Craiova, Romania – The “Nicolae Mărășescu” Athletics Stadium played host to the Balkan Athletics U20 Championships on Sunday, July 13, bringing together 374 young athletes from 18 nations for a highly competitive day of athletics action. The annual event, first held in 1970, once again showcased the best emerging talent in the Balkan region across 30 disciplines.
Romania led the event as the largest delegation with 48 athletes, followed by Greece (44), Turkey (43), and Bulgaria (34). Over 130 officials supported the smooth running of the championships, which saw several national and personal bests fall throughout the day.
Highlights from the Track and Field
In the men’s 100 meters final, Georgi Petkov (BUL) sprinted to gold in a personal best of 10.42 seconds, narrowly defeating Oleksandr Komisarenko (UKR), who clocked 10.44. Greece’s Filippos Georgantas completed the podium in 10.48.
The women’s 100 meters saw Radina Velichkova (BUL) dominate with a blazing 11.45 PB, followed by Anna Karandukova (UKR) and Vita Penezić (CRO) in 11.58 and 11.64 respectively.
Middle-distance action saw Maša Rajić (SRB) win the women’s 800m in 2:09.58, while Dimitâr Pandeliev (BUL) took the men’s 800m title in 1:50.19. Serbia’s Aldin Ćatović impressed in the men’s 3000m, claiming gold with 8:24.89.
In the field events, Serbia secured a 1–2 finish in the men’s long jump, with Luka Bošković leaping 7.66 m for gold ahead of teammate Aleks Bezkorvanij (7.54 m). Iren Sarâboyukova (BUL) cleared 1.78 m to win the women’s high jump, while Natalija Vojinović (SRB) and Olympia Tzouveli (GRE) also impressed, both clearing 1.76 m.
In the hurdles, Koray Uygun (TUR) won the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.53, while Iva Deliverska (BUL) took the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.56.
Team Standings and Closing Notes
While individual brilliance lit up the competition, team performances were just as significant. Romania, Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria all delivered strong showings, affirming their depth in junior athletics.
The 2025 edition of the Balkan U20 Championships not only upheld the tradition of excellence but also provided a crucial stepping stone for athletes on the path to future European and world-level competitions. With several championship records threatened and numerous personal bests achieved, the future of Balkan athletics looks brighter than ever.
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