Athletics Relay

The track and field relay race for the prizes of the district newspaper "Lepelski Krai", traditionally held on the town square on Victory Day, has remained popular for decades. This year, 16 teams participated in the sporting event.

Although the weather on this day was overcast, the relay participants did not lose their optimism. To support the athletes, their numerous classmates, teachers, colleagues, and friends came to the square.

The students of I. Yerashov Gymnasium and the town and rural schools were the first to prepare for the start. The way the physical education teacher Valery Bulakh conducted the warm-up with the students of Secondary School No. 1 was noteworthy. For thirteen years, the team of Secondary School No. 1 was the leader of the relay among educational institutions, and only last year did they concede first place to the team of I. Yerashov Gymnasium.

The command "On your marks!" sounds – and the relay begins. Young track and field athletes swiftly overcome the distance. The cheerful shouts of the fans do not subside.

Our team includes students who actively participate in sporting events and successfully defend the school's honour not only at the district, but also at the regional and national levels. Three members of our team this year passed the standards of the Physical Culture and Health Centre of the Republic of Belarus and received the badges "Sportivnaya Smena". These are ninth "A" grade students Elizaveta Makhotsina and Sergey Krivitsky, as well as Ivan Fedorovich (tenth "B" grade).

Elizaveta is passionate not only about sports but also about choreography; she is a participant of the exemplary dance ensemble "Zateya" and, after completing the track and field relay, she also performed at a concert in the summer amphitheatre.

This year, Siarhei Kryvitski became the district champion in the summer and winter multi-event "Zdarouye" and cross-country running. He was also a prize-winner in district competitions in basketball and cross-country skiing. As part of the school team, Siarhei took third place in the "Lepel Ski Track" relay race. Uladzislava Pshanko, a sixth-grade "B" student, took second place in the district competitions for the summer multi-event "Zdarouye". Ilya Khatseev, a tenth-grade "B" student, is keen on basketball, volleyball, and football, and is a prize-winner in district basketball competitions. Viktoryia Ivanova, a ninth-grade "A" student, also continues to engage in sports and has achieved significant success. Viktoryia was a prize-winner in district basketball competitions and won the "Lepel Mile" cross-country race. Ivan Fedarovich has been defending the school's honour in sports events for several years. He is a prize-winner in district competitions for pre-conscription youth multi-event "Defender of the Fatherland" and a prize-winner in district competitions for the summer multi-event "Zdarouye". Together with Siarhei Kryvitski, Ivan Fedarovich took third place in the "Lepel Ski Track" relay race this year. In addition, Ivan is keen on team sports and is the captain of the school's football team. Darya Yautusheuskaya (7th grade "V") also continues to engage in sports. She is keen on handball, is the district champion in athletics and cross-country running, and took second place in the district competitions for the summer multi-event "Olympic Hopes". The school is also proud of the success of Kiryl Dziemka, a student in 9th grade "B". Kiryl became a prize-winner in district competitions for pre-conscription youth multi-event "Defender of the Fatherland" (summer and winter), winner of the "Lepel Mile" cross-country race, and also district competitions "Zdarouye". In addition, he is a member of the school's cross-country skiing team and actively engages in wakeboarding.

Finally, the long-awaited and exciting moment of announcing the competition results arrives. Among educational institutions, the team from Secondary School No. 1 took first place, the gymnasium named after I. Yerashov was awarded second place, and the students of Borovsk Secondary School took third place.

Among the work collectives, the athletes from OJSC "Lepel Dairy and Canning Plant" became leaders. The team from the healthcare institution "Lepel Central District Hospital" took second place, and the athletes from KUVP "Borovka" took third place.

Among agro-towns, first place was awarded to athletes from Slabada, second place to the team from Babrovo, and third place was won by the Stai team.

Warm words of congratulations to the participating teams were expressed by Vladimir Shevchenko, Editor-in-Chief of the regional newspaper "Lepel Krai", Alexander Mikhno, Deputy Head of the Department of Education, Sports and Tourism of the District Executive Committee, and Rimantas Stripeikis, Director of the Physical Culture and Recreation Centre.

Each of the teams that took first place was awarded a Challenge Cup. In addition, all teams that received prizes were awarded diplomas, and their participants received medals.

It was very pleasant to meet the other leading teams. The team of OJSC "Lepel MCC" included Vadim Banevich, a loader at the enterprise, Andrey Kuznetsov, a production operator for dry milk products, Tatyana Mikhno and Valentina Gus, accountants, and Oleg Mikhno, a driver. The team captain is Tatyana Kuznetsova, secretary of the primary organization of the KR NGO "BRSM".

The team from the agro-town of Sloboda included Tatyana Yakubova, Valeria Yurkevich, Igor Aksyonovich, and Pavel Leyko. Tatyana graduated from Sloboda Secondary School and now works at the "Evroset" retail outlet. Valeria decided to dedicate her life to sports – she is a student of the sports faculty at Polotsk State University. Igor graduated from Lepel State Agrarian-Technical College and works in forestry. Pavel Leyko, a tenth-grade student at Sloboda Secondary School, has also achieved significant success in sports. As part of the Vitebsk Region combined team, Pavel took a prize-winning place in the summer republican all-around "Health". For several years now, Vladimir Sezdin, a physical education teacher at Sloboda Secondary School, has been preparing the team for the relay race. By the way, the Sloboda Secondary School team has been among the prize-winners of the relay race for three years. This year, they took first place in the football competition among rural schools.

We are very proud of the successes of our athletes, we congratulate them wholeheartedly on their victories and wish them: "Stay with "Lepel Krai!"

Sviatlana VAZNYAK.