On Friday, the second day of the first division of the European Team Championship took place in Madrid (Spain), which was started by as many as 10 Lithuanians. The highest place was taken by Olympian Ieva Gumbs, who won the sixth place in the discus throw. Lithuanian record holder Modesta Justė Morauskaitė also looked confident on the treadmill, improving her best result of the season by almost one and a half seconds and finishing 13th.
At the green Vallehermoso Stadium on Friday, 16 of Europe’s strongest teams competed for the title of the best. On the second day of the competition, as many as 6 championship records fell. I. Gumbs, a participant of the Paris Olympic Games, faced the elite twice, first in the ball pushing sector, and soon in the discus throw sector. In the shot put, the Lithuanian managed to make only 2 attempts (14.77-14.79), but they were enough to record the best result of the Lithuanian season. This allowed the athlete to take 16th place.
He did better in the discus throw sector, as I. Gumbs fought for the top positions here. The best throw was 58.47 m (57.94-58.13-57.46-58.47-x), and this result allowed me to take 6th place. True, the athlete did not hide that she could have performed better and won even more points for the team:
“The sixth throw was missing. I think I could have performed better. I wanted to throw the discus over 60 meters. I lacked a coach, because with her I would have been able to drop the discus further and make it to the final (TOP4). The throws are stable, but I would like them all to be stable above 60 meters. Before the discus throw I pushed the ball again, it was really hot and I felt tired, but the other athletes also threw hard today. It’s a bit of a pity because I could have scored even more points for the team.”
The multiple Lithuanian champion said that it is unusual to participate in two matches on the same evening, but the experience in the stadium was fun: “It is difficult to participate in a match when you think about the next match. In the ball pushing competition, I was thinking about a better result, a sarmata with 14 meters, but even with a better result, I wouldn’t have proven anything there. I tried not to overdo it too much. I managed to make 2 attempts, and I didn’t have time for the third one, because I had to run to the discus throw competition. It’s strange to participate in such a stadium because it’s all green. Truly exceptional. The mood is good, the weather is good, the sun is shining, of course, it could be cooler.”
I. Gumbs wished the Lithuanians who are waiting for the start on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the competition and the opportunity to appear on the big stage: “I would like to not overheat, to focus on the technique, not the result, and everything will be fine. Just enjoy the moment, because the atmosphere is fun and we are practically participating in the European Championship. That’s why it’s a lot of fun and you can try to prove something.”
Paris Olympic Games participant M. J. Morauskaitė started in the 400 m race on Friday. The athlete covered the distance in 52.76 seconds. and took 5th place in his run. Among all participants, her result was 13th. This is only the second start of the Lithuanian 400 m race this summer, and the previous result (54.14 seconds) has been greatly improved:
“My well-being was very, very good. I knew that a much better result awaited than in the Cosma Cup competition. We were very unlucky with the weather there, because it was cold and windy, and here the weather conditions were excellent – hot, there is practically no wind, a fast trail, so the result was immediately visible. I still feel the taste of blood today. I felt strong and confident on the track, but I knew that the last 50 meters were not yet with me and I would have to suffer by gritting my teeth. I am a fighter by nature, so I knew that I would not give up any space so easily and I would fight to the very end. That’s what we managed to do today.”
The athlete, who gave all her strength in the stadium, ran among the leaders for a long time and only at the end of the distance gave up her positions to her competitors. It is difficult to comprehend that in March the Lithuanian woman was lying on the operating table, and now she has gone hand in hand with the European elite.
“I am incredibly satisfied with the progress, because only 3 months have passed since the operation, and I am already participating in the European Team Championship and running in less than 53 seconds. This is incredible. I am very happy for myself, my team and the coach that we have managed to achieve truly incredible things, and there are many more things ahead,” M. J. Morauskaitė beamed positively.
Currently, the sprinter trains with the coach of the sports club “Cosma” Marta Skrabulis, and previously worked with the Spaniard Rafael Blanquer Alcantud. According to the athlete, starting in Spain is an exceptional feeling: “Spain has been my second home for many years, so coming back here and hearing Spanish is nostalgia. Eight, almost nine years have been spent in this country, so warm feelings were born and I am always happy to start here.”
After the race, the athlete said that the improving results give hope to start the World Championships in September, and the Lithuanian has not yet finished her performance in the European Team Championship. On Sunday, she will start in the 4×400 m mixed relay, and it was this event that opened the door for Lithuania to the top division two years ago, when the Slovenians were half a point behind.
“Relays are pure adrenaline. It doesn’t matter how tired or well-being you are, but relays are a world apart. It doesn’t matter how you feel there, because sticks give you incredible energy, strength and confidence. I think it’s going to be an unreal show. I wish Lithuanians who have not yet started to rejoice, enjoy, not to push themselves and not to think about the results, but to think about why you are here and why you are doing it. Most likely, you do it because you love light,” M. J. Morauskaitė gave advice to her comrades.
After the second day of the championship, the Lithuanians are ranked 16th (46 points). The Finns (76 points), the Greeks are 14th (77.5 points), and the Dutch (165.5 points) are in the lead.
On Saturday, at 19:00, the third day of the first division of the European Team Championship will begin. The competition will be broadcast live on the Eurovision Sport portal.
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Photo by Alfredas Pliadis
