The Latvian athletics team, after the start of the first day, which was held on Saturday, takes the seventh place in the European team championship in the second league, according to the Latvian Athletics Union (LVS). On Saturday, Latvian athletes managed to win three second and equally third places.
Competitors of Latvian athletes are from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland, as well as Denmark and Lithuania. Austria and Israel have canceled the start due to Covid-19, but the Russian team, which should start in the second league this year as well, is still excluded.
On the first day of the competition, athletes competed in 21 disciplines. After the first day, the Latvian team ranks seventh with 93.5 points, being able to overtake only Croatia (89.5 points) and Iceland (58).
Three Latvian athletes managed to win the second place. Roberts Jānis Zālītis covered the distance in 10.46 seconds in the 100-meter sprint, correcting the personal record. In the 4×100 meter relay, Zālītis, Valērijs Valinščikovs, Oskars Grava and Aleksandrs Kucs ran the distance in 40.22 seconds, but javelin thrower Madara Palameika managed to win the second place with a 55.77 meter long broadcast.
40.22 seconds is the third fastest relay race time in Latvia. In 1983, athletes measured the distance in 39.32 seconds, but in 2012 – in 39.94 seconds.
The Latvian national team earned another third of wealth points with three thirds. Maxim Sinchukov finished in the 400-meter hurdles after 50.87 seconds. In the long jump, Edvīns Hadakovs jumped 7.43 meters, but Līga Velvere won the third place in the 800-meter race. Her score was two minutes and 3.69 seconds.
In total, the best results of the season in Latvia have been achieved in eight disciplines. Among them were Zālītis’ result in 100 meters, the quartet’s performance in the 4×100 meter relay, Sinchukov and Hadakov’s possible, as well as Ilya Petrushenko’s performance in the 400 meter race (47.23 seconds). This group also includes Agate Caune’s result in the 3000-meter race (nine minutes and 38.23 seconds), Māra Anna Zīverte’s performance in the 400-meter hurdles – one minute and 1.07 seconds, as well as the result of the ladies’ 100-meter relay team – 46.69 seconds.
Sindija Bukša, Zīverte, Asnāte Kalniņa and Patrīcija Grosberga started in the ladies’ relay.
LVS reports that nine Latvian athletes with the achieved results have also managed to accumulate 1000 or more “World Athletics” points.
On the second day of the competition, several favorites of the Latvian national team in their disciplines will start on Sunday. Among them will be javelin thrower Patriks Gailums, hammer thrower Laura Igaune, card jumper Mareks Ārents and long jumper Māra Grīva.
Since 2015, the European Team Championship takes place every two years.
In 2014, the second league of the European Team Championship took place in Riga, with the Latvian national team winning the second place and gaining the right to start in the first league in 2015.
Composition of the Latvian athletics team in the European team championship
100-meter sprint, 200-meter sprint – Sindija Bukša, 400-meter sprint – Viktorija Osipenko, 800-meter race – Līga Velvere, 1500-meter race – Kamilla Vanadziņa, 3000-meter race – Agate Caune, 5000-meter race – Karīna Helmane-Soročenkova, 100 meters hurdles sprint – Marta Marks, 400 meters hurdles – Māra Anna Zīverte, 3000 meters hurdles – Solveiga Ozola-Ozoliņa, long jump – Māra Grīva, three-jump – Darja Sopova, high jump – Lāsma Zemīte, pole vault – Ildze Bortaščs, Ildze Bortašč throwing – Dace Šteinerte, hammer throwing – Laura Igaune, spear throwing – Madara Palameika, 4×100 meter relay – Sindija Bukša, Māra Anna Zīverte, Asnāte Kalniņa, Patrīcija Grosberga, Marta Marks, 4×400 meter relay – Viktorija Osipenko, Kitija Baula, Kitty Zaula Līga Velvere, Asnāte Kalniņa, Māra Anna Zīverte.
Men
100 meters sprint – Roberts Jānis Zālītis, 200 meters sprint – Ilya Petrušenko, 400 meters sprint – Jānis Leitis, 800 meters race – Oskars Bambals, 1500 meters race, 3000 meters race – Uģis Jocis, 5000 meters race – Dmitrijs Serjogins, 110 meters – Kristaps Sunteiks, 400-meter hurdles – Maksims Sinčukovs, 3000-meter hurdles – Artūrs Niklāvs Medveds, long jump – Edvīns Hadakovs, three-jump – Elvijs Misāns, high jump – Rihards Bremze, pole vault – Mareks Arents, Edgars Žviriņš, hammer throwing – Makars Korotkovs, javelin throwing – Patriks Gailums, 4×100 meter relay – Roberts Jānis Zālītis, Emīls Kristofers Jonāss, Mikus Pētersons, Oskars Grava, Aleksandrs Kucs, 4×400 meter relay – Ilya , Aleksandrs Kucs, Jānis Leitis.
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