Artūrs Pastors crowned Baltic champion in the 400 metres
Latvian athlete Artūrs Pastors closed out the season with convincing wins at both the Latvian and Baltic championships in the 400 metres, despite having initially planned to focus on sprint distances. He also helped Latvia's team win the mixed 4x400m relay.
The Latvian and Baltic athletics championships traditionally mark the end of the outdoor season, and this year Artūrs Pastors was among the standout performers, winning the 400 metres at both events. The athlete admits the success was somewhat unplanned, since at the start of the season he intended to focus on sprint distances before later deciding to race the 400 metres instead.
At the Baltic championship, Pastors executed his race plan precisely, staying with Lithuanian and Estonian rivals through the first 300 metres before pulling away to win with something left in reserve. Since the distance had not originally been part of his season plan, his main goal was simply to win rather than chase a fast time.
After the individual race, Pastors also had to line up for Latvia's mixed 4x400m relay team, which proved even tougher than the individual event, as he had not trained for running two 400-metre efforts in a single day. Latvia's team nonetheless secured another victory in the relay.
Season disrupted by injury
Pastors had originally planned to concentrate on the 200 metres and chase qualification for the European Championship, but in early May, after returning from a training camp in Portugal, he suffered a minor Achilles tendon injury that kept him off the track for a month and continued to affect him afterward. He names his 100-metre run at the Ogre championship as the season's brightest moment — a personal best of 10.46 seconds, the second-best result in Latvia this season.
The Baltic championship was Pastors' final competition of the season. Next year he plans to refocus on sprint distances, adjust his training process, and target the European Team Championship as his main goal. This season, alongside his regular coach Zigurds Kincis, coach Viktors Lācis also assisted with his sprint preparation.
