Great success of the first European Students Run in 2025
The streets of the Slovenian capital pulsed with a unique energy on October 19, 2025, as the participants of the inaugural European Students Run joined the runners of the NLB Ljubljana Marathon in one of the three races - 10 km, 21 km and 42 km.
Bringing together 1.922 student runners, participants from 34 countries, the event proved that the student spirit is a powerful force for health, community, and international solidarity. EUSA and university sport family welcomed running amongst the ranks of the continent’s premier university sporting events.
Integrated into the 29th NLB Ljubljana Marathon, supported by the Runners4All project, co-funded by the European Union, the European Students Run category offered student-athletes the chance to compete on a world-class stage.
"The goal was never just about the finish line," said representatives from the European University Sports Association (EUSA). "It was about bringing students together after the challenges of recent years to celebrate physical activity, mental well-being, and the joy of running as one European community."
The competition saw remarkable performances, with the following winners in the European Students Run categories:
10 km Men: Vid Botolin (SLO) - University of Ljubljana; 29:42
10 km Women: Klara Lukan (SLO) - University of Ljubljana; 30:52
21 km Men: Nil Kerin (SLO) - University of Ljubljana; 1:09:48
21 km Women: Rita Erdos (HUN) - Semmelweis University; 1:23:18
42 km Men: Varna Kristaps (LAT) - Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies; 2:32:38
42 km Women: Nina Gubanc (SLO) - University of Ljubljana; 2:46:52
Beyond the podiums, the event celebrated the finisher spirit, with hundreds of students completing their first-ever runs, including those who ran 10 km runs, half-marathons and marathons alongside their university peers.
The running weekend kicked off on Saturday with the international educational event Beyond the Finish Line. Hosted at the Stožice Sports Hall, the conference bridged the gap between sport and social impact.
Speakers and student mentors discussed the vital role of running in enhancing mental health, the importance of environmental sustainability in sports (part of the Fit4Green initiative), and how to make university sports more inclusive for everyone, regardless of background or ability.
European Students Run 2025 was organised in cooperation with Timing Ljubljana, City of Ljubljana and EUSA. The 2025 edition served as the pilot for the Runners4All project, an Erasmus+ co-funded initiative. The overwhelming success, measured by satisfaction of participants as well as the sea of university jerseys crossing the finish line at Congress Square in Ljubljana, laid a solid foundation for the years to come.
Photos by Žan Osim, source: www.ljubljanskimaraton.si & Salvatore Sisca, source: www.eusa.eu