Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
As is tradition, the Norðoyastevna Run got under way at 11:00. The adults ran 5 km, and in the men’s race there was excitement in the air, as the leading runner of recent times was not taking part. There was plenty of guessing about who might be the favourite. Guttorm Sørensen looked fired up and set on something golden, while Rúni Seloy, with his great speed, was perhaps the biggest favourite, given that the winning time was not expected to go under 17 min. Borgar was also a certainty at the front, as was young Einar Gregersen, who just keeps getting better and better.
When they passed the finish line the first time after about 1400 metres, and the second time at about 3200 metres, it was these four, with Eirikur Hansen lurking at the back. So out onto the last lap with 5 men together, nothing was decided. But when they came out past Eik with 200 metres to the finish, it was with Eirikur in front. He had some 5 metres on Gutti and Borgar, and then there were a few metres back to Einar. Rúni had completely lost touch and was right out of it. It was hard fought over the final metres. Gutti and Borgar pushed on, but Eirikur would not ease off, so the gap in this long sprint stayed the same all the way. Eirikur therefore, somewhat unexpectedly, crossed the line first by 2 seconds and won the Norðoyastevna 2012. Gutti managed to hold Borgar off by one second, while Einar was 5 seconds behind Borgar.
Eirikur became Faroese champion in the marathon in fine style in 2010, but has not done much training since then. But it is good to see Eirikur back at full throttle! Here he raises his arms in the air as he wins the Norðoyastevna.
With Bjørk Herup Olsen home for her summer holiday in the Faroe Islands, there was little suspense about who would win the women’s race. She lived up to expectations, too, and let only the five leading men finish ahead of her. She was only some 50 seconds behind the best men. Rebekka Fuglø also ran almost to her very best, and was just a few seconds short of going under 20 min. Ella Áarstein finished 3rd, and at the same time won the women’s veterans’ category. Here Ruth Johannesen was 2nd and Susan Jacobsen 3rd. This time there was also a women’s super-veterans’ category, and it was won by Gunnvør Sigurðsson, one second ahead of Heidi Hvidbro.
Bjørk Herup Olsen crossing the finish line here, a minute and a half clear at the front
There was little suspense in the men’s veterans’ races. Here Borgar Biskopstøð won a clear victory. And Heini Gregersen was also a good way ahead of Jóhan M. Jacobsen. Our fantastic super-veteran Jens R. Weihe, who of course recently won his age group in the Copenhagen Marathon, is in good shape and ran one of his best-ever 5 km times, 20:11 min. Jóannes Ortind was 2nd and Magnus Henriksen 3rd.
Afterwards came the children’s race, with around 50 children taking part. Several members of the talent group showed good form. Among the boys, it was especially Teitur Bjarnastein and Gunnar Sivertsen who ran well, but we also saw two new faces, Paula Høj and Ragnar Weihe, who quite clearly have a great deal of talent.
Katarina Høj also ran very well, while the two Treysti girls Oddvør Josephsen and Maria Biskopstø keep on improving, and by the looks of it, it will not be long before they really take on the older ones. Not just the older girls, but the grown women too.
Read more about the Norðoyastevna and see the results here: http://www.treysti.fo/news-100+rennarar+vid+i+foroya+bjor+renningini.htm.
There are also many photos from the Norðoyastevna Run in Treysti’s photo gallery.
Gunnar Sivertsen won a comfortable victory. He has improved a great deal over the past year.
