Sietiņa, Kreišs, Vaičule and U18 European Championship Stars to Compete at Latvian Athletics Championships

Registration for the Latvian Athletics Championships, to be held July 25-26 in Valmiera, closed on Tuesday. Among the participants is current world vice-champion in javelin throw Anete Sietiņa, who will compete in Latvia for the first time since her major achievement. She has not yet reached the 60-meter mark this season, but may do so on home soil.

Also competing is national pole vault record holder Valters Kreišs, named Latvia's best athlete for the past three years. In the sprints, Gunta Vaičule, the 2017 U23 European 400m champion, mother of two and politician, returns to the track after a break.

In the long jump, 37-year-old Elvijs Misāns is a contender for the title, while Agate Caune, 2022 U20 world vice-champion, is the favorite in the 5000m. Veteran hammer thrower Igors Sokolovs, nearly 52, is the main candidate for gold, and race walker Modris Liepiņš, almost 60, is a three-time Olympian.

Special attention is on participants from the recent U18 European Championships: Emīlija Brauna, Ieva Malnača and Markuss Celms will race in the 100m. Malnača is the defending national champion in the 100m and 200m. The triple jump promises a fierce battle between 2024 U18 European champion Brenda Apsīte and 2025 U20 European bronze medalist Adriana Krūzmane, who share the same personal best.

The javelin throw features 2014 world junior champion Gatis Čakšs, former European champion Zigismunds Sirmais, and Olympian Patriks Gailums. Līga Velvere-Krūmiņa is the favorite in the 800m based on her personal best, while the 1500m will see tougher competition.

Some events have less impressive fields, but the sprints traditionally draw the largest numbers. Overall, the championships promise many highlights.