Christina Vukicevic wins the women’s 60m Hurdles in 7.92 sec in Tampere (© DECA Text&Bild)
Tampere, FinlandSweden won both Men’s - by one point - and Women’s – comfortably - indoor matches against Finland and Norway this afternoon in Tampere’s huge stadium which boasts a 300m flat track (5).
Two individual performances shone out, the national records of Finland’s Osku Torro in the men’s High Jump (2.33m) and Norway’s Christina Vukicevic in the women’s 60m Hurdles (7.92 sec), the latter a world season lead.
MEN – Torro, no need for a trampoline!
Torro leapt the new Finnish Indoor record of 2.33m on his first attempt, having taken three tries before achieving his previous height of 2.30m. He improved his previous national record of 2.32 from last year, and jumped into the second place on the world indoor season’s list of Russia Ivan Ukhov’s 2.38.
"When I jumped 2.24 earlier in this season, I felt that at least 2.30 would be possible today. Everything came together and I had a very emotional moment after setting a new national record in front of my home crowd,” said Torro. “There’s been so much talking about my 2.32 in Wuppertal last winter. Some have said that maybe Torro had used a trampoline, but this was my answer to that!"
"This was my goal for this season, and now I must search for new one. I have been well and injury free, which is very important," Torro concluded.
Jussi Viita is ready for his first international senior championships as he cleared his PB 2.24m which was the Finnish Federation’s standard for the European Indoors in Paris on March.
Otterling surprises, Åstrand beats Wissman
Overall the men’s match was very exciting until the very last event, which was the Men´s Long Jump.
The Swedes needed a double victory to pass Finland by one point, and they did it: Michel Torneus 7.94m and Andreas Otterling twice 7.89 as Petteri Lax flew 7.82 and Tommi Evilä 7.68.
Otteling was a real "matchwinner", because he improved his lifetime best by 21cm.
"I didn’t know that my second place was so important! This was absolutely surprising for me, too but now I think, I must jump in Paris. Not bad for a triple jumper...." laughed Otterling.
Sweden scored 115 points, Finland 114 and Norway 68. Finland had some very bad luck, too, as Mikko Kivinen could not jump in the Triple Jump competition due to getting injured during the warm-up.
In the running events the best mark was set by Finland´s Jonathan Åstrand, who won the 200m 20.87 seconds well ahead of Sweden’s multiple indoor international medallist Johan Wissman, who clocked 21.19.
"I knew I’m in a good shape and I wanted to run a very good time today. It was an easy and smooth run from the gun to the end," said Åstrand, who has had a long Tenerife -training camp with the other Finnish top male sprinters.
Norway’s Jaysuma Saidy Ndure took a clear victory in the men’s 60m in 6.69 seconds after getting a good start.
"Well, the 60m is not my best event, but today I ran quite well. In the outdoor season I’ll focus on both the 100 and 200m, but I think I´ll have better chances in the 200m at the IAAF World Champs in Daegu", said Ndure.
WOMEN - Vukicevic clocks national and world season lead
In the women’s match Sweden took an early lead and found no difficulties to keep it the whole afternoon: Sweden 119, Serden 96 and Norway 83.
Norway’s Christina Vukicevic got a wonderful start and clocked a new national record on 7.92 seconds in the 60m Hurdles. She improved her own mark by 0.01 seconds and was very satisfied with the fastest time yet in the world this winter.
"I placed 4th at the European indoors in 2009 and outdoors 2010 and I think my collection of the fourth places is now complete. This was an important test for Paris", said Vukicevic.
No return to combined events for Klüft
Another Norwegian fourth-placer in Barcelona last year, Ezinne Okparaebo, took a comfortable victory in the women’s 60m in 7.31 seconds. Sweden´s Carolina Klüft placed second in both 60m without and with hurdles and confirmed once again that her career in the Heptathlon is over.
"My physical condition is to enough anymore, but I still have fun in the individual athletics. I will not compete in Paris, because I want to train for the outdoor season," said Klüft.
Antti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
