– I’m not going to run the EC. I’m going to run some Diamond League events and now focus on Paris and next year. I learned a lot from this championship. But even if you have a lot of talent, you won’t get to the top without working really hard, says Sifan Hassan to news after the WC final. The Dutchman took gold in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, and also bronze in the 1,500 meters, in the Olympics last year. Here in Eugene, even with 4th place and 6th place in the two first-mentioned distances. But she would be the big favorite in the EC. STARS: Sifan Hassan didn’t quite make it in the WC after the Olympic success, but is still Europe’s best long-distance runner on the track. Photo: JEWEL SAMAD / AFP news expert Vebjørn Rodal now believes that Grøvdal has taken over the stamp as gold favorite after eighth place in the WC. – The way it looks now, Eilish McColgan is not in as good shape as earlier this summer, especially in the 10,000 metres. She will perhaps be the toughest at that distance. – But Karoline is probably the big favorite in the half distance, says Rodal, who thinks she is capable of winning both distances. – She has to make a choice Grøvdal smashed the Norwegian record for 5000 meters during the Bislett Games with 14:31.07 minutes – and was praised for her offensive sprint. Rodal would prefer to see more of that in the European Championship. – She has to make a choice whether she is going to try to escape from them along the way and use what I believe is her strongest weapon, the combination and the capacity. Then she has to do something that she doesn’t do very often. She must start running fast early enough, says the news expert. Grøvdal’s possible EC distances Monday 15 August: 21.48: 10,000 metres, final Tuesday 16 August: 10.15: 1500 metres, trials Thursday 18 August: 21.25: 5000 metres, final Friday 19 August: 20.45: 1500 metres, final Grøvdal had full control over the rest of the Europeans in the WC final, McColgan and Jessica Judd. Unsure of the significance Grøvdal coach Knut Jæger Hansen thinks it would be best if Hassan started, but is unsure how much easier it will be to win a medal. – Now, Sifan Hassan was not quite in shape, so it is not certain that it has that much importance. – In the EC she is definitely a medal candidate, so we will see what distance she will also run, says Jæger Hansen to news. Grøvdal is qualified to run 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the EC. She has not yet decided what she will run. – We get to discuss what she likes and whether she might like two rehearsals. After seeing the 5000 meters in the WC, I would definitely say that she will run it in the EC. COACH: Knut Jæger Hansen is responsible for Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal’s training. Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad / news Grøvdal previously told news that she wanted to run 5,000 meters, but before the WC she was unsure whether she should go for 10,000 or 1,500 meters. – The EC is important to me. Grøvdal answers this to the motivation before the European Championships in Munich, which start on 15 August: – I haven’t thought that far. The EC is important to me. I know that the form is good now. I’ll take it with me. This is a championship race that is completely different from all other races, says Grøvdal to news. The 32-year-old has previously run away with a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters (2016) and 3,000 meters hurdles (2018). – The EC will be completely different again. I think it will be good, says Grøvdal.
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Sifan Hassan drops out of the EC – Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal is named as gold favorite – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
