Sad to lose with so few hundredths. But I'm very pleased with where I am now, says Almgren to SVT after the race.
Almgren stepped up the pace and led for a long time, but on the final stretch the Frenchman Jimmy Gressier slipped past and won in 7.36,78. The American Grant Fischer took second place with 7.36,81, just ahead of Almgren who was noted for 7.36,82 – only four hundredths from victory.
I'm fairly pleased anyway. I saw that there were only three laps left and that I was fourth. I thought "oh shit, we're soon at the finish", says the Swede and continues:
I have two and a half weeks left before I reach my top form. I feel that I'm in a good place, says Almgren, who is gearing up for the World Championship in Tokyo where he will run both 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
Ståhl lost a medal position
After losing the second place in the second to last round, Daniel Ståhl had to settle for a fifth place in the discus final.
It started a bit modestly but then everyone started to pick up from the third round and onwards, says Ståhl to SVT.
The competition never really took off and few throwers managed to get it together. Only the world record holder Mykolas Alekna reached over 66 meters before the decisive throws, and his 68.89 on the third attempt would also stand as the winning throw of the evening.
Ståhl seemed to be able to challenge for victory in the last attempt when the discus flew far – possibly further than Alekna's throw – but he failed to stay within the ring. It was his fifth foul for the evening and the chance of victory disappeared.
Next up is the World Championship for Daniel Ståhl, where he is the reigning champion.
Pihlström's World Championship message
Samuel Pihlström delivered a fine performance in the 1,500 meters that really raises expectations ahead of the World Championship in Tokyo. With a time of 3.31,30, the 24-year-old ran his second fastest race of his career and finished eighth.
Despite the fine time, the Swede was not entirely pleased with the race.
I positioned myself poorly. It's going to be a long way forward from there. I was never really part of the top battle but an okay time anyway, he says.
Pihlström holds the Swedish record with 3.30,87.
