A terrifying moment marred the final day of competition at the European Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 9, as Maureen Koster of the Netherlands was knocked unconscious during the women’s 3,000 meters.
Koster’s legs got tangled up on the fifth lap of the 3,000-meter final on Sunday at the Omnisport Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. In a tight, bunched-up pack of runners, the 32-year-old Koster fell to the track and was immediately tended to by the medical staff. She was moved off the track before racers came around for the next lap.
Reuters reported that Koster was later taken to the hospital. The official account for the Netherlands on X said she was “conscious and responsive.”
Koster took to Instagram on Monday to share an update. “It feels unreal what happened last night. Thankfully, aside from a mild concussion, a few bruises, and a broken heart, I’m fine,” she wrote on her IG story. “Really hope to be back on my feet soon! Many thanks for all your kind messages.”
Sarah Healy of Ireland ended up taking gold in a time of 8:52.86, narrowly edging out Great Britain’s Melissa Courtney-Bryant (8:52.92) and Portugal’s Salomé Afonso (8:53.42) for the win. On Saturday, Koster was the second qualifier to the final out of the preliminary round, running 8:55.40 to finish second in her heat.
Dan Beck is the deputy news editor at Runner’s World. He has led news coverage teams for major running events like the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, Boston Marathon, and New York City Marathon. A former collegiate distance runner at DeSales University, he still enjoys running, just more slowly now. Before coming to Runner’s World, he covered track and field and cross-country at MileSplit. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, where the two like to explore the city’s rich dining scene.
