Catherine Ibarquen bounds to a 14.59m leap in Lapinlahti (© Paula Noronen)
Lapinlahti, Finland - A battle for the places in the Finnish Javelin squad for the IAAF World Championships became hotter, while Colombia’s Catherine Ibarqueno’s 14.59m in the women's Triple Jump was the international highlight at the Savo Games, the third stop of the five-meeting Finnish Elite Games series, in Lapinlahti on Sunday (24).
The pouring rain almost ruined the men’s Long Jump, where South Africa’s Luvo Manyongo leaped 8.00m, against a 2.7 m/s head wind. The wind was very tricky at that point of the afternoon, as there was a thunder cloud rising above the stadium. Finland’s Roni Ollikainen leapt 7.90m with a 4.0 m/s tail wind in the same round!
Then the competition was stopped due to the storm for about 15 minutes, but Finland’s Tommi Evilä jumped a legal 7.89m in the final round.
It was raining for an hour, and after that the women’s Triple Jump was held in good conditions. Ibarqueno jumped 14.59m and 14.52m in the first two rounds and made her status as a potential surprise for Daegu even stronger. Ibarqueno’s best jump was only seven centimetres shy of her PB.
There was a lot of excitement in the Men’s Javelin. Tero Pitkämäki, the 2007 World champion, sat in the tribune and watched Harri Haatainen, 33, throwing a solid 81.01m in the opening round. It was the leading mark until the fifth round, when Antti Ruuskanen, who was sixth at the World Championships in 2009, threw 81.95m.
Ruuskanen wanted to break the Daegu "A" entry standard of 82.00 and did it, too, reaching 82.29m in the final round.
"I felt good and strong, but my technique was quite poor today", said Ruuskanen, who is coached by 1999 World champion Aki Parviainen. “I’m going forward competition by competition now. Physically I’m in the best form ever.”
"I must say, setting the ‘A’ was a relief, but this is not enough. For sure, at least 86 metres will be needed for the medals in Daegu", he added.
Haatainen didn’t produce any other marks, as he fouled on some 75 to 78-metre throws.
At the moment, it seems that Pitkämäki, Ruuskainen and Ari Mannio will be selected for the Daegu squad, but the decision won’t be made until 13 August 13. The Elite Games stop in Joensuu next Wednesday 27 July, The Finnish championships in Turku on 8 August, and even the Lappeenranta Elite Games on 13 August can change the situation.
Unfortunately Teemu Wirkkala had to stop his season back in June due to an elbow operation.
After the rain the conditions were perfect for long distance running, and the men’s 3000m Steeplechase became a good competition. Kenya’s Elijah Chelimo kept the pace, but Australia’s Youcef Abdi kicked hard 200 metres before the finishing line and clocked 8:16.41 to take the victory. Ethiopia’s Nahom Mesfin was the runner-up in 8:18.38, and Chelimo placed third in 8:22.89.
Jukka Keskisalo, the European Champion in 2006, was aiming for the Daegu ‘A’ standard of 8:23.10, but was a distant sixth in 8:26.45, as his last kilometre was not yet what it should be. Janne Ukonmaanaho’s PB 8:27.03 was well within the ‘B’ standard.
Other winners:
Men –
800m Matias Claesson, SWE 1:47.26; 3000m Yusuke Takabayashi, JPN 7:55.98; 110mH Joona-Ville Heinä, FIN 14.15; HJ Normundss Pupols, LAT 2.16; HT David Söderberg, FIN 75.11; 4x100m JAM, 39.01.
Women –
100m Charonda Williams, USA 11.36; 800m Natallya Kareyva, BLR 2:02.10; 3.000m Erin Donohue, USA 8:55.07; 100mH Elisa Leinonen, FIN 13.59; PV Becky Holliday, USA 4.40; DT Tanja Komulainen, FIN 55.33.
Anti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
