Julia Rakitina, a runner from Tartu, achieved first place in the women’s open category at a 24-hour ultramarathon held in Espoo, Finland, completing a remarkable distance of 188.278 kilometers. She ran 390.040 meters laps a total of 482 times during the event, showcasing her endurance and skill in long-distance running. Although she fell short of her own Estonian record set in 2024 by 17 kilometers, Rakitina’s performance has been recorded as her seventh-best personal result to date.

At the same event, Finnish champions were determined, with Rakitina finishing as the sixth among women when considering the combined results from both events. The Finnish championship title was won by Virva Vasari, who registered a record of 215.125 kilometers, marking the sixth best result in Finnish history. Meanwhile, fellow competitor Milka Rajala, who has competed in Estonia, achieved a personal record improvement by nearly three kilometers, securing second place with a distance of 207.429 kilometers.

In the men's category, Matti Jonkka emerged as the Finnish champion, completing 269.061 kilometers but missing his own national record by over 14 kilometers. This ultramarathon highlights the competitive spirit and talent present in the region, reflecting the growing popularity of long-distance running and the high standards of performance among top athletes like Rakitina and her competitors.