Latvian U20 team wins Baltic Championship after five-year break
Latvia's U20 track and field team won the Baltic Championship in Estonia, collecting 43 medals and beating Estonia and Lithuania. It is their first team victory since 2021.
The 10th U20 Baltic Athletics Championship took place on Tuesday in Võru, Estonia. The Latvian junior team secured the overall victory after a five-year hiatus, amassing 285 points. Estonia finished second with 272 points, while Lithuania came third with 218 points.
In total, Latvian athletes won 43 medals: 16 gold, 16 silver, and 11 bronze. The gold medalists were: Roberts Kapša (200 m), Emīls Lamba (400 m), Jevgenijs Petrovs (800 m), Rūdolfs Vanadziņš (1500 m), Kārlis Jēkabs Karlsbergs (110 m hurdles), Ralfs Dzosens (3000 m steeplechase), Ainārs Ērglis (triple jump), Toms Samauskis (shot put), Haralds Nungurs (hammer throw), Matīss Mazarovs (javelin throw), the Latvian mixed 4x400 m relay, Sanija Gasparoviča (800 m), Ksenija Kozlova (400 m hurdles), Brenda Džiliana Apsīte (triple jump), Alise Robežniece (shot put), and Karīna Nikuļina (5000 m race walk).
Silver medals were earned by 16 athletes, and 11 added bronze. Several personal and season bests were achieved.
This season, Latvian youngsters have won team titles in five of seven championships so far. Upcoming events include the main Baltic Championship in Riga and the cross-country team championship in autumn.
Encouragingly, 11 Latvian juniors will compete at the 21st World U20 Championships in Eugene, USA (August 5-9), the highest number among Baltic countries. Lithuania will send two, Estonia five or six.
The U20 Baltic Championship has been held since 2016. Estonia had won seven of the previous nine editions, Latvia's only previous team win coming in 2021 in Ogre.
