European men’s discus champion Kristjan Čeh and European indoor pole vault silver medallist Tina Šutej have been appointed captains of the Slovenia national team that will compete at the European Team Championships Second Division on home soil in Maribor on 28-29 June.
The captains were selected by their fellow athletes during a meeting of more 40 members of the national squad at a media day to promote the prestigious summer event.
Decorated duo
Čeh is one of Slovenia’s most accomplished track and field athletes in recent years. In 2022, he captured gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene followed by silver at the Munich 2022 European Athletics Championships.
He won silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and last year struck gold at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
Now aged 36, Šutej has become one of Slovenia’s most decorated athletes in recent years. She won bronze in the Munich 2022 European Athletics Championships, silver in three consecutive European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun 2021, Istanbul 2023 and Apeldoorn 2023 and she added a superb silver at this year’s World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.
Relay teams getting ready
The team’s meeting in Maribor kicked off with the creation of promotional photo and video content to support the championship and other initiatives by the Slovenian Athletics Federation. Athletes also took part in training sessions, including specific preparations for members of the 4x100m relay squad.
The athletes in attendance also included twice European indoor women’s 800m medallist Anita Horvat, 2024 World indoor women’s high jump bronze medallist Lia Apostolovski and 2022 World U20 men’s 400m hurdles silver medallist Matic Ian Guček.
Tickets for Maribor 2025, which includes Division 2 and Division 3 competitions across 24-29 June are available now at www.eventim.si
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics