All eyes were on Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the starting line, as the 24-year-old had won the title on two previous occasions. The Norwegian also went to work offensively and got far ahead right from the start. On the last lap, Ingebrigtsen began to turn up the pace in earnest. Strong Yemaneberhan Crippa (Italy) did not have much to contend with in this part of the race. – There will be enormous distances. There are so many people who cannot keep up with this. See how easy it is. It is class runners he distances, commented Rodal during the race, which was broadcast live on news. – Had to dig deep After the finish, two satisfied members of the Ingebrigtsen family were interviewed by news. – What is it that makes Jakob as sovereign as he becomes in the end, Filip? – I think he had to dig deep. No, but he is very good. He has had an insanely good autumn. He was very sad last year when he was sitting at home. I think he finds this a lot of fun. It’s just too nice. It’s nothing serious, says Filip. Then Jakob takes the floor: – Yes, it’s bloody serious, he says and shows off the wound on his calf. IT COSTS: Jakob Ingebrigtsen could show from bloody calves after the gold race. Photo: Fredrik Tombra/news He then elaborated on what had happened along the way: – You see that we run with quite long spikes, so today we went for 12 millimetres. There is a lot of physical contact, but I felt in control and communicated. The worst thing that can happen is that you go to the ground, and you spend an incredible amount of effort on that, if that happens, says Jakob Ingebrigtsen to news in Antalya. – Jakob, how did you experience the race, did it seem like you were in control? – Yes, but we will run five laps in a relatively tough technical and physical course. Just under eight kilometers is far. It is the longest we have run, apart from when it was 10 kilometres. It’s not just about lining up and getting to the finish line first. I know I have to manage my energy well, he says. This time the Ingebrigtsen brothers led a large Norwegian delegation also consisting of Jacob Boutera, Kasper Fosser, Magnus Tuv Myhre and Fredrik Sandvik. It was something the winner appreciated. He also felt that it was possible to run with slightly lowered shoulders on Sunday: — There is less pressure than an Olympics or WC. But it’s nice, it’s not very often that we get the opportunity to put so many people on the same starting line. – Outclasses the others Although Crippa tried to put the Norwegian under pressure earlier in the race, there was never really any doubt as to which way it would tilt. As usual, no one could resist the finish of the Norwegian. – That Jakob outclasses the others, we have in a way become used to, but we must not take it for granted either, summarized Rodal. The bronze went to Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Spain. Filip Ingebrigtsen was finally number 20. Fosser (27), Boutera (29), Sandvik (49) and Tuv Myhre (60) were the other Norwegian positions. It lasted for 5th place in the team competition. THE NORWEGIAN TEAM: Jakob and Filip Ingebrigtsen together with their teammates Jacob Boutera, Kasper Fosser, Magnus Tuv Myhre and Fredrik Sandvik. Photo: Fredrik Tombra / news – It was beautiful The day started well for Norway after Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen came third in the U20 class. Strong performances from Magnus Øyen (4th place) and Kristian Bråten Børve (10th place) meant that Norway ran away with gold in the team competition. Vebjørn Rodal described the performance as “a bomb”, but Børve was just as surprised. – That was what we were really going for. It was lovely. We were a bit unsure, we had strong competitors from the Netherlands and Great Britain. But we managed it, says Børve to news. – How does the body feel now? – Now it’s pretty decent. I feel that there are many who have competed in a lot of terrain, and I have run the NM, and that’s it. So I’m very satisfied based on the form I’m in, replies Børve. Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen is among the greatest running talents in Norway. He can look back on a good year both on tartan and grass. In August, there was gold in the 3,000 meters in the U20 WC. On Sunday, he therefore followed up with two medals in the off-road EC. – It is extremely fun – both to go home with individual medals and team gold. Getting it together with the guys is awesome. Now there will probably be a bit of a celebration, says Halvorsen to news. THE GOLDEN BOYS: Magnus Øyen, Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen, Kristian Bråthen Børve and Åsmund Sunde Førde. Photo: Fredrik Tombra / news – Brutalt In the women’s class, big favorite Nadia Battocletti won. She is the first female athlete to have won the European Championships in U20, U23 and now in the senior class. In the places behind followed Konstanze Klosterhalfen and – somewhat surprisingly – Yasmin Can from the host nation Turkey. – I didn’t have Yasmin Can among the favorites before the start, but yes, she found a bit of old greatness and took third place here today, Rodal exclaimed in news’s broadcast. The Norwegian girls ended up a bit lower on the results lists. Andrea Modin Engesæth eventually finished second. – It was simply very brutal. I opened sensibly, but even if I did, I didn’t quite have my body with me today. It’s awkward not being able to fight for the slightly higher places, it is, she told news after the race. Selma Engdahl was number 54. At 12.10 there may be more Norwegian cheering in Antalya. Then Jakob Asserson Ingebrigtsen is running for EC gold in the senior class. Published 08.12.2024, at 09.49 Updated 08.12.2024, at 13.09
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