“Perhaps the Swedish Athletics Federation should think a little bit about themselves when they next wonder why women stop betting earlier than men? The answer must be something close to the fact that they don’t dare to take the chance. We’re not going to be bet on at all,” wrote Ine Bakken in a post on Instagram on Tuesday. STRONG SEASON: Ine Bakken has improved greatly in 2022 and took NM gold in the 10,000 metres. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB The reigning Norwegian 10,000 meter champion, and several other Norwegian long-distance women, react strongly to the selection for the EC cross-country race in Turin on Sunday 11 September, which was announced on Tuesday. Defending champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal will be the only Norwegian participant in the senior class for women. At the same time, a full team has been selected, six athletes and in addition a reserve for the senior class for men. – Motivation-killing and terribly irritating considering how many good performances there have been by Norwegian women this year. It is disappointing when the union expresses that they will invest, and then they do not take out more, says Mathilde Theisen to news. The Norwegian squad for the EC cross-country race, Sunday 11 December Senior women – 8 km: Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal, IK Tjalve Senior men – 10 km: Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Sandnes ILFilip Mangen Ingebrigtsen, Sandnes ILHenrik Børkja Ingebrigtsen, Sandnes ILNarve Gilje Nordås, Sandnes ILJacob Boutera, Ull/Kisa ILPer Svela, Ull/Kisa ILReserve: Ferdinand Kvan Edman, IK Tjalve Women U23 – 6 km: Kristine Meinert Rød, Oppegård ILAndrea Modin Engesæth, IL Runar Men U23 – 8 km: Magnus Tuv Myhre, Brandbu IF Women U20 – 4 km: Ingeborg Østgård, FIK Ren-EngAnna Marie Nordengen Sirevåg, SK VidarMaren Halle Haugen, IL RunarIna Halle Haugen, IL Runar Men U20 – 6 km: Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen, Ull/Kisa ILEsten Hansen-Møllerud Hauen, FIK Ren-EngAbdullahi Dahir Rabi, IL RunarVebjørn Hovdejord, Snøgg FriidrettSimen Gløgård Stensrud, Ull/Kisa IL Explanation: Lack of money Both Theisen and Bakken ran the cross-country EC last year. Theisen acknowledges that she was not qualified this year, but thinks it strange that Bakken and several others do not get the chance. SENDING MORE MEN: Sports director Erlend Slokvik has selected 12 men and seven women for the EC cross-country race. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB – I get goosebumps when I think about the experience from Dublin last year. It was so important. It gives insight into a world I want to spend more time in, motivation on a level you can’t imagine. And for others it was motivating to see that I got the chance. It has ripple effects, Theisen points out. So why aren’t more women allowed to participate? Erlend Slokvik, the head of sport in the athletics association, explains the withdrawal: – It is no secret that we are running a financial deficit this year. We have to consider how we best use our money. Last year Ine Bakken was the second best woman in the cross-country European Championship in 50th place, so we think it is better to spend the money on making more runners better. Disagreement about the assessment The sports manager points out that there are also as many women in the squad overall as there were a year ago. GETS YOUNG: Ingeborg Østgård took silver in the U20 class at the cross-country European Championship last year and is among the favorites again this year. Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad / news – Last year we fielded four U20 runners and three seniors. This year we field four U20 runners, two U23 runners and one senior. We want to help the young runners develop, says Slokvik. – But at the same time they send 12 men? – Yes, on the men’s side there are several who meet the selection criteria, says the sports director. In the team competition in the European Championship, there are three runners who tel. Although it is not specifically formulated in the selection criteria from the Norwegian Athletics Federation, Slokvik says that Norway only registers teams that can basically compete at the top. Withdrawals on an individual basis “are made under the assumption that they are assessed to be able to assert themselves among the 30 best,” the criteria state. – It has been a motivation for me all year, and I think I have taken steps that mean that the top 30 would be realistic for me now, says Ine Bakken to news. – He must be allowed to say that, but we have made a different sporting assessment, says Slokvik. The selection criteria for EC cross-country running EC cross-country running includes both individual competition and team competition in the various classes. A deductible of NOK 2,000 per athlete in the junior classes will be sent to the club afterwards. NFIF covers manager/coach(s). Participants: In all classes, each nation can participate with up to 6 runners, where the best 3 count in the team competition. Withdrawals on an individual basis are made on the condition that they are assessed to be able to assert themselves among the top 30 individually. Results achieved in cross-country races up to and including 27 November 2022 will be used as a basis for withdrawal. Selection of other athletes will be considered if they are particularly qualified on the basis of international results. There will also be an assessment of whether we should enter the team competition in each class. This will affect how many are taken out. Athletes who were born in 2003 and 2004 must be prioritized in U20, teams must have a predominance of 2003 and 2004 It is subject officials who nominate athletes for EC cross-country running. “I Run Clean” must be taken before the withdrawal date. Health certificate/health certificate must be valid before withdrawal. New “Clean Performer” must be taken before the withdrawal date. Source: Norwegian Athletics Federation Kristiansen: – Not so worthy of criticism Running legend Ingrid Kristiansen is herself a coach for several athletes who could be relevant for the championship. She understands the assessments of the athletics association. – I am quick to criticize the union, but I don’t think this withdrawal is so objectionable. There is no point in filling a team in order to fill a team in the championship. Then I am more critical of whether enough is being done for more women to run faster, says Kristiansen. Ine Bakken emphasizes that she does not just speak for herself. She believes the athletics association should demonstrate that they are seriously investing in the women by taking out more. – Couldn’t they take out four men and three women? This is the tendency every year, and at the same time they ask the question why girls stop betting after the junior national team, she says excitedly. – Many words and little action Bakken and Theisen have not seen much of the alternative use of money to promote female long-distance runners either. In the last year, they have been part of a running group led by Bjørn Steinar Nedrebø and precisely Ingrid Kristiansen, at club level. – There have been many words and little action from the association’s side, says Mathilde Theisen. Now, however, the association has just started a project to promote middle- and long-distance runners on the women’s side. – It would have been very gratifying if they managed to get their own investment in place, says Mathilde Theisen.
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