Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
On Saturday afternoon Bragdið, together with FÍF, organised the Faroese Championships over the half marathon distance. As usual, the race was run on the route between Cafe Natúr and the helipad at Yviri við Strond – 5 times out and back in all.
The weather forecasters had threatened plenty of wind and showers. Fortunately the clouds emptied just before the race, and perhaps the wind was not as strong as promised. Unfortunately, though, the wind was strong enough to make it doubtful whether the really good times were possible. A pity, as this was the last chance for the distance runners to qualify for the Island Games in Åland this summer, and the men had talked about helping each other to reach the target. The qualifying time is 1:14:28 for the men and 1:28:09 for the women.
But it soon became clear that the pace was not high enough. Sam Vang ran into trouble early on, and Andrias Hansen has still not fully recovered from the Paris Marathon four weeks ago. But he tried to hang on with Guttorm Sørensen and Gudmundur Joensen. After 10 km Andrias dropped a few metres behind, and the duel between Guttorm and Gudmundur began. They were still together as they started the last 4 kilometres, but on reaching Eik, Guttorm picked up the pace and pulled away from Gudmundur, who was unable to respond. Guttorm ran the last 3 kilometres alone and crossed the finish line in 1:17:08. Shortly behind came Gudmundur in 1:17:34. A little further back came Andrias in 1:17:46. Sam Vang finished 5th in 1:19:38.
In the absence of our strong female runners, it was clear that Árna Helmsdal had a chance to regain the Faroese title she won last year. And it was indeed she who led alone during the first half of the race. But then a spanner was thrown into the works for Árna. First Borgny Mohr Nielsen caught up and ran with her for a while before breaking away, and later Ann Thomsen also caught up and passed her. So it was Borgny Mohr Nielsen who became the women’s Faroese half marathon champion. Borgny finished 3rd in the Flag Day Run, but is otherwise a new name in women’s running. Ann Thomsen took silver, and Árna Helmsdal took bronze. Ingrid Patursson, as the only participant, won gold in the women’s veterans’ category.
The men’s veterans’ race was won by Borgar Biskopstø, even though he struggled with hip pain more or less the whole way. A resurgent Hjalti Gunnarstein was in 2nd place until 8 km, but then had to drop out due to injury. Instead it was Jógvan Thomsen who ran off with the silver, while Pól Sundskarð finished 3rd.
The super veterans’ race became an exciting showdown between the seasoned 60-year-old Óli Olsen and Treysti’s new shooting star, 56-year-old Heðin Jóhannessen. The two ran together practically the whole way, but in the end it was Heðin’s younger legs that were quicker than Óli’s. 3rd place went to Regin Jóannesarson from Treysti.
No fewer than 45 participants stood on the start line this Saturday, and without overstating it, I believe this is the most ever for this Faroese Championship race. Bragdið and Trygd offered a bite of bread and cake along with a cup of coffee afterwards. A good initiative, as it is very pleasant and important that runners can also get together after a race.
All the results are here.
Below are photos by Fríðrikur Bláhamar.
no images were found
