Iuel ran to 6th in heat three in 54.81. Thus, the 28-year-old had to watch the final from the stands. Iuel had to run 53.72 to advance in time.
In qualifying he held on with 54.70.
– I’m satisfied that I was able to finish two relatively good races in a short amount of time, and I’m satisfied that I ran steadily in the 54th minute. I’ve done it a few times this season, and I’m close to my press. When you run so steadily over time, it’s only a matter of time before you take a short break in that time.
That’s what makes him happy. Then came what he was not so happy about.
– What I am not satisfied with is the ninth hurdle. I felt that for the first time in my life I could reach 15 steps to the ninth hurdle, but it didn’t last long. I had to take a cheat step, and then I think I lost a bit of speed. It tripped, and I had to stop for a bit.
Slightly up
– It is 1.09 seconds to the last place.
– A lot, but if you take it step by step, it’s possible, said Iuel of the challenge.
– There are six Europeans ahead of you in the results list. What does that mean in terms of EC?
– It is said that there will be a battle in EC for the final ticket. One could not imagine that one could easily take one of those places. It is not certain at all, and it must be fought for. You have to be “all in” in the semifinals to get there. His level has improved since the European Championships in Berlin in 2018 and the European Championships in Amsterdam in 2016.
Amalie Iuel will run the 4 x 400 meter relay later in the championship.
World record?
American Sydney McLaughlin smashed the rest of the field and ran at 52.17. Gianna Woodruff of Panama took second last place in the heat.
– There are definitely women who are fit, and the pace is very fast, so I believe in world records, said Iuel about the competitors.
Iuel was eliminated in the semi-finals during the Olympics in Tokyo last summer. At the previous WC in Qatar in 2019, he was also eliminated in the semifinals after 55.03.
The final takes place on Saturday night at 04.50 Norwegian time.
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