Shalkauskas sets new Estonian record in 2000m run: next target – break five minutes
Denis Shalkauskas from Ida-Viru County set a new Estonian record in the 2000m at the international athletics competition in Jõhvi, clocking 5:04.59 and breaking an 18-year-old record. He aims to run under five minutes and participate in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
At the international athletics competition held in Jõhvi, one of the standout performers was Denis Shalkauskas, a runner from Ida-Viru County. He not only won the 2000m race but also set a new Estonian record, improving a mark that had stood for 18 years.
Shalkauskas finished with a time of 5:04.59, surpassing the previous record of 5:06.02 set by Tiidrek Nurme in 2008. The athlete expressed his joy, emphasizing that the thought of being the fastest in Estonian history over that distance is very heartwarming.
"In the future, I want to improve this result further, especially to break the five-minute barrier. That is one of my goals," Shalkauskas told ERR radio news. He also noted that such competitions help attract young people to sports and inspire young athletes to new achievements.
"For me, it is a shock that in my hometown, Jõhvi, the largest international competitions in Estonia are taking place. First of all, it attracts youth. There were youth races. It is important to give children the opportunity to feel part of this big event. And for us, higher-level athletes, it is a chance to earn ranking points or compete with guys from neighboring countries," Shalkauskas added.
One of his main long-term goals is to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
