The run was opened by chief of Lithuania’s diplomacy, Linas Linkevičius, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Jarosław Czubiński, Ambassador of Greece, which now holds the presidency in the EU, and Ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Latvia and Estonia.
Justinas Beržanskis (31:46) came first in men’s 10 km race and Rasa Drazdauskaitė (35:12) took the first place in the women’s event.
Dovydas Stašys (16:21) finished first in men’s 5 km run and Rūta Marija Trimonytė (20:35) was the best in the women’s event. The 1 km race was won by Vitalijus Kozlovas.
The running event also featured a group of Polish soldiers who are protecting the airspace over the Baltic States from NATO’s base in Šiauliai under the mission “Baltic Air Policing.”
There was also a strong team from the Embassy of Poland in Vilnius supported by a representative of the Polish Embassy in Morocco’s Rabat.
Among the 10 km runners also were: former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Ambassador at Large Antanas Valionis, who had led Lithuania on its path to join the EU, Ambassador of Japan in Lithuania, Kazuko Shiraishi, and President of PZU Lithuania, Marius Jundulas. There were also distinguished and famous Lithuanian athletes, such as Rasa Drazdauskaitė, Živilė Balčiūnaitė and Remalda Kergytė.
However, the sight of running children, families and crowds of Vilnius residents that cheered them on brought the greatest joy to all people.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo © the Embassy of Poland in Vilnius