Two days are two records. This was the second weekend of the year for the athletics community. As soon as 2026 began, two national records fell.
The first to cheer up the fans was the pole vaulter Rugilė Miklyčiūtė – she was on January 10. At the Latvian Athletics Union and Sportland Cup competitions in Valmiera, she repeated her own Lithuanian women’s and U23 age group records – 4.35 m and took the first place.
In mid-December, the athlete improved the indoor record – 4.32 m. However, from 2026, by decision of the LLAF Council, indoor records will no longer be set (in jumps, shot puts and 60 m runs, stadium and arena records will be common, and in 200 m and longer running or walking distances they will be recorded as records in a short track).
Immediately after Rugilė’s January 11. The history of Lithuanian athletics has been rewritten once again by runner Giedrius Valinčius. He completed the 10K Valencia Ibercaja by Kiprun in Valencia in 28:19 minutes. and even improved the Lithuanian record that belonged to himself from last year by 25 seconds. The track and field athlete took 53rd place among more than 14 thousand participants in this competition.
2025 R. Miklyčiūtė improved Lithuanian records six times, while G. Valinčius – three times (10 km and half marathon).
Photo by Jurga Urbonaitė and Alfredas Pliadis
