There was a lot of anticipation for the return to the track of Mo Farah, 4 times Olympic gold medalist and multiple world champion of 5,000 and 10,000 meters, and determined to defend the title of the longest distance at the Tokyo Games.
Except that, at 38 and after four and a half dedicated to the marathon and with the pandemic in the way, it is not at all easy to follow the reality of tartan.
So today Farah disappointed by only finishing eighth in the men's 10,000m European Cup race, won by French continental champion Morhad Amdouni. He won in 27'23 "27, while the 4-time Olympic gold medal finished in 27'50" 54, so far from the Olympic minimum of 27'28 "00.
To get this time Farah will have until June 29th and now he will have to look for another opportunity, in this race that has no short recovery times. But either he finds another chance and tries again, or for him the 10,000 in Tokyo will remain an unfulfilled wish.
The Birmingham European Cup gave Italy the podium in the women's team race, behind the hosts of Great Britain. On an individual level, the best is the marathon runner Giovanna Epis, 15 / a in the main series with 33'02 "07.
