Max Hrelja traveled to Hungary with the feeling of being able to run the 110 meter hurdles in good times.
He started with a 13.42, a personal best, in the trials.
Before the semifinals on Monday, he has even bigger plans: the 25-year-old wants to be faster than Robert Kronberg’s Swedish record, 13.35 from 2001.
“Rumour already now”
He is also aware that Kronberg should be worried about losing his record.
— Yes, he should be, says Hrelja and laughs.
— With a slightly better race, there would probably already be a rumor now.
Max Hrelja was satisfied with the reaction time at the start, where he was second best of all, and seemed to have already analyzed what it takes to enter the Swedish Athletics Federation’s record lists.
— There was a hurdle in the middle where I lost position, sank in the hip and had to use some energy to push myself up and respond to it. So it could have been a few hundredths faster, he says.
Loading with competitions
After the advancement at the Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, a quiet afternoon and evening awaited. Hrelja craved something sweet to drink, some food and then planned to watch the men’s 100m final to get a ‘good races’ recharge.
On Monday evening, 20.05, the semi-final session begins.
— Now it’s just a matter of trying to run as fast as possible. If I hit “pers” again, I’m as happy as can be, he says.
— I hope that I can squeeze down to the Swedish record as well. We’ll see how far it can go, but I’m betting on the top twelve and challenging for final places.
Joel Bengtsson ran 13.68, finished sixth in his trial heat and did not advance.