Sweden's top long-distance runner, who won the Women's Mile a month ago and previously ran the marathon in the Olympic Games and came fourth in the Stockholm Marathon, got a tough start in the three-mile cross-country race outside Stockholm.
It was extremely tough, it didn't feel like I was having a good day. I think I opened too hard. The first mile had me feeling down, it was very mentally demanding, says Carolina Wikström to TV4.
I almost gave up a little, but thought I had to get around. I never thought it would go this well.
Record Fast
Sylvia Medugu Kiberenge, who has won the Lidingöloppet six times, opened even harder than Wikström and was a minute ahead halfway into the race. But then the Kenyan began to lose pace and Wikström caught up, and with 2.6 kilometers left, the Uppsala runner took the lead.
Wikström continued to pull away and could win the race in record time – 1.51.36. Kiberenge, who had the previous record time from 2019, was 56 seconds behind at the finish.
Now I'll take a season break, says the 31-year-old Wikström, whose next big goal is to qualify for the World Championship marathon in Tokyo next year.
Got a Gap
Sweden's best marathon runner on the men's side this year, Ebba Tulu Chala, won the men's class with a three-second margin to Burundian Oscar Niyonzima. Linus Rosdahl came third, 22 seconds behind the winner.
Chala and Niyonzima were in the leading group the entire race, and in the end, it looked like it could become a sprint finish when the two were left alone in the lead. But Chala pulled away with 600 meters left and got a gap that Niyonzima couldn't close.
It feels good, says Chala after the win.
