– Will it be possible to fight for an EC medal?, asked news commentator Jann Post before the start of Grøvdal’s 5000 meter final. Because for several days before Thursday’s final in the EC, Grøvdal has not been able to run. The Romsdalingen had planned to run both 10,000 and 5,000 meters during the European Championships, but she dropped the longest distance after being hit in the back. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB On Wednesday, the day before the medal race, she decided to give her favorite distance a try despite the challenging preparations. – A bit of uncertainty spreads when you don’t get to carry out the preparations as planned. Especially when you are in pain and it simply hurts to run. Relaxed and pain-free running is what you want, but she doesn’t get that, explained news expert Vebjørn Rodal before the start. Grøvdal started the first round in fifth-sixth position and looked good according to news commentator Jann Post. – Let’s take it as a sign that Grøvdal feels this is a decent speed, commented Post, before the Isfjord girl took the lead of the field. But it was short-lived when Turkish Yasemin Can blew up the field halfway through the 5,000 meters. Grøvdal fell through the field and was clearly in pain. Finally, she went out to the side and broke the race. German Konstanze Klosterhalfen went out on the side and passed Can on the penultimate lap. As the bell rang, Can had to let go and Klosterhalfen pulled away and ran into a superior gold. Can took the silver ahead of Great Britain’s Eilish McColgan. Taped his back Grøvdal did not want to be interviewed before the race, but went straight into the indoor warm-up hall in cover of the heavy rain in the arena. There she was followed by national team doctor Ove Talsnes, several physiotherapists and trainer Knut Jæger Hansen. – The status is that she is significantly better. We didn’t think she could start three or four days ago. She is not 100 per cent good, but she is so good that she is starting, Jæger Hansen said. For several weeks, they have taken into account the back problems and received close follow-up from the medical equipment, but the coach was very uncertain about the student’s form before the start. In the warm-up area, she was taped on her back to prevent pain. – We will see that later today. It is absolutely impossible to say, he thought. Grøvdal has had a very good first half of the season, which was topped off when she beat Ingrid Kristiansen’s 36-year-old Norwegian record in the 5000 metres. With a time of 14.31.07, she crushed the old running queen by six seconds. In the WC, she finished in a strong eighth place and was singled out as favorite before the EC:
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Grøvdal had to be taped before the start – broke the race – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
