The opening ceremony of the run commemorating the 96th anniversary of Poland regaining independence was enhanced by volunteers from Gimnazjum No. 4 and 5, who lit 96 symbolic torches and illuminated the route with them. The national anthem was sung by the light of the torches.
The opening ceremony was conducted by the Mayor of Legnica Tadeusz Krzakowski together with the director of the Sports and Recreation Centre, Andrzej Gąska. “Run for Independence, overcome weakness with joy and win in noble competition,” Tadeusz Krzakowski told the participants.
The competitors had to cover a 5,500-metre route running through the streets of the old town and the Market Square. Here are the winners in the individual categories:
- women’s open: Tatiana Kozubowa, Anna Ficner, Natalia Nagirnjak, Danuta Piskorowska, Jolanta Szwarnóg
- men’s open: Ruslan Savchuk, Wasyl Kowal, Wojciech Kopeć, Oleksiy Obuhowski, Volodymyr Timashov
- women aged 16–34: Tatiana Kozubowa, Anna Ficner, Natialia Nagirnjak
- women aged 35–49: Anna Zaczyńsk, Alicja Zielińska – Legnica, Agnieszka Konaszczuk – Legnica
- women aged 50 and over: Ewa Kumpin – Legnica, Renata Jędrasiak, Lucyna Stępień
- men aged 16–29: Ruslan Savchuk, Wasyl Kowal, Wojciech Kopeć
- aged 30–39: Volodymyr Timashov, Oleksii Gonchar, Piotr Szpigiel
- aged 40–49: Mariusz Tokarczyk – Legnica, Janusz Wojnarowicz, Andrzej Rydz
- aged 50–59: Tadeusz Zioła, Marian Żukowski, Henryk Strzelczak
- aged 60–64: Janusz Ferenc, Michał Lenkiewicz, Czesław Krajewski
- aged 65–69: Henryk Ambrosiewicz – Legnica, Jerzy Dygudaj – Legnica, Władysław Malinowski.
After crossing the finish line, all participants received a commemorative medal; the winners in the individual categories received cash prizes and certificates, while those in the open categories received cups and certificates.
The trophies were presented by the Mayor of Legnica, Tadeusz Krzakowski, and the director of the Sports and Recreation Centre in Legnica, Andrzej Gąska. The traditional speciality of the Independence Day sporting celebration in Legnica was goose stew.
UM Legnica/ii