Slovenian Athletes Stumble at European Championships Opener

Slovenian athletes experienced a challenging opening day at the 27th European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, with multiple competitors failing to progress in their events. Lovro Mesec Košir, competing in the 400 meters, finished with a time of 46.66 seconds, securing the 21st fastest time in the first round and missing out on a semi-final spot. Jan Vukovič also failed to advance in the 800 meters, placing 25th among 30 competitors with a time of 1:47.80.

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Something like this has never happened to me before. I am very disappointed because I was in very good form. I hope I can compete in the 200m, where I aim to get at least close to my personal best.

The day took a further turn for the worse when Zala Istenič was disqualified from the 100 meters after a false start, earning a red card. This marked her first major outdoor competition as a senior athlete. Istenič, a 24-year-old medical student, had felt a sharp pain in her calf muscle during warm-ups. Despite the disappointment, she remains hopeful for a chance to compete in the 200 meters later in the week, provided she has no further health issues.

Istenič expressed her deep disappointment, stating, "Something like this has never happened to me before. I am very disappointed because I was in very good form." She added that she had been training well and had hoped to perform strongly. "I hope I can compete in the 200m, where I aim to get at least close to my personal best," she said, acknowledging that she came to the championship primarily to gain experience.

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Before the race, I was optimistic, I felt good. But after one lap, I already had heavy legs. Despite not having the right energy, I tried to give my all.

Vukovič, who qualified for the championships at the last moment via the international rankings, admitted to feeling optimistic before the race but struggled with fatigue early on. "Despite not having the right energy, I tried to give my all," he explained. Mesec Košir was also disheartened, particularly because his performance was significantly slower than his season's best times. Both athletes are now looking towards potential participation in relay events, hoping to contribute to the team's success.

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The most painful thing for me is that I was consistently running around 46 seconds, I completed two races below that mark, and then I ran my worst time at the biggest race of the season.