Runners From Team “Latvia In The World” Triumph In The First Latvian One Mile Championship

In total, more than 2,000 participants registered for the DPD Mile, while the shorter Kids’ Day races reached their limit of 3,500 participants. The very youngest — and just as talented — runners will be running the Kids’ Day 200 m, 400 m and Happy Babies races at the foot of the Freedom Monument until 4 p.m. today.

The start and finish lines for the DPD Mile on May 14th were both in the very heart of the city: at the Freedom Monument. The 1.6 km course allowed runners to experience the wonder of Brīvības and Kalpaka Boulevards and Elizabetes and Valdemāra Streets. The race, which was simultaneously the Latvian one mile championship, was run by complete beginners, families with children, experienced runners, speed lovers and Latvia’s fastest athletes — Team Latvija Pasaulē members — alike.

The title of Latvian Men’s Champion was earned by five-time Latvian 1500 m champion Jānis Razgalis, while the women’s winner was Austra Ošiņa, whose best result in the international area was at Lithuania’s Amber Sea Mile race, where she was crowned champion.

The first place men’s winner of the DPD Mile and Latvian Champion Jānis Razgalis ran the mile in 4 minutes and 24 seconds, while Austra Ošina gained the title of Latvian Champion with a result of 4 minutes and 52 seconds.

2nd place in the men’s race was won by another Team Latvija Pasaulē participant, Edgars Šumskis, who finished practically alongside the champion (04:24), while third place was won by Kristers Kudis with a result of 04:27. 4th and 5th place were also closely fought, with Roberts Līdaks and Miks Jānis Caune finishing in 00:04:43 and 00:04:44 respectively.

In the women’s race, second place was taken by olympian Līga Velvere, who ran the mile in 00:04:54, while Amanda Vatasa came in third with a result of 00:05:16. The top five was rounded out by Baiba Bērziņa with a result of 00:05:20 and Kamilla Vanadziņa with 00:05.22.

“It is worth noting that the one mile race will be part of the 2023 World Championships in Riga, so everyone who chose to run the mile as part of the Rimi Riga Marathon had an amazing chance to try out the World Championship one mile course a year in advance,” explains Aigars Nords, Race Director of the Rimi Riga Marathon and Head of the Riga World Running Championships Organising Committee.

3,500 young runners from Latvia, the Baltics, Sweden, Canada, Vietnam and Ukraine registered for the biggest sporting event for children.

This year, interest from runners and their parents has been so high that, in order to avoid exceeding the participant limit, organisers were forced to stop registration much sooner than planned. This means just one thing: the joy of being active is back with a vengeance!

Despite the wet weather, the Freedom Monument square was filled with the big smiles and the joy of little athletes, and personal records were broken one after the other.

The organisers would like to express their thanks to all participants: our little runners and toddlers, parents, champions and running lovers, supporters, and fans for joining us for this active, heartfelt running celebration.