Andreas Almgren has shown brilliant form throughout the year, and before tonight’s EC race had broken the Swedish record no less than six times.
One of the records was broken precisely at 10,000 meters, where the record time in March was a fine 26.52.87.
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Started in the middle
This meant that he had the best year’s best of the starting field in tonight’s European Championship final, and thus got to wear the favourites.
And for a long time it looked like he would live up to expectations. Almgren started the races in the middle of the field, but gradually advanced, without going to the very top and wasting energy on pulling the lead.
Be in the lead
But with three laps to go, the Swede snuck up to third place, and shortly afterwards he was also second.
When the race entered the last lap, he also advanced past the British Patrick Dever.
“Not a good effort”
But in the race, Almgren was overtaken by both the Swiss Dominic Lonyomo Lobalu, the Frenchman Yann Schrub and the Spaniard Thierry Ndikunmwenayo – and Almgren finished fourth.
– It’s too bad. It’s not a good effort, says an obviously disappointed Almgren.
– I felt that I was strong with 300 left, and then I go over. But then it just stops. Now I have a couple of weeks to improve it for the Olympics, because this won’t last.
Lobalu’s winning time was 28:00.32. Almgren finished two tenths behind the Spaniard. Almgren’s time was 28.01.16 – i.e. over a minute from his Swedish record time.