On Saturday, the third day of the first division of the European Team Championship took place in Madrid (Spain). At the Vallehermos Stadium, as many as 2 representatives of Lithuania fought fiercely for victories – middle-distance runner Gabija Galvydytė, who reached the finish in 4th position, and discus thrower Andrius Gudžius, who took 5th place.
G. Galvydytė, who has overcome the 800 m distance for only the second time this summer season, recorded the best result of the Lithuanian season. On the track, the Olympian spent 1 minute 59.96 seconds. and was less than one and a half seconds behind the French winner Anais Bourgoin (1 minute 58.60 seconds). The latter improved the championship record.
“I evaluate the performance very well, if I’m not mistaken, my time between the participants, before the run, was sixth, so I showed more than I can. Tactical running, I’m happy with the time and I think I finished well. It’s a pity that I didn’t go out to run fast, because I was ready for it, but this start is really good. I had a very strong camp and I look better than ever, so I was hoping to run fast. Of course, when you come from the highlands for the first time, everything doesn’t always turn out the way you want, but I’m lucky that I can run fast right away,” said G. Galvydytė, who won 13 points for the Lithuanian team.
The runner representing Lithuania in the third European Team Championship ran the fastest this year. In 2021, the athlete completed the 800 m race in 2 minutes 06.88 seconds, and in 2023 in 2 minutes 00.29 seconds. G. Galvydytė’s personal record is 1 minute 59.18 seconds.
“This time I feel very close to the team and I really feel everyone’s warmth, support, desire. It’s a lot of fun myself, that teamwork motivates me a lot. The winter season gave me a lot of self-confidence, because I ran with strong athletes. I’m glad that I was among the strongest and finished next to me. I think that my level is growing and my tactical runs are finally starting to look the way I want,” the athlete recalled the impressive winter season. In March, the athlete made her debut at the World and European Indoor Championships, and in January and February she improved the Lithuanian records in the 800 m, 1500 m and one mile races.
On Sunday, G. Galvydytė will run the 1500 m distance at the European Team Championships, and then she will prepare for the most important summer starts: “After the European Team Championships, I will fly to Sweden immediately, where I will also run the 1500 m, because we are trying to have a choice for the World Championships. Then the World University Games (21-27 July) and the Lithuanian Championship (1-3 August) will be waiting for you. It’s hard to say what to expect in the 1500m run on Sunday because it’s going to be very hot. I think it will be a tactical run, so I will see how I can finish. I hope to win as many points as possible for Lithuania.”
In the discus throw competition, the captain of the Lithuanian national team A. Gudžius gave his all. The discus of the World and European Champion with the best test was 64.63 m (59.40-63.60-x-64.63-64.44), and this result allowed me to take the 5th place and brought 12 points to the Lithuanian team. The first place in the competition was won by Olympic champion Daniel Stahl. The discus launched by the Swede ran 68.36 m.
“It should have been at least a metre better, but not today and not here. The heat was the main obstacle. The sector is fast, but I am not recovering from the heat even now. The pulse is rebellious, breathing is difficult. That psychological experience also helped me to concentrate to some extent before the shooting, but the body is all overwhelmed and does not listen. It’s not 38-39 degrees for me. It doesn’t change anything too much whether I threw 64 meters or I would have thrown 65 meters. I hope that everything will move forward and I will not have to participate in such a fight again this year,” said A. Gudžius after the race.
Even the athlete, who participated in the seventh European Team Championship, did not hide that this championship is probably his last: “It should be the last. Michael should have been here in my place. This year he did not drive, but in two years he will have to drive. You have to be the strongest athlete, and for this day he is the strongest. I went because he refused. It wouldn’t have changed the team’s position, but Lithuania still has to be represented by the best.”
A. Gudžius, who has been going to the European Team Championships since 2013, has represented Lithuania with many athletes, and this year’s achievements of the team in the top division make the captain happy: “The team is getting younger, but the young people are participating well this year. Most of them achieved the best results of the season or improved the national record. It really copes with psychological pressure and current conditions. I’m proud of our track and field athletes and I’m happy to be the team captain.”
After the third day of the championship, the Lithuanians are ranked 16th (102.5 points). The Finns (158.5 points), the Ukrainians are 14th (160 points), and the Italians are in the lead (290 points).
The competition is broadcast live by the Eurovision Sport portal.
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Photo by Alfredas Pliadis
