The tenth anniversary "Derzhavin Mile 2026" cross-country race took place in Druzhba Park. The competition brought together over a thousand sports enthusiasts and professionals. For the second time, the Tambov-based Electropribor plant served as the race's general partner.
"For the university, the 'Derzhavin Mile' is not merely a competition, but a component of our corporate policy and educational mission," says Pavel Moiseev, Rector of Derzhavin University. "Since 2017, we have kicked off each new academic year with this sports run. Initially, the plan was to create a landmark event for our staff, but over time, the event took on a different, deeper significance. We began inviting schoolchildren to join the race, and later, families as well. Athletes from various regions also traditionally travel here to participate. With each passing year, the 'Derzhavin Mile' gains momentum and unites more participants, and we intend to continue this tradition."
Participants in the race included students from the Derzhavin Lyceum, university students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as employees from the Electropribor plant, local families, and schoolchildren. They covered a distance of 1,918 meters—marking the founding year of the G.R. Derzhavin Tambov State University.
The top finishers among schoolchildren were Kirill Maslov (Tsninskaya Secondary School No. 2) and Elizaveta Sevostyanova (Lyceum No. 21). Second place went to Maxim Kuznetsov (Lyceum No. 14) and Anfisa Bondareva (Secondary School No. 17). Third place went to Bogdan Kerimov (Secondary School No. 36) and Bazhena Zabavnikova (Derzhavin Lyceum).
Among university students, Saveliy Baranov from the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports was the first to cross the finish line; Second place went to Nikita Subbotin (Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports), and third to Sergey Namestnikov (Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports).
"This is my first time participating in the race. It’s a great start to the academic year for me. It’s wonderful not only to spend time productively but also to meet fellow students and get energized for the entire semester," says Vladimir Skomakha, a first-year Political Science student at Derzhavin University. "Events like this help you feel like part of the big university family."
Among the female students, Gunel Gugleva (Institute of Medicine and Health Preservation) achieved the best result on the course. Maria Zakharova (Institute of Medicine and Health Preservation) took second place, while Kira Sherstneva (Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports) finished third.
In the race for Derzhavin University faculty, staff, and alumni, Yulia Protasova (Institute of Economics, Information Technology, and Creative Industries) posted the best result among women. Alla Milovanova (Institute of Medicine and Health Preservation) finished second, and Anna Arkhipova (Derzhavin Department of Youth Policy) finished third.
Among the men, Nikita Avdeev (a Derzhavin alumnus) took first place; Vitaly Kizeev (Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports) came in second, and Sergey Sysoev (Institute of Economics, Information Technology, and Creative Industries) finished third.
Families of staff members and student families also took part in the race. The Litvinov family took first place, the Dubensky family second, and the Dyakov family third.
Among participants from the Tambov "Elektropribor" plant, the rankings were as follows: Maria Kotova took first place among women, followed by Elena Malyshkina in second and Violetta Nazarova in third. Vadim Parskov took first place among men, Roman Cherkasov came in second, and Sergey Mozzhukhin finished third. Professional athletes competed for victory in the 9 km and 21.1 km races. Participants hailed from four Russian regions: the Tambov, Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Saratov regions.
Pavel Rubchenko and Polina Tetushkina were the overall winners of the 9 km race, while Nikita Smirnov and Olga Naidenova posted the best times in the 21.1 km event.
"I participate in the 'Derzhavin Mile' every year. Today, I ran the 21.1 km distance. There is always a special atmosphere here—kind and warm, despite the competition," shared El Bouanani Sifeddine (Morocco), a first-year student at the Derzhavin Institute of Medicine and Health Preservation and a professional athlete.
The event featured a concert program, competitions in kettlebell lifting and tug-of-war, fun relay races, and a prize draw for all guests. Interactive zones hosted by Derzhavin University and its partners were also available. In total, more than 3,500 people attended the "Derzhavin Mile 2026."
