Olympic places up for grabs at European Athletics Race Walking Permit in Lithuania

Lithuania's top Race Walkers will be hoping to achieve Olympic Qualifying standards in Alytus tomorrow. Photo with thanks to Steponas Misiunas

Despite a disappointing defeat for home star hero Virgilijus Alekna, last Sunday’s European Athletics Permit Meeting ‘Kaunas‘2008’ was a huge success and Lithuania are doing it again tomorrow with the 34th edition of the Race Walking festival in Alytus.

The long standing meeting records of Yevgeniy Misyulya (BLR, 1995, 1:20.33) and Valentina Tsybulskaya (BLR, 1994, 1:37.00) could be up for grabs this year, particularly with a number of competitors battling for Lithuania’s last female ticket to Beijing.

Sonata Milusauskaite and Kristina Saltanovic have already secured themselves a place on their countries Walks team, but Neringa Aidietyte, Brigita Virbalyte and Jurgita Meskauskiene are all tough competitors ready to fight for the A standard qualification they need.

The European Athletics Permit Meeting will be staged as the central part of the city festival, celebrating Alytus (the capital of Lithuania’s Dzukija region) being given city status in 1581 by the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania.   

Local walking competitions have been organised in Alytus on this date for many years and have grown into an international event.  Last year nine countries competed in Alytus 2007, this year the preliminary start list contains 21 women and 19 men, from 11 different countries competing over 20km.

In addition to the elite Race Walking element, the Alytus programme contains a number of fun crowd pleasing elements including the 1000m march of the 5000 little inhabitants of Alytus, and a 500m Walking Championship for postmen with full bags.

With thanks to Steponas Misiunas & Kastytis Pavilonis