Finally, during the Bislett Games, after Jakob Ingebrigtsen had won the dream mile, Line Kloster, Elisabeth Slettum, Lakeri Ertzgaard and Amalie Iuel got ready to run four times in the 400 meter relay. They were beaten by Great Britain, but the Norwegian record shone on the board next to the time 3.28.58. – When I saw the time in goal, I cared most about the time, and not who was first. I have run a lot of relay at college level in the US and realized that the time was pretty good, internationally as well, says Amalie Iuel. They had also reached the goal of running fast enough for a place in the European Championships in August. What they did not know, and in fact very few others at Bislett as well, was that the time was the 15th best in the world in just over a year. – It was probably the Irish coach who said that we were in the ranking for the World Cup. We stood at the doping control and just said ‘no, no, no, now you’re kidding. It is a long way from that, but the European Championships are at least nailed ». It was a little fun when it dawned on us, Iuel explains. Watch NM in athletics from Stjørdal on news 1 Friday from kl. 17.00. Historical participation Never before has Norway had a relay team in the World Cup. So they are doing very well so far. But the four women did not believe the historical message they had received when they went home that evening. CHEERS: Amalie Iuel was involved in starting the women’s relay race in athletics in the new year last year. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – We let it go a bit, because we thought we had to calculate a little on the average since we only had one good time and the worse ones could pull us down. But then I got a message from Elisabeth (Slettum) a few days later, with the statistics. “OJ, it says black and white.” It’s pretty cool, admits Iuel, who is already ready for the World Cup in the 400 meter hurdles. For 10 teams are directly qualified for the World Cup, and then the six best times apply as well. Norway now has the fifth best of these. The deadline to qualify for the championship in Eugene in just over three weeks expires on Sunday, but this weekend is set aside for national championships. Has invested for a year and a half The Norwegian team has only focused on relay since early 2021, and got started as part of the “Equal Opportunities” project, which will promote women’s sports. – We have had many relay gatherings and met regularly to train on exchanges and to create more unity among the girls. It’s a great way to feel a little bit of team spirit, which we otherwise do not get much of in athletics that is so individual, Iuel thinks. SUCCESS: Elisabeth Slettum (left), Line Kloster, Amalie Iuel and Lakeri Ertzgaard made up the team in the 4 x 400m relay for women during the Bislett Games. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Both Iuel, Kloster and Slettum are going to the WC for other distances, and who gets the last place and the reserve place can be decided this weekend. – A World Cup gives enormous motivation and the individual requirements are quite high, so this can provide an opportunity that otherwise would not have been there. Just being able to join and see how the big girls do it, would probably have given good motivation further, says Ertzgaard, who was part of the team at Bislett.
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