Nino Jambresic smashes national U23 record to win Croatian Road Running title in Zapresic

The men’s elite division at the 2026 Croatian Road Running Championships produced a historic showcase of tactical brilliance and blistering speed on Saturday, October 31. Held on a certified, fast course near the Westgate shopping center in Zaprešić, Croatia, the event gathered the nation’s premier long-distance runners. Amid an electric atmosphere that yielded five new national records across various age groups, Nino Jambrešić captured a sensational senior 10,000-meter victory, crossing the line in a new Croatian under-23 national record of 29:12 minutes.

From the moment the starter’s pistol echoed through Zaprešić, the senior men’s 10km race transformed into an elite exhibition. The front-runners established a punishing cadence early on, aiming to take full advantage of the flat, speed-friendly tarmac. Nino Jambrešić, representing AK Dinamo-Zrinjevac, dictated the race from the vanguard with metronomic precision.

Jambrešić has enjoyed a historic campaign, resetting under-23 and senior indoor marks across multiple distances. His performance on the roads of Zaprešić cemented his versatile dominance. Operating at sub-three-minute-kilometer pace, Jambrešić gradually dismantled the lead group lap by lap.

By the final sector, he ran solo against the clock, charging across the timing mats in 29:12. The performance shaved three seconds off his own under-23 national road record from the previous year, securing him another prestigious national gold medal to complement his track titles.

While Jambrešić commanded the spotlight at the tape, his AK Dinamo-Zrinjevac club teammate, Marino Bloudek, mounted a spectacular performance to claim the silver medal. Better known across Europe as an 800-meter specialist—having won a brilliant silver medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham earlier in August—Bloudek tested his aerobic endurance limits over the 10-kilometer distance.

Bloudek ran a beautifully calculated, steady race, pacing himself behind Jambrešić to stop the clock in a lifetime personal best of 29:41. This exceptional display of endurance signaled a phenomenal foundation for his upcoming indoor track campaign.

Rounding out the individual podium steps was Tomislav Novosel. Novosel fought valiantly through the isolating middle kilometers, keeping his rhythm composed to cross the finish line in a robust 30:14, adding a well-deserved national bronze medal to his collection.

The immense quality of the field meant that breaking the 31-minute threshold was required just to factor into the upper tier of the standings. Matko Belčić secured a stellar fourth-place finish, navigating the late-stage portions of the circuit with remarkable grit to record a time of 30:31.

Just seven seconds later, seasoned competitor Ivan Dračar completed the coveted top five. Dračar battled fiercely through the final straightaway, crossing the line in 30:38 to close out an elite vanguard of athletes who pushed the pace deep into territory rarely seen on the domestic road circuit.

Croatian Road Running Championships Final Standings
1. Nino Jambresic – 29:12 min (NR/PB)
2. Marino Bloudek – 29:41 min (PB)
3. Tomislav Novosel – 30:14 min
4. Matko Belčić – 30:31 min
5. Ivan Dračar – 30:38 min

Organized expertly by Atletski Klub Zaprešić, the 2026 edition of the championships will go down as a watershed moment for the nation’s distance-running infrastructure. The superb condition of the Westgate course layout, combined with ideal autumnal weather, allowed athletes across all age categories to rewrite the record books.

In addition to individual glory, the performance spearheaded an overwhelming team showcase. The combined dominance of Jambrešić and Bloudek helped anchor AK Dinamo-Zrinjevac to a blistering collective time, demonstrating a golden era of club depth. As the domestic racing calendar begins transitioning toward the winter cross-country and indoor track seasons, the incredible bar raised in Zaprešić sets a soaring, ambitious template for Croatian athletics on the European stage