Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
When the World Half Marathon Championships were held in Copenhagen on 29 March this year, we got new records for both men and women. Only 19 years old, Marnar Djurhuus broke the second-oldest Faroese record, which had stood since 1987. With a time of 1:08:52 he took almost a whole minute off Absalon Hansen’s record, which by now had almost rusted into the record list after standing there for 27 years. On top of that, Marnar was a clear winner of the 15–19 age group, and also finished ahead of several runners who were taking part in the World Championships race itself, representing their countries.
Valborg also ran quite incredibly well in Copenhagen and cut more than three minutes off the Faroese record, which she herself had set in spring 2013. She too beat several World Championships runners and finished in an incredible fourth place in the 20–29 age group.
Valborg ran fast at the Island Games, but must run a whole minute faster at the Nordic Championships
These results are so strong that they show both of them can run the Nordic 10,000 m Championships, the so-called Nordic Challenge, and get through the race with credit, despite extremely tough opposition. In addition, both of them have a chance to set new Faroese records over 10,000 metres, which are currently held by Guttorm Sørensen and Bjørk Herup Olsen.
Before Valborg and Marnar were finally selected, however, they had to prove their worth. Prove that the run in Copenhagen was not just a one-hit wonder. And both of them have proved that it was no fluke. On Flag Day, Marnar won comfortably as usual, but this time he broke the course record by half a minute! That record had been set by Bogi Lenvig in 2005. Valborg has run both the Danish 10,000 m Championships and the Danish Half Marathon Championships. The 10,000 metres did not go so well for her. This was because she had stomach pains both in the days before and on the day of the race itself, and there was also a lot of wind on the track that day. On the other hand, things went much better last Saturday, when she finished sixth at the Danish Half Marathon Championships! Bearing in mind the hills and the wind, this run may possibly have been even stronger than the run in Copenhagen. Her time at the Danish Championships in Middelfart was 1:21:32!
Marnar as we know him. In Oslo the opposition will be considerably tougher than he is used to here at home
These strong results have led to selection for the Nordic Championships, which will be held at the traditional Bislet Stadium. As most people know, Bislet Stadium also hosts an annual Golden League meet, and many world records have been set there over precisely 10,000 metres. So hopefully we can also get one or even two Faroese records this Thursday evening, 22 May.
FÍF congratulates Valborg and Marnar on their selection and wishes them good luck in the races.
The last time Marnar and Valborg ran the 10,000 m on the same evening was in Bermuda. That went beyond all expectations. Hopefully it will go at least as well in Oslo!
