From 24 February to 5 March, a six-person team of orienteering runners from UKS Tukan Iwiny took part in a sports camp in Spain. The Iwiny athletes competed in the Andalucia Orienteering Meeting and the fourteenth edition of the Trofeo Internacional Murcia Costa Calida.
In the first AOM stage, Bartek Szeliga still finished second, but in the sprint held later in the town of Barbate, our representative was unrivalled. Marcin Wieczorek crossed the finish line just behind him. Bartek’s dominance was confirmed by the following starts. In one of the stages, he literally knocked out the competition, finishing as much as 11 minutes ahead of the Norwegian who had led up to that point. Nine-year-old Staś Pachnik also performed brilliantly, moving from fourth to first place in his category.
Bartek Szeliga was, of course, the fastest in the Beach Orienteering race that concluded the AOM competition. The other representatives also did not disappoint, achieving high positions in their groups: Angelika Haniszewska was fourth, Staś was third, and Dariusz Pachnik, the athletes’ coach, was sixth.
The next event on the camp’s schedule in Spain was the Trofeo Costa Calida competition. As usual, Bartek Szeliga won the first race, while Wojtek Pachnik won in the M21A category. A sprint was then held in Molina de Segura. Bartek triumphed here as well, Angelika was third, and Dariusz Pachnik fourth. Wojtek finished ninth this time.
After the middle-distance race that concluded the event, the UKS Tukan Iwiny team had plenty of reasons to celebrate. In the final standings, Bartek and Wojtek won their respective categories. Angelika took second place, while Dominika Burdyna finished eleventh in the same women’s group. Marcin Wieczorek was fourth, and coach Dariusz Pachnik eighth.
(information: DP/ii)