She became the only Lithuanian to add a PB (personal best) next to her name in the summary of this European Championship.
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On the second day of the championships, she started with a 6.33 m long jump in the competition, after which she triumphantly rushed into the arms of coach Justinas Byronas.
“The long jump has long been a somewhat insurmountable event for me,” the Lithuanian rejoiced backstage at the “Alexander” stadium. “Although it resembles hurdling, and I know I can do it, something in my head is both scary and there are only three attempts, stepping twice is a tragedy, scary again. Maybe childhood contributed, when I always heard that Beatrice definitely couldn’t jump. I have been training for ten years and it never worked out. Finally! Confidence appeared. Last year, I definitely wouldn’t have thought about such a result.”
The tandem working together in the USA later improved the season’s result in the javelin throw event – 47.10 m, which was Beatrice Juškevičiūtė’s best performance in this championship compared to her rivals – 5th place.
“I still don’t feel the javelin… When I started the heptathlon, it seemed like this was my event, that I felt and somewhat understood it. Now that understanding is coming back. A couple of years ago, I had an elbow injury, so I didn’t throw much. This year is the first year I come and know what to do. We are moving forward. The next step now, I think, is the 50 m mark,” the athlete hoped.
After two days of heptathlon trials, B. Juškevičiūtė finally finished with an 800 m run in 2 minutes 17.05 seconds and 14th position in the event.
“I don’t even know what happened… I felt a bit of my calf while running the first 100 m and got scared. Two laps, I want to finish. I saved myself, but in the end, it seems too much. I don’t remember when I ran 2:17. Not good…”
Summing up all the results, the Lithuanian took 10th place – 6308 points.
“Am I satisfied? You know, as always – something is not right (laughs). But we are moving forward. Two years ago in Rome, there was nothing like this (6025 points and 13th place, – note). Now I was close to my career record. I improve it every year at the beginning of the season, but then something happens and during the season I don’t even come close. These are important competitions – so nothing good.”
“Now at least close. Next time I would like that record in all heptathlon events,” continued B. Juškevičiūtė, who was just 15 points short this time.
We remind you that on Friday she also improved two season records and ranked thirteenth among 24 heptathletes who started.
Ultimately, 21 athletes completed all the trials.
To the great joy of the Irish crowd that flooded the stadium, Kate O’Connor (6751 pts.) became the European champion, surpassing two Dutch athletes – Emma Oosterwegel (6713 pts.) and Sofie Dokter (6664 pts.).
- 100 m hurdles: 13.09 sec. SB (SB was 13.35, PB 12.87) – 6th place
- High jump: 1.65 m (SB 1.68, PB 1.71) – 22nd place
- Shot put: 13.70 m (SB 14.99, PB 14.99) – 13th place
- 200 m run: 23.73 sec. SB (SB was 24.04, PB 23.58) – 8th place
- Long jump: 6.33 m PB (SB and PB were 6.24 m) – 10th place
- Javelin throw: 47.10 m SB (SB was 45.44, PB 48.12) – 5th place
- 800 m run: 2 min. 17.05 sec. (SB 2:15.35, PB 2:12.44) – 14th place
For such a performance, B. Juškevičiūtė thanked her US coach J. Byronas.
“I am his first combined events athlete because he is a sprint and hurdles coach. We joked before the championship that I usually look very bad before competitions, terrible. But then it goes very well in competitions (laughs). This time everything was good in training, so we didn’t know what to expect. It was quite good overall, but I fluctuated…” – pondered the Lithuanian, who combines sports in the USA with work at the university.
– Justinas saw me when I was barely jumping 5.20 m in the long jump. So those 6.33 m are a very big step forward from where I started. Also, hurdling – before working with J. Byronas, I ran 14.50 sec. (now B. Juškevičiūtė holds the Lithuanian record for 100 m hurdles – 12.87 sec, achieved the year before last, – note).
What once seemed impossible is now gradually moving forward. And those 6500 points seemed like a huge mountain. And now – why not?”
- B. Juškevičiūtė works at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, USA.
- She holds the position of Assistant Director of Career and Experiential Learning for Healthcare Pathways, advising students pursuing careers in health and medical sciences.
- “I work from 7 am to 3 pm, and then I train. The more I work, the more I understand that (sports) is just fun. It’s not given forever and you have to enjoy it. As long as you can, you can,” B. Juškevičiūtė said.
“It’s hard being so far (from Lithuania). And I miss that community. Yes, there is a coach, there are friends, others, but still not the same. So thanks to all Lithuanians for the support,” B. Juškevičiūtė thanked, immediately heading back to the USA. “It’s nice to see how Lithuanian athletics is rising, how everyone is interested. It’s a tough sport, so it’s nice to have supporters.”
- This is B. Juškevičiūtė’s second European Championship. In 2024 in Rome, she took 13th place (6025 points).
- B. Juškevičiūtė’s season and career record is 6323 points.
- The Lithuanian heptathlon record since 1989 belongs to Remigija Nazarovienė (6604 points).
“This year I will have one more competition. Commercial, in September. I had injuries at the beginning of the season, so I started late, but now it seems I am in quite good sports form.
Maybe we will put everything in its place and make the standard for next year (World Championship)?” – hoped the Lithuanian heptathlete.
You can find the Lithuanian schedule and expectations at the European Championship here.
