The European steeplechase champion finished in 11/12 place in the preliminary heat of the World Cup with a modest time of 8:30.69.
– It was uniformly thick, unfortunately. Last weekend the feeling was better and more normal and was a greedier step. At the end of Saturday, when I had to start running harder, there were no laps left on the machine.
Such a bundle Top Raitanen his performance in the qualifying round 1/3 of the 3,000-meter steeplechase of the World Championships in Budapest.
The Finn was second to last in the group of twelve runners with a modest time of 8:30.69.
– Of course it hurts. It was believed that running is more normal and better. Today it didn’t work.
The script of the run was difficult for the talented Raitase, because the two-kilometer Intermediate time was a leisurely 5.43 for the World Championship level.
– It’s going pretty well, but when I should be going 2.40 kilometers, I can’t find a change of rhythm. I’ve had more than half of those runs in my career: an accelerating 2.40–2.39 failure ton and a final time of 8.20. That’s how I’ve always run it.
The best five of the heat advanced to the final. A time of 8:20,54 would have been enough to continue. It should be completely doable for Raitase in normal condition.
On the other hand, the statistics didn’t promise anything for Raitase. He was 11/12 in the comparison of best times this season (8:22.0) and 7/12 in record times (8:16.57).
– I expected that my final time would have been at least five seconds better. Although in 2019 my record for the ton vitos was 3.40 and then I ran hurdles 8.21–8.22 several times. When the body is not quite in balance, the hurdles is a much more violent sport than the ton vitonone.
A week ago, the Finn rushed 1,500 meters in 3:40.
In Montu
Topi Raitanen’s World Cup start in Hungary turned into a pancake. Santtu Silvennoinen
In May-June, Raitanen drifted into overexertion mode. He has not risen to his own level.
– When everything is in order, going during the race is much more greedy. The obstacles come better and the running position is not so upright – now it lacks aggressiveness.
The European champion was driven by the Ingebrigtsen training method, a tight competition calendar and the strain of travel.
Humpa’s plot could be reduced to the fact that the man did not recover sufficiently.
– I’m proud that we dared to take risks, and didn’t always train under the conditions of the August championships. Now the tuition fees are paid and the mistakes made are analyzed. I believe that the same training method will continue, but let’s do it better than now. After Paavo Nurme’s race this year, you should have been able to react.
Special equipment
Raita is not interested in study or tourist trips.
Did it make sense to go to Budapest?
– Of course it made sense to go here. Here we compete for world championships.
The runner stated that he cannot say whether he will compete again this season. He should be involved in the match against Sweden in two weeks, because usually he has only been allowed to miss a national match due to health problems.
What was noteworthy about Raitanen’s performance on Saturday was that he was the only runner in his batch who used a one-piece running textile, i.e. a so-called bodysuit. The other men ran in shorts and a technical shirt.
The Finn was also in a hurry at the Tokyo Olympic Games and last season’s European Championships with a similar outfit.
– This has sometimes started from a youth match against Sweden. It looks as stupid and funny as possible, so it’s good to put it on. This outfit is for speed sports, it’s so nice when someone wears it on endurance races, Raitanen reasoned.