Normally I say, that those who are running in front in the first hours will not be the winner. Perhaps Nunes is an exception to that rule. Lets hope so, because we know his capability of many 100K races as well as his Spartathlon performance. But still I do believe they could perform better final distances by starting slower. It’s up to them, not to me, I have a simple job to do by reporting how they are running hour after hour. Lucien Taelman from Belgium, Lubomir Hrmo from Slovakia and Paul Beckers again from Belgium are all previous European champions. They are already competing with each other on places tow to four. Edith Berces is showing Irina Reutovich that Gravigny will not be the only championship to her account. The gap between both runners isn’t much, so we will have a good competition in the women’s field as well. To mine opinion Berces is usually the smartest runner, especially in 100K races; probably she is still not an expert in 24 hours, having reached the 80K already after 6:50’.
With two Belgium runners in the front is clear that the Belgium team is doing well:
Men:
1 Belgium 255K
2 Russia 250K
3 France 248K
…
12 Netherlands 230K
(21 teams in competition)
Women:
1 Russia 230K
2 France 220K
3 Hungary/Japan 210
Lets have the figures at top of the individual race:
Men:
1. Nunes (BRA) 90K0 after 6:58’ *
2. Taelman (BEL) 87K5 after 6:54’
3. Hrmo (SVK) 85K0 after 6:49
4. Beckers (BEL) 85K0 after 6:51’
5. Kurbatov (RUS) 85K0 after 6’59’
…
10 Van Acker (BEL) 82K5 after 6:51’
23 Epskamp (NED) 80K0 after 6:50’
26 De Pooter (BEL) 80K0 after 6:58’
* Note that probably Nunes is not participating in the World championship but only in the open race. So far at least all official papers tell so, but the announcer spoke other words. Hopefully this will become clear later during the race. If we have more clarity on this matter we will report it.
Women:
1. Berces (HUN) 80K0 after 6:50’
2. Kalimina (RUS) 77K5 after 6:48’
3 Reutovich (RUS) 77K5 after 6:55’
4 Koval (RUS) 75K0 after 6:52’
Anton Smeets
e-mails can be send to ton.smeets@ou.nl