Tero Pitkämäki (FIN) (© A-P Sonninen)
The 34th edition of the world famous Javelin Carnival in Pihtipudas, Finland, took place today and brought some much needed good news for the renowned Finnish throwing tradition.
Närhi back from injury - 86.61m
With 1999 World champion and 2001 silver medallist Aki Parviainen, the second longest thrower of all-time, injured and not expected to compete earlier than the national championships at the end of this month, up has stood 28 year-old Matti Närhi to fill his shoes. His throw of 86.61m to win this year’s carnival is the sixth longest in the world this summer, and gains him automatic selection for the Finnish team for Athens.
In today’s competition three other men also exceeded 82m, reviving hopes for possible Olympic success in a year in which the world’s Javelin elite have yet to sparkle - 87.73m is the current world season’s best.
Närhi whose personal best of 88.24m stretches back to 1997, the year in which Parviainen first ground his teeth in World Championships competition (8th Athens Worlds), has always had all the credentials of a world beater but has had a career blighted by injury.
Eighth in the 1998 Europeans and 12th in the World Championships in Seville in 1999, Närhi’s future as a thrower seemed at an end when a serious leg injury in the qualification round of the 2001 Edmonton World Championships saw him carried out of the infield without recording a mark.
With many operations behind him Närhi made a return to competition last year but his best was only 77.30. His 86.61m throw today is his furthest since 1999 (87.88) and puts him firmly back into international medal contention. He had had only one previous competition this year of 76.75m on 16 June.
Finland whose men’s throwers have taken seven Olympic golds (the last in 1988) can now look more optimistically towards Athens. Backing up the good news was European Under 23 bronze medallist Tero Pitkämaki whose second place was taken in a massive new personal best of 84.64m (previous 82.22m), and there were also personal bests from Pekka Alaräisänen (83.45) and Esko Mikkola (82.58), in third and fourth.
Women - 62.63 win
Finnish women have also a fine tradition, and also find themselves currently without their top thrower, as Mikaela Ingberg the double European bronze medallist is injured. However, there was also good news here too, as national record holder Paula Huhtaniemi won the women’s competition with 62.63, ahead of former World Junior champion Taina (Uppa) Kolkkala who threw 61.42.
The win also gains Huhtaniemi automatic selection for Athens.
Pihtipudas 4.7.2004, Javelin Carnival
Men
1 Matti Närhi 86.61
2 Tero Pitkämaki 84.64 PB
3 Pekka Alaräisänen 83.45 PB
4 Esko Mikkola 82.58 PB
Women
1 Paula Huhtaniemi 62.63
2 Taina Kolkkala 61.42
