Tero Pitkamaki in Lapinlahti (© Paula Noronen)
Belarus, Finland and Norway were the three promoted team when the European Team Championships First League concluded in Bergen, Norway on Sunday (21).
Belarus was in a class of it's own with 332 points against Finland's 289, Norways 279 and Netherland's 274 points. The two relagated teams into the Second League for next year were Switzerland (203) and Serbia (191).
Pitkämäki edges by Thorkildsen
The most anticipated event on Sunday was the Men's Javelin Throw and the battle between Norway's two-times Olympic winner Andreas Thorkildsen and Finland's World Champion Tero Pitkämäki.
Thorkildsen set very easily 84.84m in the opening round, but Pitkämäki only secured a result of 75.79m. Thorkildsen improved to 85.05m at his second attempt and Pitkämäki his season best 86.78m.
Then the competition was practically over, as Thorkildsen passed his last attempt due to a tight groin. Pitkämäki could not better his effort either, and said that the winds were very difficult to negotiate.
"The spear flew in a wrong position, whatever we tried, but fortunately I got one good throw," Pitkämäki said. "It was extra sweet to beat Andreas in Norway, and so it was to keep my victory series in international matches or cups clear," he added with a smile.
Sedoc's tumble costly for the Dutch
One of the most dramatic moments of the weekend was seen in the men's 110m Hurdles, when Netherland's Gregory Sedoc, a multiple medallist at the European Indoors, hit the final hurdle and fell and scored no points for his team. In the end of the day it cost The Dutch promotion.
The weather on Sunday at the Fana Stadium was sunny and warm, but windy. A strong tail wind caused trouble for most of the discus throwers, but not to Estonia's Olympic champion Gerd Kanter, who threw 67.00m in the first round.
"Before the competition I thought that I could produce some 66m - 67m and that's what I did. I'm surprised that it came out already in the opening round. My last one was as good, but unfortunately it was a bit too low," Kanter said.
Finland's Jukka Keskisalo took 12 points in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase just as the reigning European Champion was expected to do. Keskisalo clocked 8:30.39, leaving Turkey's Halil Akkas in second. But he didn't care much for the elimination system introduced into the competition.
"It's always nice to try something new, but this is like U2 being asked to play Metallica," Keskisalo said. "Anyway, I'm very satisfied with my race today. I saw Akkas's shadow before the water jump and was aware of his good shape."
Antti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
Click here for full results
Belarus was in a class of it's own with 332 points against Finland's 289, Norways 279 and Netherland's 274 points. The two relagated teams into the Second League for next year were Switzerland (203) and Serbia (191).
Pitkämäki edges by Thorkildsen
The most anticipated event on Sunday was the Men's Javelin Throw and the battle between Norway's two-times Olympic winner Andreas Thorkildsen and Finland's World Champion Tero Pitkämäki.
Thorkildsen set very easily 84.84m in the opening round, but Pitkämäki only secured a result of 75.79m. Thorkildsen improved to 85.05m at his second attempt and Pitkämäki his season best 86.78m.
Then the competition was practically over, as Thorkildsen passed his last attempt due to a tight groin. Pitkämäki could not better his effort either, and said that the winds were very difficult to negotiate.
"The spear flew in a wrong position, whatever we tried, but fortunately I got one good throw," Pitkämäki said. "It was extra sweet to beat Andreas in Norway, and so it was to keep my victory series in international matches or cups clear," he added with a smile.
Sedoc's tumble costly for the Dutch
One of the most dramatic moments of the weekend was seen in the men's 110m Hurdles, when Netherland's Gregory Sedoc, a multiple medallist at the European Indoors, hit the final hurdle and fell and scored no points for his team. In the end of the day it cost The Dutch promotion.
The weather on Sunday at the Fana Stadium was sunny and warm, but windy. A strong tail wind caused trouble for most of the discus throwers, but not to Estonia's Olympic champion Gerd Kanter, who threw 67.00m in the first round.
"Before the competition I thought that I could produce some 66m - 67m and that's what I did. I'm surprised that it came out already in the opening round. My last one was as good, but unfortunately it was a bit too low," Kanter said.
Finland's Jukka Keskisalo took 12 points in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase just as the reigning European Champion was expected to do. Keskisalo clocked 8:30.39, leaving Turkey's Halil Akkas in second. But he didn't care much for the elimination system introduced into the competition.
"It's always nice to try something new, but this is like U2 being asked to play Metallica," Keskisalo said. "Anyway, I'm very satisfied with my race today. I saw Akkas's shadow before the water jump and was aware of his good shape."
Antti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
Click here for full results