By Sevket F. ERBAY
As one of the oldest traditions in the region which rooted back in 1940, the Balkan Cross Country Championships held in central Bulgarian town Pirdop on November 11th. The event has been interrupted after 2019 edition due to Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine War before returns to the calendar in Bulgarian soil first time in fifteen years.
Men’s senior race contested by 20 men from six nations as Ivo Balabanov has crowned as champion. Balabanov, who recently breaks 5 km road race national record in World Road Championships, was challenged by Turkey’s Ramazan Baştuğ, newly crowned national XC champion himself, but distanced apart from him in the final lap by arriving to the finishing gate twelve seconds ahead. Baştuğ came second to the finish line as para-athlete Khristiyan Stoyanov secured third spot for individual title.
FIRST SINCE 1989
Balabanov became just third Bulgarian Balkan XC champions for men’s race following by Evgeny Ignatov and Mikhail Zhelev, and first Bulgarian to do so as well since 1989.
Men’s team title went to decider after both Turkey and Bulgaria collects 12 points each. However, Turkey just secured their 13th team title in last 15 edition by the rule of “last scoring athlete placement” who is experienced steeplechaser Turgay Bayram in sixth as Bulgarian Stoyan Vladkov has finished eighth.
ANOTHER ONE FROM LUIZA
Albania’s superpower Luiza Gega continues her domination in every possible way in Balkan region. The European champion Gega easily crowned her very first Balkan XC title ahead of Bulgaria’s Devora Avramova. Gega now has 17 Balkan titles with 7 outdoors, 8 indoors and a cross-country and road (Half marathon) wins.
In the age group races totally dominated by Turkish athletes as same as recent years. Turkish squad swept all individual and team titles except women’s U23 race won by Romania’s Madalina Sirbu who followed by four Turkish women, though.
>>> Check full podiums from the event page link on the top-right
