Open cross-country skiing competitions in memory of Vladimir Stromov were held on the Derzhavin University campus in the village of Georgievsky. More than 50 participants took to the ski tracks, including students, faculty, and staff of Derzhavin University, schoolchildren from the region, and enthusiasts of this winter sport. Skiers from the Tambov Region, Arkhangelsk, Syktyvkar, Bryansk, Tula, and the Moscow Region competed for medals.
Derzhavin University Rector Pavel Moiseev and Tambov Region Sports Minister Pavel Gritskov welcomed guests and participants at the opening ceremony.
"This event, along with the Derzhavin Mile, the Derzhavin Ski Track, and other university sports events, is a tribute to the memory and respect of Vladimir Yuryevich Stromov's significant personal contribution to the development of sports in the Tambov Region," says Pavel Moiseev, Rector of Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin. "Skiing was part of his life, a favorite sport that he seriously pursued from childhood. Today, we remember him as a wonderful athlete, a talented leader, and a true enthusiast of mass competitions. The traditions he established are continued and further developed at Derzhavin University."
Regional Sports Minister Pavel Gritskov wished the race participants good luck and victory, praising Derzhavin University's role in popularizing sports in the Tambov Region.
"It was Vladimir Stromov who established the tradition of university sports competitions, which continues in the extended Derzhavin family." Derzhavin University's sports calendar includes a vast array of diverse events held at a very high level, as well as an entire system of team sports clubs. I sincerely thank the university's rector, Pavel Sergeevich Moiseev, for such comprehensive support of student sports.
On the first day of competition, women had to run a 5 km race, while men had to run a 10 km classic style race. The next day, participants competed in a freestyle pursuit race over the same distances.
After two days of competition, Zlata Fomicheva (Uvarovo) emerged unbeaten in the "Women and Young Men Born in 2010 and Older" category. Tamila Khabibulina (Kotovsk) came within a whisker of victory, and Lyudmila Sesikova (Tula) rounded out the top three.
In the "Men and Young Men Born in 2010" category, In the "Veterans 40-49 and Older" category, Stepan Malkov (Kotovsk) won the gold medal, Vladislav Ozhigin (Arkhangelsk) took silver, and Maxim Yurov (Syktyvkar) secured third place.
In the veterans 40-49 age group, Artem Savelyev (Tambov) won, Yuri Neverov came in second, and Mikhail Semyonov (Tula) rounded out the top three.
In the veterans 60 and older category, Mikhail Grebenkin (Tula) took first place, with Alexey Kurgansky (Inzhavino) coming in second.
The recent competition served as a test run for the Derzhava Ski Club athletes in preparation for the IX All-Russian Winter Universiade in Ufa.
