Zdravko Jadrijev, a 52-year-old Croatian ultramarathon runner from Polje on the island of Ugljan, secured a new victory at the 9th Polje race in Slavonski Brod. At the competition, which was attended by more than 300 marathon runners from Croatia and abroad, Jadrijev dominated the 100-kilometre discipline. He finished the race in 7 hours, 14 minutes and 59 seconds, confirming his top form and status as one of Croatia’s leading endurance athletes.
Jadrijev, who has long lived and worked in Split, where he completed his studies and started a family, built his sporting career on a foundation laid in childhood. He began running as a boy, travelling from Polje to school in Prek, and as a teenager he regularly ran to the ferry to Zadar. Today he is a member of the Marjan Split Marathon Club, and in March he became the Croatian champion in the 100-kilometre race. In addition, he regularly participates in the race from Maslenica to Novigrad.
His sporting ambitions have been marked by numerous record-breaking performances. Jadrijev is a former Croatian record holder in the 12-hour race and holds the record for the 24-hour race. He recently competed at the European Championships in Verona, where he took 10th place out of 120 competitors. During that race, he ran 255.478 kilometres in 24 hours, placing him among the world’s elite in this discipline.
A sporting tradition runs deep in Jadrijev’s family. His wife was an athlete, and both of his sons are also athletes. In addition to his individual successes, in 2017 he founded the HEP Running Association, promoting an active lifestyle and a running community. His career reflects a long-standing commitment to ultramarathon, combining local roots with international competitive success.
