Merel Conijn claimed victory in the 5,000 meters at the Staatsloterij Olympic qualifying tournament in Thialf, earning her place in the upcoming Olympic Games. This achievement allows her to compete in two distances, having previously finished third in the 3,000 meters at the same event.
NOS, based in the Netherlands, reports on the event.
Conijn completed the race with a time of 6:43.46, edging out Bente Kerkhoff, who secured second place with a time of 6:46.72. Both athletes earned unexpected tickets to the Olympics in the longest distance. Meanwhile, Marijke Groenewoud and Joy Beune finished third and fifth respectively, missing out on Olympic qualification for the 5,000 meters.
Beune faced a disappointing tournament overall, having already missed an Olympic qualification spot in the 1,500 meters, an event where she is the reigning world champion. Her fifth-place finish in the 5,000 meters means she will not start in the longest distance in Milan either. Groenewoud’s third place at this distance complements her qualification for three individual events: the 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, and the mass start.
Conijn expressed her disbelief and joy after the race, commenting on the remarkable achievement of qualifying alongside teammates Kerkhoff and Groenewoud. Kerkhoff, who was considered an outsider on the 5,000 meters, delivered a strong performance and might also qualify for the mass start. She highlighted the significance of her qualification and the possibility of competing alongside Groenewoud.
The competition saw Kerkhoff set a fast pace early on, briefly surpassing the pace of the Dutch record held by Irene Schouten. Despite slowing in the final laps, she recorded a personal best of 6:46.72. Conijn, the reigning Dutch champion since November, started the race at a fast pace and reserved energy for quick final laps which allowed her to surpass Kerkhoff’s time.
Groenewoud and Beune were unable to match the top two, with Groenewoud finishing third at 6:48.82 and Beune fifth at 6:57.06. Groenewoud showed a late sprint, but it was not enough to challenge the faster times ahead.
