South Ural runner Valeria Shcherbinina left the Chechen Republic in athletics at the semi-final stage

The smallest athlete of the Chelyabinsk region explained the unsuccessful performance

The other day in Chelyabinsk ended the championship of Russia in athletics. The best athletes of our country and Belarus took part in it. Valeria Shcherbinina, a South Ural runner, entered the fight for medals at a distance of 100 meters with hurdles, but she flew out at the semi-final stage, running 13th out of 23. About how the athlete evaluates her own result, what she thinks about organizing the tournament in Chelyabinsk and why she didn’t run baton, in an exclusive interview.

How do you rate the run?

– In general, it ran well. Almost according to the personal result, which was shown at the Necheukhin memorial. The start went well, I was not enough for the last few hurdles. But still, with the support of the stands, it ran very well.

– How do you run on the home court?

– Here my parents and a young man supported me. The coach was also sitting in the stands. When they introduced me and said that I was from the Chelyabinsk region, the audience rejoiced. I’m very pleased.

– Do you think growth could affect the results?

– No. There are examples of small athletes who showed good results at the hurdles. I don’t think that my height somehow greatly affects the result. You just need to work harder and grow professionally.

– Are there any blueprints on what to work on?

– Yes, sure. I just miss the last barriers. Well, strength training needs to be tightened up. You need to add power to be enough for all distances.

— How do you evaluate the organization of the competition?

— I will always say that Chelyabinsk has the best organization. What happened at the Olympics that year, what now. Everything is very convenient, they made a new warm-up area, beautifully decorated the stadium. There are a lot of volunteers who do not let you get confused.

– Are you satisfied with yourself at the end of the season?

– Yes. I started running faster than last year. The result is growing, it pleases. There are no plans for next year yet. Ahead of me is the winter season, where I will run 60 meters – the distance is easier and more convenient for me.

— Which distance is closer to you — 60 or 100 meters?

— It was such a long season that I can’t remember the feeling of 60 meters. I ran a lot of 100 meters. Everything is mixed up, it is difficult to single out one thing. In general, it takes longer to run on a hundred square meters, there is some kind of layout, and at 60 you immediately hit.

– Why didn’t you put on the relay this year?

– I did not qualify for the team, but I really like relay races. In them, the adrenaline is much stronger than in personal races. You understand that you run for the team.

– You said that if an athlete hears the stands, it means that he runs badly. Have you heard this time?

– No. Only when presented. Then start, shot, silence and white noise. There is me, path and barriers. I think I’ve made the most of it.