Raitanen improved his record from two years ago by one hundredth.
Topi Raitanen started his season strongly. PASI LEISMA
Top Raitanen ran his new personal best in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Raitanen, who won the European championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in Munich last year, started his season with a slow start in the 1,500-meter final, placing seventh, but his time of 3:38.47 is a new own record. The previous number one listing two years ago improved by one hundredth.
– It was good to start the season with a record. The opening race is always one where you don’t know how the run will go, even though the training has gone well, Raitanen repeated in the press release.
Belgium ran to victory Jochem Vermeulen with a time of 3:35.80.
– I was passive when the hare was ordered so fast. I thought I’d be on the tail and pick up the pace on the last lap. Then the pace at the top dropped a bit, and at the end I was able to run the second and third laps to get past the gang. I was a little too behind at that point, but it’s always good to run a record, Raitanen summed up his performance.
Raitanen’s season continues at the beginning of June in Bergen with the 3,000-meter hurdles.
– Time doesn’t matter there. I’m looking for an uphill run and a good last ton. That race prepares for the steeplechase of the Paris Diamond League and the Paavo Nurme Games in Turku, where I will then seek my new record, Raitanen said.