Ahead of the 6th Republican Youth Games, track and field athletes from Akmola Region are holding a training camp in Almaty.
The climate, infrastructure, and calm training environment all create ideal conditions for the athletes’ final preparations ahead of this important competition.
Nine track and field athletes from Akmola Region have arrived in Almaty for the training camp:
Tatyana No — sprint distances: 100 m, 100 m hurdles, and 4x100 m relay;
Kristina Minkovskaya — 100 m, 200 m, and 4x100 m relay;
Anastasia Kononovich — triple jump, long jump, and 4x100 m relay;
Maria Shchipachyova — triple jump, long jump, and 4x100 m relay;
Alexander Zhigar — 800 m;
Vadim Karnaukhov — long jump;
Yegor Voevodin — 400 m;
Nikita Kuzmin — 20,000 m race walk;
Zelimkhan Nasyrov — triple jump, long jump.
The team’s coach is Anatoly Krakhmalyev.
Additional athletes will join the team once they complete their exams:
Alexander Kondrashov (200 m, 400 m), Adil Zhasulanov (triple jump, long jump), Alisher Serikbayev (triple jump, long jump), and Elizaveta Yakimenko (4x100 m relay, triple jump, long jump).
As for the team’s recent achievements, one standout is Zelimkhan Nasyrov. In late May, at the Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea, the 22-year-old placed 6th in the triple jump, setting a personal best of 16.21 metres and meeting the standard for Master of Sport.
At domestic competitions, Akmola athletes have also proven themselves at the senior level. In January, at the Kazakhstan Winter Cup held at the indoor track in Astana, Alexander Zhigar won bronze in the 800 m. In the long jump, Zelimkhan Nasyrov took first place, while Vadim Karnaukhov finished third. Anastasia Kononovich placed third in the triple jump.
In February, at the 34th Kazakhstan Indoor Championships in Astana, Alexander Zhigar claimed silver in the 800 m. In the long jump, Zelimkhan Nasyrov once again secured gold, with Vadim Karnaukhov taking silver. Anastasia Kononovich also earned silver in the women’s long jump.
Other Akmola athletes excelled at the Kazakhstan U20 Indoor Championships. Nikita Kuzmin not only won the 5000 m race walk but also set a new national junior record with a time of 21:04.52. In the long jump, Maria Shchipachyova took first place, while Elizaveta Yakimenko came second. In the triple jump, they switched places, with Yakimenko winning gold and Shchipachyova taking silver.
For some of Akmola Region’s track and field athletes, the upcoming Youth Games (June 19–21) will be their chance to make a name for themselves. For others, it will be an opportunity to reaffirm their status as leaders.
In the photo: The Akmola Region track and field team at their training camp in Almaty.
