It did take some time to recharge after the Olympic Games in Paris. But then the record hunt began again.
It has actually worked better than I thought. I've been very tired, of course, but the form is really there, says Julia Henriksson after another near-record miss.
Malmö sprinter touched Linda Haglund's 45-year-old 200-meter record already at the European Championship in June and finally broke it in the trials on the Olympic tracks in Paris.
Moreover, she improved it again to 22.69 at the team Swedish Championship last weekend.
Haglund's record on half the distance has, however, proven to be a bit tougher to crack. Her 11.16 has stood since 1980, and it has been close several times.
But it has been a bit of a hurdle so far for Julia Henriksson.
Narrow Miss
The 24-year-old ran in the spring at 11.19 and was a few days later also the first Swedish under 11 seconds (10.95) – but in too strong wind. Even at the Swedish Championship at the end of June, she was under the record in too strong wind.
At Ryavallen in Borås on Wednesday evening, there was a new narrow miss.
Henriksson finished in 11.21 – just five hundredths from the record.
I know I have it in me and that I can take it, she says.
At the same time, it's my second-best race so far. So even if I want more, I can't be dissatisfied.
Dream Mile and Record
However, there was a Swedish record at Ryavallen anyway.
Samuel Pihlström ran 1,500 meters at the Olympic Games in Paris. In Borås, it was the slightly less common distance of 1 mile (1,609 meters) that applied.
When the last lap began, it looked like it would be tough. But Samuel Pihlström pulled off an impressive sprint lap and finished in 3.52,50 – just over a second under Kalle Berglund's previous record from 2019.
I've had some trouble, a bit of illness and been a bit tired after the Olympic Games. So I think it's still very good, says Pihlström.
Another who showed fine form despite the unloading after the Olympic Games recently was Carl Bengtström on 400 meters hurdles.
The Swede, who set a Swedish record (47.94) at the European Championship earlier this year, delivered his career's second-fastest race when he finished in 48.42.
It's a long season, so being able to maintain the level all the way is important. So it feels very good, he says.
It's a lot mentally, tough to recharge all the time. But I go in and do my best, and it's enough. And I'm under the World Championship qualification limit for next year, so I don't have to think about that.
