Steyr’s fastest track and field athlete Valentin Pfeil from LAC Amateure Steyr has already ended his international marathon career, but when his hometown starts again after the compulsory Corona break, the multiple national champion is at the start. After winning the comeback of the city run in the summer, the 34-year-old vet – cheered on by daughter Hedwig (eleven months) and wife Heidrun – also won the Christkindllauf over 5.2 kilometers. Pfeil distanced the second-placed Klaus Vogl from Amstettner by 16 seconds in 16:11 minutes, Domenik Vizani from LC Neufurth finished third.
Unbeatable ambience
“I really wanted to be there when the Christkindllauf finally takes place again after a two-year break,” said Pfeil at the finish, “it’s nice that it’s even enough to win, but that’s not the most important thing anymore. I love running as a sport Balance to everyday life rediscovered and now I enjoy running almost more than before. The head is really free. And a success at the Christkindllauf is a lot of fun.”
In the women’s race, Bernadette Schuster from SK Voest won in 18:52 minutes 18 seconds ahead of Ina Forchthammer from LC Wielander and the two fastest women from Steyr, Flora Heiml, who was only 15, and Lisi Tortorolo, winner of the W35 age group. Heimo Losbichler was the LAC President for the first time. The FH Dean was second in the M55.
The winners of the schoolchildren (1400 meters) are Anton-Thad Huber (U16), Florian Huemer, Elena Knaoll (both U14) and Flora Heiml, who used the double promenade to warm up. The children (700 meters) won Peter Knöbl, Julia Michlmayr (U12), Constantin Nowak, Amelie Toninger (U10) as well as Jakob Eggermann and Sarah Wieser (U8).
“We had 540 registrations and 500 runners at the finish line. The feedback from the participants was great,” said Fritz Steinparz, who thanked the many helpers from LAC Amateure Steyr in particular and whose face was conjured up a special smile by the many masked runners: ” That is what creates the special flair of this event. It is competitive sport, yet familiar, the ambience with the promenade and castle park is unbeatable and there is no shortage of fun.” Edith Barth-Raml from Freistadt was honored for the best costume. As a Christmas child, she was out and about with a chain of lights and packs as mittens.
Source: Nachrichten
