About IFK Umeå

IFK Umeå is a club with a long tradition. The club was founded back in 1901 by a couple of students. IFK is probably best known for it’s talented crosscountry skiers. Names such as Arthur Häggblad, Martin Lundström, Harald Eriksson, Gunnar Karlsson and Assar Rönnlund are some of the greatest crosscountry skiers throughout the Swedish history of sports.

IFK Umeå has also a long tradition in athltetics. The club was during the 60’s among the best in Sweden. The 1960’s were the golden days for track and field in IFK. Bengt Persson (steeplechase) and Karl-Uno Olofsson (middledistance) were the stars of the club and they both represented Sweden in the Olympics. Karl-Uno in the 1964 games in Tokyo and Bengt Persson in the games of 1968, New Mexico. Bengt P was 10th (8.38,0) in the olympic final over 3000 m steeplechase. The 60’s wasn’t just Bengt Persson and Karl-Uno Olofsson, IFK had several other good runners which is proven by the fact that IFK won the Swedish championship over 4 x 1500 meters 3 years in a row (1965, 1966 and 1967). IFK did also take a most sensational victory in the 1966 Stockholm City Relay Run with all the best clubs in Sweden participating.

The runners of today try to keep up the good IFK tradition. One of the best results in "modern time" is Jörgen Marklunds 5th place over 3000 meters in the Swedish indoor championships 1990.

To the right you can see Robert Renman (running in front) and Kristoffer Österlund representing Sweden over 10.000 meters in Kalottkampen 1997.

The modern IFK Umeå is otherwise best known for good results in realy runs such as Vindelälvsloppet. In 1996 IFK Umeå for the first time ever managed to win Vindel- älvsloppet, a 350 km relay run from Ammarnäs to Vännäsby. The victory was something the IFK runners had been longing for ever since the first race back in 1984. IFK:s win in the 1996 race was a quite easy one.. the second team IKSU (The Students Sportsclub in Umeå) were beaten with 35 minutes. In 1997 IFK were going for the gold once again. But 1997 wasn’t IFK Umeås year, instead it was time for Flemmingsbergs SK to take the victory in their first start ever in the race. IFK Umeå placed second among the competative teams. Hofors finished third.

The Champions Of Vindelälvsloppet 1996

The heros from upper left: Rikard Hedelin, Thomas Björklund,Michael Grahn(coach), Niclas Sandstöm, Hans Nilsson, Kent Resoluth.From lower left: Tony Berglund, Robert Renman, Lars Matsson, Daniel Ranneby, Jörgen Marklund, Kristoffer Österlund, Johan Sandström.In front: The Marathoner Fredrik Johansson Missing on this picture: Tord Andersson, Henrik Wimelius, Jan Lundberg and Michael Björklund.

For more information about Vindelälvsloppet, check out the official homepage:

IFK Umeå Longdsitance Running - Training Sessions:

The runners use the locker rooms in "The green pavillon" near Sporthallen in Umeå. They have the following training days:

Do you find IFK like a good club to join? Or are you visiting Umeå and would like to do some serious training?

If so then you should contact these guys:

Managing director: Niclas Sandström 090 - 12 47 36

Running supervisor: Michael Grahn 090 - 283 86