Tero Pitkamaki retakes the national title at the 2010 Finnish championships (© Paula Noronen)
Tero Pitkämäki continued his good momentum in Kajaani on Sunday (8) winning the fifth national Javelin Throw title during career. As usual, the men’s javelin final crowned the 103rd Kalevan Kisat, the national championships on Sunday (8) to end the four-day competition which started on Thursday morning.
The meet was held in Kajaani, at Vimpelinvaara stadium, which had hosted this competition once before, in 1984 before the Los Angeles Olympics. The four days which attracted 25,500 spectators featured many new champions with a few long winning streaks coming to an end.
Pitkämäki back on top
On the men’s javelin where the qualification was held on Saturday afternoon, the three throwers who competed in the Stockholm leg of the Samsung Diamond League were given special treatment by the Jury of Appeal who let Pitkämäki, Teemu Wirkkala and Ari Mannio straight to the final due to the narrow window between these two meets. The 27-year-old Pitkämäki had won four straight titles, 2004-2007, but was then defeated twice in a row in 2008 and 2009. First two years ago in Tampere Tero Järvenpää hit a big personal best 86.68m to win over Pitkämäki and then last year the Finnish number one in javelin throw finished only in third place behind winner Teemu Wirkkala and silver medallist Antti Ruuskanen. It was Ruuskanen, who was thought to have a shot at his first title having won the qualification with a relaxed 82.51m throw, but in the final things went as usual: a duel between Pitkämäki and Wirkkala which has been usual this summer.
Wirkkala started with a strong 83.88m throw in round one giving indication that he would not surrender his 2009 title easily, but Pitkämäki this time found his big throw earlier than in Barcelona or Stockholm, already hitting the winning throw of 85.19m in round two. Overall his series was much more balanced than in previous meets with all six throws measured and four over 83 metres this time. Wirkkala was second with that first round effort 83.88m and Ruuskanen third winning his second straight medal after a silver in 2009. Ari Mannio, who faded a bit towards the end of the season was fourth with 79.30m.
Karjalainen’s Hammer Throw streak continues
In other events Olli-Pekka Karjalainen, who had won the previous 12 titles starting in 1998 as an 18-year-old, came under tremendous pressure this time with two throwers almost equally strong this season. Karjalainen, who finished in 10th place in Barcelona at the European Championships, had not thrown over 75m since May and both David Söderberg and Tuomas Seppänen had marks over 74 metres recently coming to this competition. Söderberg especially was thought to have a shot as the 30-year-old had recorded nine medal finishes out of nine competitions from 2001-2009 behind Karjalainen with eight of them silver. But the old champion still wasn’t going to step aside.
Karjalainen started with a good 74.92m throw and lead the competition from start to finish. But it wasn’t easy with Seppänen also coming close already in round one with a 74.36m effort, very close to his 74.60m personal best from earlier this season. Söderberg had problems with a foul in each of first two throws, but the he too came to life in round three with a 74.53m which brought all three just within 56cm midway to the competition. Seppänen came close to the win in round five producing a personal best 74.73m, but after Karjalainen he had his 13th title in the bag, he bettered his own mark to 75.20m with the last throw of the competition. So it was 13 golds for Karjalainen and 10 medals with nine silvers to Söderberg and first medal to Seppänen. The 24-year-old from Pori is probably the best bet to take over from Karjalainen in the future. After a problematic 2009 season, he added more than four metres to his personal best this season having only thrown over 70m once before 2010, but with seven 70-metre competitions out of seven this summer.
In the Long Jump Tommi Evilä also was under threat. The 2005 World Championships bronze medallist had lost to Petteri Lax in Barcelona, but in Kajaani he still had what it takes and the Tampere jumper took his seventh title with a 7.86m winning jump. The competition was tighter than expected with Lax jumping to second with 7.77m and 19-year-old Roni Ollikainen with a surprise bronze medal and a big personal best 7.75m. Otto Kilpi, who was narrowly left out of the final in Barcelona was fourth with 7.72m and Eetu Viitala fifth with 7.51m. Mikko Kivinen who was looking good early in the season later saw the rest of his summer ruined by injuries and could only jump 7.50m this time for sixth place.
In the high jump 30-year-old Osku Torro finally grabbed his first title with a 2.24m win after a long wait, but in the pole vault 22-year-old favourite Eemeli Salomäki could not defend his 2009 title. Salomäki, who had a jumped season’s best 5.60m two times, latest in the Barcelona qualification, no heighted at 5.25m to give others room for the win. And there was a surprise winner too with 23-year-old Jere Bergius from Tampere stepping up to win with a 5.50m personal best adding five centimetres to his previous best 5.45m from 2008. Aleksi Tammentie easily won his third straight triple jump title with a 15.80m jump.
In the others throwing events Robert Häggblom won the shot put with a 18.92 season’s best and Frantz Kruger once more took the discus title with a 61.10 throw. Furthermore Lassi Raunio came back to close in on his 7862 personal best from 2006 winning the decathlon with 7679 points and Antti Kempas won the 20km walk in 1:29:20.
Men’s track -
In the men’s running events a lot of focus was on the sprints with the sprint relay team having finished in seventh place in the Barcelona final with a national record. But only two members of this team actually took part to the 100m race with Hannu Ali-Huokuna falling ill and Jonathan Åstrand only running his preferred 200m distance. In the 100m final which was run against the wind Joni Rautanen grabbed his second title in addition to the 2008 one clocking 10.66. Rautanen, who has run his outdoor best 10.40 this season has finally overcome the injury problems which prevented him running outdoors after a successful indoor season in 2009. Hannu Hämäläinen, who was excellent in Barcelona where he advanced to semi finals in 100m, faded to second place looking a bit exhausted clocking 10.85 well behind Rautanen.
