Croatian Matea Parlov Koštro wins the Hannover Marathon in Germany

Matea Parlov Koštro wins the Hannover Marathon in Germany (Photo: @Pro Sport)

Croatian Matea Parlov Koštro has won the Hannover Marathon in Germany on Sunday.

Matea finished with a time of 2:25:45, which was a personal and course record, and also norm for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. The current European runner-up achieved a convincing victory ahead of Kenya’s Pauline Mutwa Thitu (2:29:25). and Mexican runner Risper Gesabwe.

According to the tactics set out by her coach Slavko Petrović, Matea had a time of 1:12:34 halfway through the course, which was already an indication that she was in the right rhythm for a result that was even better than the norm.

“I am very satisfied with the victory and the Olympic standard that I ran. I ran a new personal record and a new course record. I had two ‘pace makers’ that helped me keep the pace. I am really grateful to everyone, my entire team, sponsors, organisers and all the people who came to cheer us on. After I ran the norm here last year for the European Championship, and now this one for the Olympic Games, it is clear that Hannover is a happy city for me and that this is my favourite marathon”, said a visibly satisfied Matea after the race.

(Photo: @Pro Sport)

Her coach Slavko Petrović was also satisfied with the victory.

“We are very satisfied with the race. We came with the goal of meeting the Olympic standard, and Matea succeeded in that. She went more than a minute below the norm and almost three minutes better than her personal record. She could have done better, but the wind was really strong, especially outside the city. I think she could go under 2:24 in another race,” Petrović said.

(Photo: @Pro Sport)

Last August, Matea became the first Croatian in history to win a medal in the marathon event at a major competition when she won the silver medal in the marathon at the European Championships in Munich.