Andreas Almgren, the Swedish long-distance runner, made a promising return to competition at the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey, following a summer marred by injury. His fifth-place finish in the 7,834-meter race marked a significant step forward after a stress reaction in his shin forced him to withdraw from the Paris Olympics. Despite the setback, Almgren’s performance in Antalya, achieved without specific peaking for the event, indicates a strong foundation for the upcoming season. He finished just three seconds shy of a bronze medal, trailing the dominant Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, who secured gold with an eight-second lead over Italian Yemaneberhan Crippa.
Almgren’s summer woes began after the European Athletics Championships in Rome earlier in June. Despite a successful start to the year, he failed to medal in the 10,000-meter race. The subsequent stress reaction in his shin derailed his Olympic aspirations, forcing him to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the Paris games. While he traveled to Paris, the reality of his injury prevented him from competing. The Antalya race served as a crucial test of his recovery and a marker of his current form.
The race itself saw Almgren maintain contact with the lead group for a considerable portion. However, when Ingebrigtsen and Crippa injected a surge of pace in the final kilometers, Almgren struggled to match their speed, experiencing a buildup of lactic acid. Despite this, he persevered to finish a respectable fifth, demonstrating his resilience and competitive spirit. His time, while outside the medals, was encouraging given the lack of specific preparation for the cross-country event.
Almgren expressed satisfaction with his performance, recognizing it as a positive stepping stone towards his future goals. He highlighted the significant improvement in his fitness compared to the same time the previous year, emphasizing the solid base he has established. He described the European Cross Country Championships as a “good guest appearance,” underscoring his primary focus on track and road racing.
Looking ahead, Almgren’s immediate focus is the 10-kilometer road race in Valencia in approximately one month. He also aims to compete in the 3,000-meter event at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, in early March. These races will serve as crucial preparation for his ultimate objective: the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
Almgren clearly identified the World Championships as his primary target for the upcoming season. He emphasized that all his training and competition efforts are geared towards optimizing his performance in Tokyo. The Antalya race, while not his main focus, provided valuable insights into his current condition and confirmed his positive trajectory. His resilience in overcoming the setback of the shin injury and his determination to succeed in Tokyo underscore his commitment to achieving success on the global stage. The combination of a strong base, a carefully planned racing schedule, and a clear focus on the World Championships positions Almgren well for a successful year.
