:33:53
89	2012	Lawrence Kimaiyo (KEN)	2:07:01	Hellen Mugo (KEN)	2:29:59
90	2013	Patrick Korir (KEN)	2:09:36	Ashete Bekere (ETH)	2:27:44
91	2014	Gilbert Chepkwony (KEN)	2:08:26	Lydia Jerotich (KEN)	2:28:48
92	2015	Samuel Kosgei (KEN)	2:07:07	Melka Mulu (ETH)	2:35:33
93	2016	David Kiyeng (KEN)	2:08:57	Chaltu Waka (ETH)	2:32:19
94	2017	Reuben Kerio (KEN)	2:08:12	Sheila Jerotich (KEN)	2:27:34
95	2018	Raymond Choge (KEN)	2:08:11	Milliam Ebongon (KEN)	2:27:16
96	2019	Hillary Kipsambu (KEN)	2:09:33	Kumeshi Sichala (ETH)	2:26:01
97	2020	Marek Hladík (SVK)	2:26:08	Petra Pastorová (CZE)	2:52:11	^[10]
98	2021	Reuben Kerio (KEN)	2:07:18	Ayuntu Tadesse (ETH)	2:24:35	^[11]
99	2022	Reuben Kerio (KEN)	2:07:16	Margaret Agai (KEN)	2:24:04	^[12]
100	2023	Philemon Rono (KEN)	2:06:55	Jackline Cherono (KEN)	2:24:43	^[13]
101	2024	Denis Chirchir (KEN)	2:07:50	Rebecca Tanui (KEN)	2:21:08	^[14]