Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
It was with great excitement that we headed out to Østerbro Stadion on Saturday, because this was a historic day for the Faroe Islands in athletics. We had one representative running for the Faroe Islands in the race for the Nordic 10,000 metres title, and many Faroese had come to cheer. Several Faroese runners were in Copenhagen to run, and it showed around the track, which was decorated with many Faroese flags and Bragdið flags.
Lots of fast runners, good running conditions and a good setting. Everything was in place for a good race and a good result. And the race was indeed run fast and well. So fast, in fact, that after only the first lap Bjørk and two Estonian women had to let the leaders go. Bjørk ran the first kilometre in 3:33 min, and although that sounds fast to most Faroese male runners, it was not enough to keep up. The time at 2,000 metres was 7:10 min, and Bjørk was still running with the two Estonians a good way behind the leaders, who ran flat out from start to finish.
From the very first step the accelerator was floored. Bjørk is in the middle, in a white top and black shorts. (photo: Kim Gudman)
It soon became clear that Bjørk “didn’t have the legs” that day. Her lap times began to slow, and she also lost the Estonians, so that she ended up running alone. It was a long way to the finish, and most of the distance was mainly about survival. The fast early pace had forced one Estonian and one Finn to drop out halfway, but Bjørk, who was the youngest of them all, battled on and on to hold her pace reasonably well. Her final time was nonetheless just over 38 min, whereas a little under a month ago she set a new Faroese record of 36:58 min. The results were as follows:
| Challenge |
| 2012 May 19th |
 |
| Copenhagen – Denmark |
| WOMEN – 10000 M | SATURDAY 17.45 |
| No | Result | Name | Country | ||||
| 1 | 34.28.50 | Louise Wiker -79 | Sweden | ||||
| 2 | 34.32.66 | Elina Lindgren -83 | Finland | ||||
| 3 | 34.44.80 | Hilde Aasheim -84 | Norway | ||||
| 4 | 34.46.64 | Hanne Sande | Norway | ||||
| 5 | 35.16.09 | Cecilia Kleist -82 | Sweden | ||||
| 6 | 35.26.38 | Andrea Deelstra -85 | Netherlands | ||||
| 7 | 35.28.40 | Evelin Talts -77 | Estonia | ||||
| 8 | 35.42.14 | Anna Holm Baumeister -87 | Denmark | ||||
| 9 | 35.43.81 | Mira Tuominen -81 | Finland | ||||
| 10 | 37.04.13 | Egle Mätas -83 | Estonia | ||||
| 11 | 38.07.64 | Bjørk Herup Olsen -91 | Faroe Islands | ||||
| DNF | Liina Luik -85 | Estonia | |||||
| DNF | Nina Chydenius -90 | Finland | |||||
| DNS | Leila Luik -85 | Estonia | |||||
But none of this could take the joy away from FÍF’s chair, who proudly saw with his own eyes a Faroese athlete compete under the Faroese flag. Bjørk herself was a little disappointed not to live up to her own goals, but there is no doubt that she will put this behind her and come back much stronger. And hopefully we will soon have more athletes who can compete at such a high level that there will be competition for places.
Under the new agreement with the other Nordic countries, Faroese athletes are invited not only to the Nordic 10,000 m Championships but also to the U23 championships, the Nordic Cross-Country Championships and masters competitions. A new, small world has opened up for the Faroese, one that can give us many exciting new challenges.
Bjørk Herup Olsen became the first Faroese athlete on international duty for FÍF. (photo: Kim Gudman)
