On Saturday, the Lithuanian Athletics Championship continued in Palanga. The highlight of the day was the men’s discus throw competition, which drew crowds of sports enthusiasts, where Mykolas Alekna triumphed with an impressive performance. The Children’s Run also brought a lot of emotions, where alongside the best athletes in the country, both two- and twelve-year-olds ran.
I came, I saw, I conquered
The clash in the sector, which promised a lot of intrigue in advance, between the strongest discus throwers in the country – Mykolas and Martynas Aleknas and Andrius Gudžius – became a true celebration for athletics fans. World record holder My. Alekna achieved a result of 71.98 m on his very first attempt, exceeding the 70 m mark four times overall, and on his most successful – third – attempt he threw the discus as far as 72.65 m. This is the third longest throw in the world this year. By the way, Mykolas was just 1.23 m short of the Lithuanian championship record set by his father Virgilijus Alekna back in 2000 (73.88 m).
When asked how he evaluates today’s start, the athlete was brief. “I came, enjoyed it, and was satisfied with the result. I think I made a celebration for the spectators as well,” smiles M. Alekna and adds that he is already looking forward to the start from August 10 to 16. At the European Championship in Birmingham (UK): “I’m in great shape, it’s great that the European Championship is just a few weeks away. I hope to maintain or even improve that form.”
The track and field athlete will continue his preparation for the European championships in Palanga. “I will stay in Palanga to train. Excellent facilities, good stadium, hotel, catering. We’ll set up a camp like that and I’ll rush straight to Birmingham,” said M. Alekna.
A. Gudžius took second place in the discus throw sector (63.97 m), followed by Ma. Alekna (63.20 m), who was only 57 cm behind.
The joy of discovery in childhood
Immediately after the impressive performance of the discus throwers at the blue resort stadium, children reigned. In the “Sportland” run, as many as 150 young track and field athletes aged 2 to 12 completed one lap of the stadium (400 m). They were accompanied by a group of the country’s strongest track and field athletes – runners Simas Bertašius and Lukas Sutkus, pole vaulter Rugilė Miklyčiūtė, and heptathlete Edgaras Benkunskas. Both the little ones and their parents did not hide their joy after the finish and unanimously repeated that it was an invaluable experience. Each runner also had a sweet chocolate medal placed around their neck.
Much more common – gold – medals on the second day of the Lithuanian championship were also won by:
Pole vault – Rugilė Miklyčiūtė (4.32 m – Lithuanian championship record);
Triple jumper – Rimvydas Augys (15.12 m);
Long jump – Urtė Kščenavičiūtė (6.50 m);
Discus throw – Ieva Gumbs (61.30 m);
110 m hurdles – Edgaras Benkunskas (14.50 sec);
100 m hurdles – Neda Lasickaitė (13.44 sec);
3000 m steeplechase – Lukas Tarasevičius (9 min 30.78 sec);
4×100 m men – Kaunas team: Ramūnas Kleinauskas, Aistis Manton, Domantas Dobrega, Martynas Kolupaila (41.38 sec);
4×100 m women – Lithuanian team: Ema Rupšytė, Lukrecija Sabaitytė, Akvilė Jonauskytė, Ieva Šadžiūtė (44.71 sec);
Decathlon – Gvidas Jurkevičius (6405 points);
On Saturday, the women’s heptathlon also began (after four events, Greta Urbonavičiūtė leads with 2890 points), and the 200 m men’s and women’s qualifying races were held (with Lukrecija Sabaitytė and Gediminas Truskauskas winning).
Photo by Alfredas Pliadis
