Iuel set a personal record of 54.70 in the heat test of the 400 meter hurdles on Wednesday night. In the semifinals on Thursday night, he couldn’t follow.

A time of 54.81 was just enough for sixth place in heat. It was still the best time of the three.

– It’s fun to run. It’s always great to be in the semifinals. But the running was a bit tough today, Iuel told NRK.

Step problem

During the eighth hurdle, he had hoped to advance from 15 strides to nine hurdles, but he had to change his plans and use 16 strides.

– Then stopped a little, he admitted.

Nevertheless, he was satisfied with the World Cup effort in his main training.

– I think it’s a good championship. I tried to replicate yesterday’s race by finishing a bit stronger, but I was a bit behind. But it goes well. Reaching the final will be difficult, the level is higher this year, so it won’t last long, says Amalie Iuel, who now predicts a world record in the final.

– In a class of its own

That’s not a surprising prediction. World record holder Sydney McLaughlin nearly ran to a stunning time of 52.17 in the semifinals. In other words, he beat Amalie Iuel by more than two and a half seconds.

– It looks so easy when he does it, and it seems so easy for him today. He might be in a class alone with a few other people there, then we all have to fight and fight for another place, said Iuel.

The world record of 51.41 was set by McLaughlin in the WC arena in Eugene less than a month ago, on June 25.

Must train exchange

So, Amalie Iuel’s WC isn’t over yet. He also had a key role on the Norwegian team in the 4×400 meter relay.

– Now I have a few days to land a little bit, and then there will be a relay, and it’s very exciting. This is a group of beautiful girls. We will practice several rotations in the next few days, he said.

Here are the semifinals: