Jukka Keskisalo - 1500m / 3000m Steeplechase double - comes home triumphant in Helsinki (© Hasse Sjögren)
European 3000m Steeplechase champion Jukka Keskisalo was in the spotlight at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on Friday (25) and Saturday (26). Competing on both days of the traditional Finland-Sweden international match which attracted a two day crowd of 59,030 spectators (26,440 & 32,590), Keskisalo first won the 1500m on Friday and then the steeple on Saturday.
Sweden might have been too strong in the women's match to prevent a real fight for the win, but the men's match was something else. Finland was favoured by statistics, but many failures during day one tightened the match which was only decided in the last event.
The Finns had the freedom of choosing the event order in the timetable and Keskisalo's events were chosen to be the last one on both days. The 1500m featured Swede's Rizak Dirshe, 34, (3:38.47 PB this season) against the steeplechase champion Keskisalo. The slow pace was the key and Keskisalo, 25, with a much slower PB (3:42.10) had no problem whatsoever in outsprinting the Swede winning with a 3:42.61 season's best.
Before the last event of the match yesterday, 3000m Steeplechase, Finland was leading by five points which made everything possible. In a match with three competitors from both sides a total of 22 points are given from each event with seven going to the winner. This meant that a win by Keskisalo would be enough for Finland for the win.
Again, this race started at walking pace and it was made for the European Champion. Henrik Skoog (SWE) broke away from the field followed by Keskisalo at the beginning of last lap, but the Swede with a 8:25.96 season's best, stood no chance against Keskisalo. The home crowd favourite took the win with style waving to the crowd during the front straight knowing that he had decided the match, even more so because he was a double winner over two distances. Finland won the men's match 204-201.
Swedish women were as strong as expected. Although they were missing a few stars, some because of injury, some because of other reasons, they outclassed the Finns easily 226-183.
The Swedes were very strong in the distance races and field events, scoring wins in 5000m, 10000m and 3000m Steeplechase. Sweden also took wins in six out of eight field events.
However, the best individual result was achieved by Paula Tarvainen in the women's Javelin Throw, she hit a season's best of 63.56m, the best result by the 33-year-old for more than three years.
Kajsa Bergqvist (SWE) only made one clearance at 1.83m, which was enough to win the women's High Jump.
On the men's side, European Championships medallists Johan Wissman (SWE, 20.62s) in the 200m and Tero Pitkämäki (FIN, 84.37m) in the Javelin Throw took easy wins. In the men's High Jump, Sweden's Linus Thörnblad beat compatriot, European bronze medallist, Stefan Holm (2.28m to 2.30m).
Another Euro medallist Olli-Pekka Karjalainen (FIN) only got one result in the Hammer Throw, 77.44m, but it was easily enough to win.
The men's competition saw a surprising number of 1-2-3 sweeps, Sweden scored one, in the 5000m, but Finland was able to get four, Long Jump (without World Bronze medallist Tommi Evila who is injured), Shot Put, Discus Throw and Hammer Throw.
Finland won both the junior boy's (106 to 93pts) and Girl's matches (105 - 96pts).
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
First day (Friday) full results
