Latvian U18 Team Wins Baltic Athletics Championship for Second Consecutive Year
Latvian youth athletes (U18) triumphed at the Baltic Championship in Druskininkai, Lithuania, securing 49 medals and outperforming the teams from Lithuania and Estonia.
On Saturday, July 12, the annual Baltic U18 Athletics Championship took place in Druskininkai, Lithuania. The Latvian team, composed of 16- and 17-year-old athletes, claimed victory for the second year in a row, accumulating 296 points. The Lithuanian team scored 265 points, while Estonia finished with 226 points.
Latvian athletes won a total of 49 medals: 16 gold, 20 silver, and 13 bronze. They secured first place in 19 disciplines, compared to Lithuania's 10 wins. Notable performances included Elīza Ligere, who set a new personal best in javelin throw with 55.87 meters, and Alise Zilberte, who ran the 100 meters in 11.90 seconds—her first time under 12 seconds. Both athletes are preparing for the European U18 Championships.
It is worth noting that 10 Latvian athletes were absent from this competition as they are set to compete at the European U18 Championships in Italy starting July 16. Despite this, the Latvian team delivered an outstanding performance, achieving five seasonal bests.
This victory marks the fourth Baltic Championship win for Latvian youth this year (winter U20, winter U18, summer U16, and now summer U18). The only events where Latvia did not come out on top were the combined events championships.
