On April 5th, the Saulėtekis area turned into a lively hub of excitement and adventure, as orienteering competitions were held to celebrate Vilnius University's 446th birthday. The event brought together experienced enthusiasts, curious first-timers, and families with children—all united on the same trail. Despite the chilly and windy weather, an impressive 55 teams took to the start line. Whether walking or running, they had 2 hours to search for 46 control points.
Top Five Teams Awarded
The first place went to the FTMC Runners team, who collected an impressive 26 control points and earned 1240 points. Close behind, in second place, was the team “Oriented in Time, Space and Within”, with 25 control points and 1190 points. “Deadline Came. The Name Didn’t” secured third place, having found 23 control points and earned 1120 points. SimTeam landed in fourth place with the same 1120 points, but with 24 control points. In fifth place was “Viju dieną”, who collected 22 control points and 1110 points.
All teams that crossed the finish line received gifts from Vilnius University and its partners, Arimex and Afidea.
You can view the full competition results HERE.
Impressions from the Trail
This orienteering event, organized in honor of the University's birthday, was held for the fourth time.
“During the first years, I used to wonder what kind of audience this event was meant for—walkers, students, uncles, aunts, runners, or hardcore orienteers. But that mix of people is exactly what creates the warm atmosphere and allows everyone to connect without focusing too much on the competitive side. You could meet the young, the older, the strong, and even those who couldn’t run just yet. This year, the event truly embodied that spirit—from a pregnant friend to world orienteering champions, everyone felt comfortable hunting for their points. [...] I hope this event continues to grow just enough for more people to know about it, but without becoming commercialized or overcrowded. Let it remain for those who hold movement, academia, and sport close to heart,” – shares Justinas, a participant for the third time, whose team placed 5th this year.
Thank You for Being a Part of It!
These competitions are a wonderful opportunity to discover your city, yourself, and your teammates from a new perspective.
We are truly grateful to Vilius Aleliūnas (Orienteering Sports Federation, www.orienteering.lt), and our Vilnius University colleagues: the Community Well-being Division, Children’s University, Physics Days organizers, and coach Romualdas Kniukšta, as well as everyone else who helped make this event possible! A special thank you to our partners Arimex and Afidea.
If you took part in the event, we invite you to share your feedback — it will help us improve and make next year’s event even better!