Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
For the first time ever, a Faroese Championships in athletics has been held in Klaksvík. And it was done in style when Treysti organised the Faroese Half Marathon Championships on Saturday. Just a few years ago, getting 160 Faroese runners to run a half marathon at the same time would have been completely unthinkable. But for this championship race Treysti managed to attract that many runners.
Treysti had gone to great lengths to please as many runners as possible. Indeed, it was like taking part in one of the big races abroad. And although the wintry May weather turned out to be an opponent, it was the many runners who came out on top. Several of them battled their way through their first ever half marathon.
The mayor, Gunnvá við Keldu, started the race after a few well-chosen words. And it was as if she had shot Borgar Biskopstø in the backside, because he burst away ahead of the others out along Klaksvíksvegurin. Marnar kept close to him, though, and a little later the two were running together. A little further back were Henry Olsen and Hallur Holm, who gradually closed in on the leaders. After the first of the three 7 km laps, Henry and Hallur had caught up with Marnar, while Borgar had now dropped back a little. These three leaders ran together all the way to 16 km, when Marnar picked up the pace up Kelduskák. Hallur hung on, while Henry had to let go. Hallur stayed with Marnar until just under 20 km, when he too had to let go. Marnar Djurhuus crossed the line in 1:20:17, while Hallur Holm finished 2nd in 1:20:35. Henry Olsen took bronze in 1:21:22.
In the women’s race there was a familiar face who in recent years has run almost nothing but marathons. This was Rigmor N. Arge from Hvirlan, who was also considered one of the favourites. And it was she who led from start to finish. Rebekka Fuglø stayed close to her for the first part, but it was not her day, and she gradually dropped back through the field. Durita á Lofti looked for a while as if she might close in on the leader, but when all was said and done, Rigmor won comfortably in 1:35:59 while Durita finished 2nd in 1:38:07 . Ann Thomsen from Bragdið finished 3rd. Her time was 1:41:01.
In the men’s veterans’ category it was Henry who won this time. Borgar was second in 1:23:11. In third place came a familiar face, Regin Zachariassen, in 1:28:17. In the women’s veterans’ category Ann Thomsen won. Behind her came Morid Jacobsen in 1:51:23 and Vera Larsen in 1:53:25.
In the super-veterans’ category Jens R. Weihe was the winner in 1:32:07. Óli Olsen was second in 1:34:15. Third, in 1:38:32, was Heðin Jóhannessen. Heðin is also the man who measured the route so that it is DAF-approved.
After the race, medals were presented. In addition to the Faroese Championships medals in the usual age groups, there were also medals for the top three in age categories in 5-year intervals.
The bib number also gave free entry to the swimming pool, and many took the opportunity to visit the pools, sauna, health spa and showers there at the end of the day.
All the results can be found on Treysti’s website via the link here, where there are also links to photos.
