Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
A fair number of people had made their way to the Tórsbreyt track today, when FÍF staged the first half of the senior Faroese Championships. The weather was excellent: dry, with glimpses of sun and a light breeze.
Two sprint races, one middle-distance race, one long-distance race, two throwing events and the long jump were on today’s programme. In the throwing events it was business as usual. Gold went to Heri Ziska and Randi Kúrberg in both the hammer and the discus. Unfortunately, no woman took up the challenge against Randi.
These are Heri’s showpiece events, and it must now be at least 20 years since he last lost to a Faroese athlete in them. Today Heri had an evenly strong series in the discus, with all 6 throws beyond 38 metres. The winning throw crept just past 40 metres, at 40.08 m. The hammer went a little worse, as his last 4 throws failed. Heri is probably satisfied with the result all the same, as his other throw went out to 40.21 metres. And as long as the 4 comes first, there is hope ahead. Randi was also almost a foregone winner in the hammer. And although her form today was not as good as it was exactly a year ago, when she set a record with a throw beyond 40 metres, 31.53 metres was enough for gold. This year she also tried the discus and so became (for now) a double Faroese champion. In the hammer, Uni Højgaard came 2nd with 28.88 and Helgi Geyti 3rd with 24.43. In the discus, Helgi Geyti came 2nd with 26.82 and Hallgrím Hansen 3rd with 25.92.
Beforehand, the men’s long jump looked set to be a duel between Daniel D. Rein and Trygvi Laksafoss. The two did indeed finish 1st and 2nd, but there was not much suspense, as Daniel produced his winning jump of 5.92 in the very first round. Trygvi, who jumped 5.69 m earlier this summer, could not match his best today and took silver with 5.13 m.
And we also got a Faroese record today, when Mona Breckmann, the only woman in the long jump, jumped 4.56 metres in her second attempt. The old record belonged to Helga Mikkelsen, sister of Ási Mikkelsen, who holds the men’s long jump record. Helga set the women’s record in 1993.
The men’s 5 000 m had the biggest field today. The favourite, Sam Vang, went to the front from the start, but then Borgar Biskopstø came past and opened up an ever-growing gap to Sam. The race seemed almost decided when Sam suddenly revived and began closing the gap. The gap was closed, and with 600 m to go came the decisive surge from Sam, who broke away and in the end finished about 10 seconds ahead of Borgar. The battle for bronze was between Guttorm Sørensen and Meinar Ortind. They were dead level until 80 metres remained. Then Guttorm found an extra gear and ran away from Meinar.
Turnout in the 800 metres could well have been bigger for both men and women, as in both races, after withdrawals, only two participants were left. Nor did either turn into an exciting race. In the men’s race Rúni Seloy won and Júst í Túni was 2nd. In the women’s race it was Bjørk Herup Olsen who, with a good time of 2:23.09, became Faroese champion, while Rebekka Fuglø was 2nd.
The women’s 400 m was also disappointing in terms of participation. Only Rebekka Fuglø was on the start line when the gun went. Rebekka, who holds the Faroese record at this distance, ran the 400 metres in 69.02 seconds. 5 men lined up for the start of the 400 m. Rúni Seloy was the favourite, but Daniel Djurhuus gave him strong opposition all the way. It ended, however, with Rúni winning in an excellent time of 54.31 sec, Daniel 2nd with 55.38 and Hans Jacobsen 3rd with 56.80.
Mona Breckmann, who earlier in the day had set a Faroese record in the long jump, also won the 100 m final in 14.20 sec. Anna Sofía Fjallheim was 2nd in 18.17 sec.
In the men’s final the two stood shoulder to shoulder in lanes 3 and 4. The two men from Vestmanna. Friends, winners of their respective heats, and therefore favourites for the top two places. Daniel Djurhuus Rein and Rói Holgarson. Unfortunately Daniel was too quick out of the blocks, and the official had no choice but to show him the red card. Then the gun went a second time, and now Rói Holgarsson really showed what he is made of. He crossed the finish line well clear. Indeed, almost a second ahead of Rúni Seloy in second place and a good second ahead of Hans Jacobsen in third place.
The Faroese Championships continue tomorrow, Sunday, with the 100/110 m hurdles, 200 m, 1 500 m, 3 000 m steeplechase, javelin, shot put and high jump. Competition starts at 14:00 and continues until 16:00.
