Ready for the World Cup final and the Olympics after a Norwegian record – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule

– This is a historic day, says head of sport in the Norwegian Athletics Association, Erlend Slokvik, to NRK.

On the night of Sunday Norwegian time, he got to see Josefine Tomine Eriksen, Amalie Iuel, Lakeri Ertzgaard and Henriette Jæger deliver the goods during the relay WC in the Bahamas.

With a time of 3:26.89, Norway was second in the fourth heat, only beaten by the USA. And thus ready for both the final in the relay WC on Monday night and the Olympics in Paris this summer.

The race in the Bahamas is an improvement on the previous Norwegian record of almost two seconds from 3.28.58 set in 2022.

In an exciting heat, Belgium chased after Norway through several stages, but on the run Jæger held off and had her teammates around her neck immediately after the finish line.

– What happened now??, writes Jæger on Instagram a little while after the finish line.

“Newcomer” impressed: – Maybe his best race ever

The sporting director is very satisfied with the Norwegian effort.

– The whole team is running towards their best, and perhaps especially Josefine, who is not so well known to people back home in Norway. She did a very good first stage, and we put her first to get out well, says Slokvik.

Eriksen delivered a strong first leg of 51.77 and sent Norway out in second place. Belgium got past initially on the second leg, but a good finish from Amalie Iuel (52.37) meant that Norway retained second place.

They also held it all the way in, after good stages by Ertzgaard (52.81) and Jæger (49.94).

Jæger was one of only two women who had a leg time of under 50 seconds in the women’s relay attempt, together with Irish Rhasidat Adeleke (49.48).

It should be noted that several of the absolute top runners ran a mixed relay on the night of Sunday, such as Femke Bol, Lieke Klaver and Marileidy Paulino.

Eriksen, on the other hand, was one of only two with a stage time on the first stage of under 52 seconds, beaten only by American Quanera Hayes.

– She has made great progress. She has set times in the 100, 200 and 400 meters this spring. She has shown very good development in the last two years. She has really lifted herself and ran perhaps her best race ever on the first leg, says Slokvik about Eriksen.

NRK’s ​​athletics expert, Vebjørn Rodal, is also impressed.

– I have noticed that Josefine has had a nice spring season in the USA. It is funny that Norway has a team with four women who average under 52 seconds. Impressive ending of Henriette. Under 50 seconds and approaching international top level, even with “flying start”writes Rodal in an SMS.

First time in 100 years

The two best nations from each heat advanced to the WC final on Sunday, in addition to Norway now being among the 16 nations qualified for the women’s 4×400 meter Olympic relay.

Norwegian athletics has never previously had a 4×400 meter team in the Olympics and never before a women’s team in a team exercise.

The four previous team events Norwegian athletics have taken part in in the context of the Olympics are: 4×100 meters for men in 1912 and 1920, as well as cross-country team running in 1912 and 3000 meter team running in 1924.

All eight nations in the WC final are qualified for the Olympics. In addition, the two best in three collection heats on the night of Monday will secure a place, while the last two places will be awarded by ranking.

In addition to the four who ran in the trial, Elisabeth Slettum and Linn Oppegaard are also present in the Bahamas as reserves. Sports manager Slokvik praises the effort they have put in to support the teammates and opens up for changes in the WC final itself.

– We have six women here, so whether it will be the same four who run tomorrow, that has not been decided either. We have actually reached our goal already, so we will sum up tomorrow morning which team we will field, says Slokvik, and summarizes:

– To be number five in the attempt and set a Norwegian record, it has been a great day anyway.

PS! So far, none of the Norwegian women participating in the Bahamas have completed individual Olympic requirements, but Jæger is as good as clear through ranking in the 400 metres. Iuel was only four hundredths behind the Olympic requirement in the 400 meter hurdles in the season opener in Kenya in April.

In addition, Line Kloster has completed the Olympic requirement in the 400 meter hurdles. She was not part of the team in the Bahamas, but was part of the team that held the previous Norwegian record for 4×400 metres.