The oldest representative of the Lithuanian delegation – a 38-year-old runner – is participating in her third continental championship. In 2012, she debuted as a 3000 m steeplechase runner (19th place), and in 2018 she ran the marathon (43rd).
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In Birmingham, V. Žūsinaitė-Nekriošienė finished in 2 hours 37 minutes 47 seconds and recorded the seventh best result of her career on a challenging course.
The muscles and smile after the finish, pressed by the joy of the Lithuanian who returned to top-level sport after becoming a mother twice, earned her a place in the top 30 in Europe – she finished 29th.
- Vaida Žūsinaitė is married to the world vice-champion kayaker Ričardas Nekriošius. The couple is raising a girl and a boy.
“First of all, I am happy that I finished. I am satisfied with both the result and the place because the course was really not easy. Of course, it was the same for everyone, but today I gave everything,” shared V. Žūsinaitė-Nekriošienė after the finish.
– The weather was ideal, super. There was no wind and the temperature was good (about 18 degrees). But the course… (sighs). I was even a bit angry – uphill, downhill. Before the lap finish, my legs would get so tired that it seemed like I couldn’t go on. But then I would start running again. There was no flat place where you could run evenly.
You could feel the turns, my ankles started to hurt, I turned carefully… Because of those hills, with two laps left, my calves and feet started to cramp a bit. So I just ran and that was it. It was already scary to catch up with those running ahead because I thought – if I get a cramp, it’s all over.
So I tried to run tactically, in a group. At first, I might have overdone it, overtaking that group, but later I ran together with them.”
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Marathon runners had to complete 8 laps in the center of Birmingham.
“I quite like (running in the same places). You finish a lap, think that there is one less. There was also a water station halfway where Justinas (Beržanskis) handed me water, so I ran in sections like that. During the Covid times, I ran maybe a 24-lap marathon, so these 8 laps didn’t scare me,” the Lithuanian found strength and humor after the exhausting finish.
“I like what I do, so I manage to run for so long,” shared the marathon runner, sending inspiration and encouragement to others. “Of course, everyone has those tough moments, but you learn, come back, and most importantly – you do what you like.
Nowadays, age is definitely not a limit. As long as there is desire and health allows, I will keep running. Of course, sometimes I want to rest from the marathon because it is really a demanding event, but generally, I will do sports all my life and try to show high results as long as my health permits (smiles).”
The European champion was Finnish Alisa Vainio (2:22:26), who set a new European championship record. Silver went to Hungarian Lili Anna Vindics-Tóth, who ran her fastest marathon ever (2:27:21), and bronze was taken by British Abbie Donnelly in a tight finish (2:27:33).
This season, V. Žūsinaitė-Nekriošienė ran her fastest marathon in April in Vienna (2:35:29).
Her career best was recorded in 2016 in Hanover (2:32:50).
The Lithuanian record has belonged to Živilė Balčiūnaitė since 2005 (2:25:15).
The European Championship in Birmingham will finish with the evening program at the “Alexander” stadium on Sunday, but Lithuanians will no longer appear there.
