Latvian Team Announced for Baltic Championships: Vaičule's Final Race, 52-Year-Old Sokolov

The Latvian Athletics Union (LVS) officially named the athletes who will represent the country at the Baltic Team Championships on Tuesday. The competition will take place on Saturday, August 1, at Daugava Stadium in Rīga, starting at 1:00 PM.

Among the selected athletes are several notable names. Sprinter Gunta Vaičule, who won the 200 meters at the Latvian Championships last weekend, will run her final professional race in that event. Valters Kreišs will compete in pole vault, Oskars Grava in the 100m and 200m sprints, and Gatis Čakšs in javelin throw.

In the hammer throw, Latvia will be represented by two athletes: current national record holder Igors Sokolov (throw of 80.14 meters), who will turn 52 in August, and Noah Kristian Jirgers. Sokolov's experience and age make him one of the most remarkable participants.

At the Baltic Team Championships, each country can enter two men and two women per individual event, while only one team per country competes in the mixed relays (4x100m and 4x400m). The program includes all major athletics disciplines: runs from sprints to 5000m race walking, jumps, throws, and relays.

The winner is determined by the total points accumulated within two hours of competition. Last year, the championships were held in Valmiera, where Estonia won with 291.5 points. Latvia placed second with 249.5 points, and Lithuania third with 243 points. This year, the hosts hope to improve their standing.