Latvian Champions crowned in the DPD mile
18 May 2024In the DPD Mile race of the Rimi Riga Marathon, Kristers Kudlis was crowned the Latvian champion on Saturday, May 18, by achieving the second-best time ever recorded by a Latvian athlete, finishing after 4:13.95. In the women’s competition, Olympian Līga Velvere claimed the top spot and became the Latvian champion with a time of 4:54.06. The DPD Mile race, which spanned 1609 meters from the Latvian National Art Museum to the Freedom Monument, saw a record number of participants – 4496.
DPD Mile, which boasts the status of the Latvian Championship in the road mile race (1609 meters) and has been awarded the World Athletics Road Race label, saw participation from beginners, families with children, the “Inclusive Marathon” programme (which includes participants with functional disabilities), and experienced professionals, including Latvia’s and foreign elite runners. Overall, the DPD Mile, held on last year’s World Athletics Road Running Championships course, registered a record number of 4496 participants.
Kristers Kudlis didn’t quite manage to break the Latvian record of 4:13.40 set by Ņikita Bogdanovs two weeks ago, but his time is the 25th fastest in the world this season. Meanwhile, Līga Velvere’s winning time ranks 18th among the world’s top female runners this season.
In the men’s competition, Latvian record holder Ņikita Bogdanovs finished second with a time of 4:15.24, while Roberts Glazers won his first bronze medal in the mile with a time of 4:16.34.
Olympian Līga Velvere managed to beat two sisters on the course – Kamilla Vanadziņa and Sibilla Vanadziņa, who took silver and bronze respectively. Kamilla Vanadziņa finished second with a time of 5:04.65, and Sibilla Vanadziņa crossed the finish line in the bronze medal position with a time of 5:06.21, just one and a half seconds behind her sister.
Top 5 Men in the DPD Mile
| 1. | Kristers Kudlis (4:13.95) |
| 2. | Ņikita Bogdanovs (4:15.24) |
| 3. | Roberts Glazers (4:16.34) |
| 4. | Lauris Lapsa (4:20.79) |
| 5. | Indrek Tobreluts (Estonia) (4:21.37) |
Top 5 Women in the DPD Mile
| 1. | Līga Velvere (4:54.06) |
| 2. | Kamilla Vanadziņa (5:04.65) |
| 3. | Sibilla Vanadziņa (5:06.21) |
| 4. | Nataliia Semenovych (Ukraine) (5:08.97) |
| 5. | Beāte Jansone (5:15.15) |
A record number of mile runners took advantage of the unique privilege of running the DPD Mile on the World Championship course, starting at the Latvian National Museum of Art and finishing in the heart of the capital, at the Freedom Monument. We are proud that the mile, which has qualified for the World Athletics Road Race Label, has grown into a significant race of the Rimi Riga Marathon, attracting both complete beginners and professionals.
Aigars Nords
Rimi Riga Marathon Race Director