Tero Pitkamaki in Pihtipudas in 2008 (© Paula Noronen)
Tero Pitkämäki won the classic Finnish Javelin Carnival meet in Pihtipudas on Sunday (28) with 86.47m, and Teemu Wirkkala sealed his ticket to the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany (15 – 23 August) by placing second with a fine result 84.68m.
Pitkämäki and Tero Järvenpää, third in Pihtipudas, had been selected into the Finnish team already in December 2008, and because Pitkämäki is the reigning World champion and gets an automatic place, Finland can send four javelin men to Berlin.
This means, that there is still one place open. Ari Mannio - 82.47 and 4th - showed again that he is a very solid form, but he must beat Antti Ruuskanen (79.89) at the Finnish Championships in Espoo 31 July - 2 August.
Pitkämäki set his winning mark in the fourth round and made a series of 79.36, 82.36, 78.61, 86.47, 82.31 - nm. Wirkkala opened with 82.08 and threw 83.95 at his fourth attempt. That would not have been enough for the Berlin-ticket, because the Finnish Federation had set a standard of 84 metres.
However, Wirkkala, who finished at the Beijing Olympic Games, handled the pressure in a very impressive way and equalled his personal best of 84.68 in the final round.
"It seems to be typical for me to get a good throw in a ‘back against the wall situation’. My goal in Berlin is to get a medal," smiled Wirkkala.
Pitkämäki is already waiting for the AF Golden League meeting in Oslo next Friday (3). "There have so many times been such good Javelin competitions in Oslo, and I’m sure, we’ll see one more," said Pitkämäki in very warm (+28) and sunny conditions on Sunday.
Mickle won, Ingberg opened well
The women’s competition in Pihtipudas, Central Finland was won by Australia’s Kim Mickle, who produced 61.83m in the 4th round.
Mickle, 24, had never thrown over 60 metres until she released 60.68 in Sydney 28 February. Since then she has broken the 60m line in six competitions in a row. Her PB 63.49 was thrown in Perth 14 March - so Mickle will be a potential surprise candidate in World Champs.
Anyway, it was a promising day for Finland’s Mikaela Ingberg, as well. Ingberg, 34, opened her season with 61.03m, which is 3cm over the ‘A’ Entry Standard for Berlin.
"I thought that I could live with a result of 59 - 60 metres today, but I have nothing against this, either," said Ingberg.
A-P Sonninen for the IAAF
Further Finnish team selections made for Berlin Wch 2009:
MEN
LJ: Tommi Evilä - 8.22m Göteborg SWE 28.6.2008 (8.03 -09).
DT: Frantz Kruger - 65.39 Kuortane 6.7.2008 (61.11 -09, 70.32 -02).
JT: Teemu Wirkkala - 84.68 Pihtipudas 28.6.2009.
WOMEN
HJ: Hanna Grobler 1.91 Viitasaari 26.6.2009 (1.92 -05).
HT: Merja Korpela 69.34 Bergen NOR 21.6.2009.
JT: Mikaela Ingberg Vasa IS 61.03 Pihtipudas 28.6.2009 (64.03 -00).
Pre-selected in January 2009 - click here for earlier story
MEN
3000m Steeplechase: Jukka Keskisalo - European champion - (8:22.35 -08, 8:16,74 -06).
HT: Olli-Pekka Karjalainen 79.59 -08 (83.30 -04).
JT: Tero Järvenpää 86.68 -08,
JT: Tero Pitkämäki - World champion - (87.70 -08, 91.53 -05).
Maraton: Francis Kirwa 2:11:01 -08.
50km RW: Antti Kempas 3:55:19 -08,
50km RW: Jarkko Kinnunen 3:52:25 -08.
RESULTS - Pihtipudas
MEN
1) Tero Pitkämäki 86.47 (79.36, 82.36, 78.61, 86.47, 82.31, x),
2) Teemu Wirkkala 84.68 (82.08, x, x, 83.95, x, 84.68),
3) Tero Järvenpää 82.65 (x, 82.65, 77.29, x, -, 77.90),
4) Ari Mannio 82.47 (82.13, x, 82.46, x, x, 82.47),
5) Gerbrandt Grobler (RSA) 80.01,
6) Antti Ruuskanen 79.89,
7) Jarkko Koski-Vähälä 78.42,
8) Lassi Etelätalo 76.16
9) Harri Haatainen 75.02,
WOMEN
1) Kim Mickle (AUS) 61.83 (58.73, 59.25, 58.74, 61.83, 56.70, x),
2) Mikaela Ingberg 61.03 (59.47, 57.54, x, 58.69, x, 61.03),
3) Jelena Jaakkola 56.21
4) Carita Hinkka 55.22
5) Oona Sormunen 54.69