Sport

Dubna Athletics Festival

On 24 September, the 54th traditional track and field race in memory of Academician V.I.Veksler was held. 490 people registered to participate in the race, 422 athletes from Verbilki, Dmitrov, Dolgoprudny, Dubna, Zaprudnya, Zelenograd, Kimry, Konakovo, Krasnogorsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Taldom, Troitsk took to the start. Athletes no younger than seven years old were allowed to participate in the competition, the oldest was a 77-year-old runner.

The gathered athletes and fans were greeted by Director of JINR sports facilities V.N.Lomakin, Mayor of the city M.A.Tikhomirov, deputies of the city council A.V.Tamonov and E.D.Uglov, representatives of Promsvyazbank and VTB Bank. There were wishes for bright victories and for the boys and girls to remember this day and to participate in the further race competitions.

"Today, an unprecedented number of participants gathered - about 500 people," V.N.Lomakin commented on the event. "This is a holiday and happiness! Great weather, people are smiling. The 54th run in memory of Vladimir Iosifovich Veksler was supported by the Laboratory of High Energy Physics, thanks to Vice-Director Vladimir Dimitrievich Kekelidze, Directorate of the Institute headed by Grigory Vladimirovich Trubnikov, SIM Office and Andrey Vladimirovich Tamonov. The city administration, traffic police and the Russian National Guard took an active part in its preparation and implementation. Banks also got involved and organized small gifts.

Among the participants, I see all our strongest athletes, champions of past races, employees not only of JINR, but also of city enterprises. L.N.Yakutin was at the origins of this run, in those times, the distance was 20 km, they ran along the city streets, through the Peace Square but big problems arose for public transport. At one time, the run was carried out on the New Highway, it was not very convenient and for probably 25 years now, we have been running it along Stroiteley Street and the embankment. We feel comfortable here, although motorists suffer some inconvenience, but only for two hours. We apologize to them, but the runners should also have a holiday.

Alexey Chizhov (LRB): I have been participating in Veksler memory runs since 1982. When I started, we ran 20 km and did five laps around the city streets. Today, the route has become more colorful, we run along the banks of the Volga that I think, makes a strong impression on our guests. Today, I run for veterans, 4 km, I go to the start not only to test my physical abilities, but rather to meet friends, those who I ran 40, 30, 20 years ago with. I always enjoy my meetings and that they are well-treated.

I believe that the Veksler Memorial Run is a calling card not only of VBLHEP but of the entire Institute and I would like to see representatives of the laboratory and JINR Directorate at its opening. It seems to me that this is important not only for the citizens of Dubna, but also for the staff members of the Institute, especially the young ones that always support this run. There are few races with such a long history and we need to use ours to promote sports. Who can do it better than the scientists heading the Institute? After all, when we ran in the 1980s along the streets of the city, along the route, the citizens of Dubna stood like a living corridor. It was nice, it was a celebration of the city, a celebration of the Institute! I would like to appeal to the citizens so that they forget about their affairs, about their gardens for a day, come and cheer for the athletes and it would become a good example for their children and grandchildren.

Martin Buresh (MLIT): This is already my third run, I also participated in the Yakutin memory runs. I don't run systematically, I run for myself. When I arrive in a new city, a new place, I like to get to know it while jogging, so I can have time to see more. I really like running not on asphalt, but on dirt - in the forest, in the mountains, I ran in the Caucasus mountains - it's amazing!

* * *

Among the JINR staff members, the best among women at a distance of 4 km were Milena Kalinina (Management), Maria Alikina (SIM Office), Nadezhda Agapova (DLNP). Among men, Alexander Podshibyakin (FLNR), Evgeny Gorbachev (VBLHEP), Milko Samuilov (VBLHEP) won this distance. At a distance of 8 km for men, Alexey Altynov (FLNP), Ivan Shavrin (MSU/JINR), Dmitry Kharitonov (DRS) were on the highest step of the podium.

Olga TARANTINA
photo by Elena PUZYNINA