This Thursday, August 20, the season of the largest park running series “Izskrien Rīgu” in the Baltics ended with intense battles for victory and prizes among Latvia’s leading runners, gathering around two thousand participants. The fastest of the stage and also the best of the season overall were welcomed. As usual, there was a concert at the end, this time performed by the rapper Reika, and there was also a Red Bull party.
This season, the popular running series “Izskrien Rīgu” with 2,000 participants visited Uzvaras parks, Mežaparkas, Biķernieki, Lucavsalas and now also at Māras dīķis. At each stage, together with many running enthusiasts, several of Latvia’s strongest runners stand on the starting line, including winners and record holders of Latvian championships in athletics, as well as medalists from other sports.
Dmitrijs Seryogins, Edgars Šumskis and Lauris Lapsa, the winners of the Latvian championships in athletics, “matched” again for the victory in 5km. This time the fastest at the sprint finish was Shumski, who was the only one of this trio who had not yet won this season. Seryogins, the winner of several stages, finished second, while Laps, the winner of Mežaparks, finished third. The overall title was won by Serjogins, the Latvian record holder in the half marathon and the author of the “Izskrien Rīgu” track. For juniors, the best runner of the season was triathlon medalist Daniils Vakulić, ahead of Adrian Vaisjunas, who won three golds in the U18 championship in athletics in July this year. Once again, Uldis Siecinieks confirmed the status of the best in the veteran group.
For the women, Kitija Valteres, the overall leader and winner of several medals at the Latvian championship this year, ended the season with a victory, leaving behind Eleonora Guissi. Diāna Stolniece, who regularly enters the top three, won the 3rd place, while the multiple champion Jeļena Ābele took the 4th place. For the juniors, the second title for the Vakulič family with Anastasia’s 1st place, but for the veterans, Maruta Krūmiņa dominated.
The leader of the 10km season, Yevgēnii Stepanov, managed to take revenge on the winner of the last stage and the 10 000m champion Jānis Mūrnieks, while the bronze medalist of the Latvian championship in the individual race, Kristers Kovgers, completed the trio. Stepanovs, who was one of the best sprinters in “Stirnubuk”, won the overall title in the Latvian championship in the marathon. On the other hand, the best veteran was Valdis Nilovs.
For the women, the multiple marathon medalist Anita Siliņa finally won, ahead of “Apkär Lielzezeram” record holder and Lāčplēši cross country winner Zanda Malančukas and world champion in Master group orienteering Ilona Dagi, who is regularly in the top three. The leader of “Stirnubuka” Malanchuk was the best in the overall standings, but Zane Gruberta confirmed the status of the best to the veterans.
The status of the best team goes to SK “Tērauds”, but “Bultai” with Seryogin and Valteri is in the family standings. The event is organized by XEvents in cooperation with the municipality of the city of Riga, and it is financed by means of the state budget. More information: izskrienrigu.lv.
