Jens Lukas

About

Jens Lukas (born 13 April 1966) is a German long-distance ultra runner and one of the most decorated European ultramarathon competitors of the late 1990s and 2000s, building a career defined by mastery over the sport's most demanding formats. Representing LSG Karlsruhe since 1993, Lukas became the dominant force at Spartathlon — the 246-kilometre race from Athens to Sparta — winning three times in 1999, 2004, and 2005, and finishing second in both 2000 and 2001, arguably the most consistent record in that race's history. His mastery extended across the ultramarathon spectrum: he twice won the International Sri Chinmoy 24-hour Run in Basel (1999 and 2008), claimed the IAU 24-hour European Championship at Gravigny in 2002 with 267 km 294 metres, and placed third at the IAU 24-hour World Championship in 2005 with 256 km 368 metres. On the trail side, Lukas won the 153-kilometre West Highland Way Race in 2008, running from Milngavie to Fort William through the Scottish Highlands, and twice reached the UTMB podium — finishing fourth in 2006 and second in 2007. Across three decades, Lukas demonstrated the rare ability to perform at the highest level across road, track, and mountain environments, assembling one of the most varied and distinguished ultra résumés in European athletics.

Notable Wins

• — Spartathlon 1999
• — Spartathlon 2000 2nd
• — Spartathlon 2001 2nd
• — Sri Chinmoy 24h Run Basel 1999
• — IAU 24h European Championship 2002 (267km 294m)
• — Spartathlon 2004
• — Spartathlon 2005
• — IAU 24h World Championship 2005 3rd (256km 368m)
• — UTMB 2006 4th
• — UTMB 2007 2nd
• — West Highland Way Race 2008
• — Sri Chinmoy 24h Run Basel 2008

Race History