Swiss athlete and 2012 Olympic champion Nicola Spirig has been dealing with injuries from an early season crash in Abu Dhabi, but ran a very fine 9:07,49 at the 3000 meter race at the Oberseemeeting in Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland. In early May Spirig had raced 70.3 Mallorca and finished second to German Laura Philipp, but in Switzerland this past weekend Spirig ran with the men and according to the Zürichsee-Zeitung was pushing to go sub 9.

She ran the first 1k in 2:59 and then ran 6:08 for the final two, which turned out to be a personal best by 12 seconds, and the fastest time by a Swiss female in 8 years, reported the Zürichsee-Zeitung.

But for Spirig this was just another training session among others on that day and that week. "I am very happy with the 9:07 in a tough training week," said Spirig to slowtwitch.

The picture above is not from the race, but another track session in St. Moritz, Switzerland on Monday, June 6th.

"Nicola had competed in a 3000 meter track meet two weeks before and while she ran a personal best time, the desired result was not what was needed and so we decided to do it again. This time the race was nailed. 9:07 on the third session of the day. It shows Nicola back on track from her accident and we will now do an Ironman 70.3 next week," said her coach Brett Sutton.

Initially Spirig was scheduled to race 70.3 Switzerland on June 5th and face Daniela Ryf, who is also coached by Brett Sutton, but her schedule was changed and Spirig will race 70.3 Pescara, Italy instead. Ryf meanwhile dominated that Swiss Rapperswil-Jona 70.3 event while Spirig not far from there raced on the track that same weekend.

Via: Zürichsee-Zeitung