The national indoor athletics championships took place on the completely renovated indoor track of the city of Siauliai, in northern Lithuania, on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 February 2019.
The two race walking events (men's 5,000m and women's 3,000m) took place on the second day of competitions.
3.000m indoor women
Beautiful race and very fought, between Brigita Virbalytė-Dimšienė (LTU), who returned to Lithuania after a long journey from Australia and Zivilé Vaiciukevičiūtė.
The two athletes have been fighting since the first laps of Siauliai oval alternating with the command and trying to distance the opponent.
The first to cut the finish line was the young (born 3.6.1996) Zivilé Vaiciukevičiūtė, but the Chief Judge had no hesitation in applying the Rule that requires disqualification in the last 100m of the race under certain conditions.
The indoor title of Lithuania then went to Brigita Virbalytė-Dimšienė in 12:13.31 which at the moment is the best seasonal world performance on indoor distance.
Second place to the twin-sister of the disqualified athlete, Monika Vaiciukevičiūtė (LTU) with the time of 12:51.01, new personal best (previous of 13:23.86 obtained in Klaipeda, LTU on Feb. 17, 2018).
Third place to Austėja Kavaliauskaitė (LTU) in 14:30.99.
5.000m indoor men
Marius Žiukas (LTU) also returned from Australia, takes the initiative, from the first lap, without anyone trying to impede him.
Therefore, he has no difficulty in winning his eighth national title with a time of 19:44.37.
Second place to Arthur Mastianica (LTU) in 20:19.69
Third place to Tadas Šuškevičius (LTU) in 20:33.29
(photos by Alfredas Piladis - LTU)