Tumaitis represents Lithuania at Euro Deaf Champs

Donatas Tumaitis (number 69 below) recently represented Lithuania at the 9th European Deaf Championships in both the 5000m and 10000m in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Since joining us from Eton Manor Donatas has been a key member of our distance squad, finishing 2nd in last season's Ken Bray Trophy for consistency over the winter season.

With a season's best of 16mins 01secs for 5000m, it was unfortunate that he picked up a hamstring injury which prevented him from running throughout June but, on the other hand, he recovered enough to make it to the start line in Poland, having flown to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, and travelled with the squad by mini-bus to Poland.

His first event was the 10000m, run in 28 degrees, where he placed 6th in 36mins 01.82secs. The 5000m was run 48 hours later, also in heat, and he placed 11th in 17mins 27.75secs.