On October 10, the 26th “Amber Seemile” race took place in Smiltynė, alongside the Lithuanian Cross Country Championships. Runners from Vilnius University (VU) took part in the event, testing their abilities on a distinctive coastal course.
The “Amber Seemile” race stands out for its unique course, which challenges athletes to run on a variety of surfaces, including sand, asphalt, and forest trails. The event’s name refers to the nautical mile, a unit of distance used in maritime navigation equivalent to 1,852 metres.
Miglė Porvaneckytė Among the Fastest Finishers
Competing in the 3-nautical-mile race, Miglė Porvaneckytė, a student at VU’s Faculty of Communication, finished fourth overall and took third place in the Lithuanian Cross Country Championships.
The top-performing participants who finished in the top six received cash prizes sponsored by the event’s supporters.
VU Representatives Compete in the 6-Nautical-Mile Race
Three runners represented Vilnius University in the 6-nautical-mile race: Matas Baura (Šiauliai Academy), Dovydas Rekašius (Faculty of Medicine), and exchange student Kazuko Nagai.
All participants received official race T-shirts and souvenirs provided by the sponsors.
VU’s runners are coached by Assoc. Prof. Jūratė Armonienė, Vilnius University’s athletics coach, who helps athletes improve their performance and prepare for competitions at various levels.