The third international marathon Friendship which links Belarus’ Grodno with Lithuania’s Druskininkai was held. The high-speed distance of the classic marathon, 42.195km, has been officially certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The runners crossed the border checkpoint Privalki-Raigardas without stopping there and finished in the central street of Druskininkai where an award ceremony was held.
       The Belarusians topped the winners’ table, Stepan Rogovtsov from Mogilev taking the first place on the men’s side in 2 hours and 27 minutes. Grodno’s Igor Teteryukov was only ten seconds behind. On the women’s side Galina Karnatsevich from Grodno won the marathon in 3 hours and 15 minutes repeating her last-year success when she also celebrated the victory here.
        Over 100 participants from Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and the U.S took part in the marathon. Vilnius resident Piotr Silkin, who soon turns 72, was the oldest participant on the men’s side. The youngest man registered for the marathon was Alexei Sylyuk, 19, from Bobruisk.