In the first heat of the women’s 1,500 meters, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay posted the fastest heat time in Olympic history in 3:58.84.
SpongeBob Forsberg,
Laura Arffman
Sara Lappalainen ran 12th in his 1,500 meter heat with a time of 4:08.66. The best six got a direct continuation place, Lappalainen got a place in the collector’s league.
Lappalainen quickly set off and took a place on the inner track in the middle stages of the main group. On the back straight of the last lap Gudaf Tsegayn the leading group ran away from the Finnish runner.
The result was a disappointment for the Finns who were aiming for a direct place in the final. Lappalainen’s best time this season was 4:05.81, run on June 16 in Sweden.
– It’s a bit of a shame, because I’m in really good shape, but because the health situation is bad, it’s like that sometimes. I didn’t really have the strength for anything, Lappalainen said.
In the last three years, he has suffered from health problems and had to take long breaks from competitions.
Do you want to tell more about the health situation and finishing?
– Not really. It has been bothering me for these three years. It’s one craft all the time with this one. Really annoying.
Three years ago, at the Tokyo Olympics, Lappalainen reached the semi-finals in both the 1,500 and 800 meters. In Tokyo, he ran the still valid Finnish records of 4:02.35 and 1:59.41 for both distances.
The cycle of problems began in the spring of 2022, when Lappalainen suffered for a long time from feeling weak and from stomach pain. At that time, an intestinal parasite called Dientamoeba fragilis turned out to be the cause of the problems.
When he returned last summer from an almost year-long break from competition, Lappalainen listed his problems.
– My health has been really bad. I can’t list here now, but the list is long. I’ve had really bad problems with my stomach. That is the biggest problem at the moment, Lappalainen said at the time.
Before the first round, Lappalainen hoped for a slow start and a fast-paced finish. We saw just such a race.
– It would have been like a run made for me. In the beginning it was calmer and then we left, but the strength was gone. I couldn’t take it at all. It’s a shame, Lappalainen muttered.
The collection batches will be run already tomorrow. Lappalainen said that he didn’t start slacking off for them when the semifinal spot escaped in the last round.
– Today, the legs just didn’t move anywhere. Let’s continue there. Let’s hope you feel better.
In the first heat, Ethiopia Gudaf Tsegay pinkoi set the fastest heat time in Olympic history in 3:58.84.