by Larry EderI waited a day to write on this one, the women’s 1,500m.
I was watching a replay on the women’s 1,500 meters from Torun, and one BBC announcer called the women’s 1,500m a “bumpy” race.
How appropriate!
The women’s 1,500m was the most physical race on the weekend, and also the most frustrating.
The 1,500m gets serious, as Elise Vanderelst begins to move, Holly Archer looks to leave a box, and Hanna Klein has not begun to fight, photo via EB by Larry Eder.
The pace was the slowest in years. That means an insane finish in a championship, and this event did not let us down.
Two laps in, the tightly bunched field hit 75 seconds! I said out loud, ” time to pick it up”. But the Spanish athletes, with Elise Vanderelst, the fastest athlete infield, just behind the leaders.
The Euro Women’s 1,500m: one must stay on your feet….photo via EB by Larry Eder
The women hit the 800m in just about 2:30.33! The bumping and pushing continued, but this was in the field of athletes who just do not seem to have had any experience in a physical championship event like this 1,500m.
The Euro Women’s 1,500m: Time to move! photo via EB by Larry Eder
The 1000m was hit in 3:04.5 (about 31 minutes 10k pace).
Holly Archer had been boxed in, and several times, she attempted to get out, and just could not. The jostling was so intense that BBC’s Steve Cram wondered out loud just who would be DQed in the event.
The bumping, pushing, almost falling takes its toll. In this type of event, the athletes must keep their composure and constantly tell themselves to stay on task. Who would have the cool and kick to take silver and bronze?
Elise Vanderelst was able to move with 200m to go and just got away, winning in 4:18.44! The Belgian used her well-honed kick to take advantage and charge to the finish line. Elise kept her cool, held on to the leaders, and moved into the gold medal position!
Elise Vanderelst wins 1500m.
2021 European Athletics Indoor Champs, @torun2021, photo by @EuroAthletics, @stuartweir, @BritAthletics
, #scottishathletics, @caltrackrn, #LarryEder
, #RunningNetwork, #theshoeaddicts pic.twitter.com/iTNFdnJJI0— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) March 6, 2021
The impressive one was Holly Archer. The diminutive Brit just kept looking for an opening, reminding this writer of Steve Ovett, as she did not seem concerned about using an elbow. Holly kept it together and sprinted for home, taking the silver.
Hanna Klein, found somewhere to open up and took the bronze. Hanna noted post-event that she was quite concerned about being DQed due to the physical nature in the championships 1,500m.
Hanna Klein currently second after DQ of Holly Archer – GB appealing.
2021 European Athletics Indoor Champs, @torun2021, photo by @EuroAthletics, @stuartweir, @BritAthletics
, #scottishathletics, @caltrackrn, #LarryEder
, #RunningNetwork, #theshoeaddicts pic.twitter.com/qKdns6zrzx— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) March 6, 2021
Then, Holly Archer was DQed and waited 3 hours to be reinstated, taking the silver that she deserved. That must have been hell. The truth is this, the DQs should not happen.
Holly Archer takes the silver at the 1,500m, photo by European Athletics
When one puts 8 plus athletes onto a 200-meter track, keeps the pace slow, and then they all move at the same time, it is roller derby in slow motion. People are going to get bumped, and unless it is absolutely obvious, the DQs should be at a minimum.
Holly Archer and the biggest piece o Gingerbread that I have ever seen, photo by European Athletics
And yes, kind reader, one might ask here, “Well, Larry, what were you frustrated about?” Well, kind reader, I will tell you.
I loved this race, physical, close, and yes, bumpy. It is the atypical race like this one that the athletes who competed will learn the big lessons, like resilience, and when 4-6 years from now, they are in that championship race that makes a career, they can go back to this lesson, and seek an opening and kick cleanly for home.
