Indoor European Championships a huge step forward for Almgren

When Andreas Almgren’s coach Urban Aruhn now – a couple of weeks after the European Indoor Championships in Athletics – sums up his impressions from the championship in the Netherlands, he looks positively at Andrea’s performance, even though Andreas Almgren himself was disappointed that he missed the bronze medal by a margin of 0.18 seconds.

– “The 3,000 m final was a huge setback for Andreas,” says Urban Aruhn. “He did everything right.”

– He had 2.50 in the last 1,200 meters, which means 3.33 speed in 1,500 m.

Andreas Almgren’s one-year-old Swedish outdoor record is 3.32. To now be able to finish a 3,000 m race at the same pace on a difficult indoor track is impressive.

– Andreas is faster than last year, notes Aruhn.

Now the outdoor season awaits and it’s all about longer distances, which benefits the new Swedish running star. Almgren’s main distance is 10,000 m, and he aims to run both 5,000 m and 10,000 m at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.

Then it won’t be a question of sprinting against equally fast runners in the 10,000 m as it was to sprint against some of the world’s best 1,500 m runners in the 3,000 m final at the European Indoor Championships.

Andreas Almgren’s very interesting debut race this summer will be at the BAUHAUS gala at Stockholm Stadium on Sunday, June 15. He will run 5,000 m, a distance where he set a Swedish record last year with 12.50.94.

– I think he is five seconds better than last year, says Urban Aruhn.

– Competing in Stockholm is special for Andreas.

– If the weather is good and the tempo is right, the audience will be treated to a fantastic show.

If Andreas Almgren manages to achieve a time down towards, or perhaps below, the Swedish record, he will also meet the international qualifying limit of 13.01 in 5,000 m for this autumn’s World Championships.

Text: Anders Olsson