In the 200m Åstrand was expected to rule and he didn’t disappoint. Fresh after a 20.78 personal best in Barcelona heats, the 24-year-old sped to his first national title, against a headwind, in 20.98 keeping 100m winner Rautanen far behind in 21.31 for the second place. A surprise name Henri Parikka grabbed his second bronze of the competition clocking a 21.62 personal best after a bronze in the 100m as well. 23-year-old Matti Välimäki was an expected winner in the 400m with a season’s best 46.89 for his third straight title in this event.
In the 800m Mikko Lahtio made in five in a row with a 1:51.34 win and Niclas Sandells took the last title of the competition on Sunday evening, in the 1500m in 3:43.48, his first national title. 27-year-old Matti Räsänen also won his first title on Thursday and made it two three days later. Räsänen won both 5000m and 10,000m clocking times 13:53.87 and 29:24.45 respectively.
In the 3000m Steeplechase the absence of 2006 European Champion Jukka Keskisalo, who could not defend his title in Barcelona due to an injury, Janne Ukonmaanaho won his first title in 8:46.67. In the 110m hurdles former champion Juha Sonck, who was injured in his Barcelona heat, was also absent and Antti Korkealaakso took advantage winning his second career title. Korkealaakso lowered his 2007 personal best 13.89 achieved in this very same meet by 0.01 to 13.88 for the win. In the 400m Hurdles the spectators could witness the biggest surprise of the meet. Although Jussi Heikkilä, who had won the titles in 2007 and 2009, was known not to be in his best form, the way he finished in second place well behind the winner was still a shock. Heikkilä, who has a personal best 49.39 from 2008 and had run 50.60 this season competed in the heats in Barcelona and was not really thought to be under threat to defend his title from last year. But 20-year-old Petteri Monni, coming to the meet with only a 52.68 personal best from earlier this season, shocked the stadium with a massive 1.42 second personal best 51.26 leaving others far behind to win the national title.
Next generation makes its move – women’s competition
The women’s competition was shadowed by low quality in the results which is really no surprise right now in Finland. In the sprints Sari Keskitalo, who had won the last two 100m and the last four 200m titles has lost his speed in 2010, but was still able to hold on to her 100m title in a slow 12.02 winning time. But in the 200m there was a new champion with Keskitalo well beaten. Just 16-year-old Anna Hämäläinen won in 24.34 following a 24.24 personal best in the heats with Keskitalo in second clocking 24.50. Another favourite Ella Räsänen, also just 16 years of age, who had won the 400m earlier in 54.44, did not start the final. Räsänen, one of the most promising female athletes in Finland, was pushed surprisingly close in the 400m though. 17-year-old Aino Paunonen, the daughter of Ari Paunonen, still the national junior record holder in both 800m (1:47.74) and 1500m (3:38.07) and national record and European junior record holder with 7:43.20 in 3000m, pushed hard in the final straight for a second place and a big 54.84 personal best for her first sub 55-second race.
Mari Järvenpää won the 800m in 2:06.79, but was beaten in 1500m by Steeplechase specialist Sandra Eriksson who won in 4:25.34 against Järvenpää’s 4:25.79. In the 3000m Steeplechase former champion Johanna Lehtinen was trying a comeback, but bad luck seems to follow her everywhere as she sprained her ankle early in the race coming down from a steeple early in the race. Eriksson went on to win this event too grabbing her fourth straight title in 10:05.02 and then went to become a triple champion on Sunday winning a slow 5000m race in 17:07.05 personal best.
Marathon runner Laura Markovaara won the 10,000m in a 34:42.94 personal best and Ida Aidanpää shocked favourite Nooralotta Neziri in the 100m Hurdles winning in 13.62 personal best. Elisa Leinonen was second also setting a PB 13.75 with Neziri badly fading to third place in 13.78. 17-year-old Neziri has run a 13.46 personal best this season and following a fifth place at the World Junior Championships she was expected to win her first national title here.
In the women’s High Jump heptathlete Maiju Mattila stepped up a level for a surprise win over 29-year-old Hanna Grobler, who was ruled the event for a long time. Although hampered by injuries lately, Grobler was still the number one favourite before the competition. But Mattila’s jumping looked extremely good and after she made her 1.83m clearance with massive space between her and the bar it was clear a surprise might happen. Grobler, still leading going to 1.85m, had a very narrow miss with her first try, but Mattila continued with another clean clearance adding two cm to her overall best 1.83m which she had jumped indoors at the National Championships in Turku this winter. Grobler too cleared with her third jump, but 1.87m was too much for both and Mattila won the competition.
Minna Nikkanen an easy winner in the pole vault clearing 4.40m for her fourth career title. Nikkanen also tried a national record 4.47m, but that was too much this time. Elina Torro emerged as a double winner in long jump (6.19m) and triple jump (13.30m). Suvi Helin won the shot put with 15.38m and Tanja Komulainen topped the discus competition with a 56.38m winning throw. In the hammer Merja Korpela won her fourth straight title with a 66.94m throw. The 29-year-old, who recently finished eighth in the first major championships final in Barcelona, has finished out of the medals only once since 1999, in 2000. Recent World Junior Champion Sanni Utriainen won her first javelin title coming close to her personal best 56.69m from Moncton with a 56.29m winning throw and Niina Kelo won her third straight title in heptathlon with 5719 total points. Anne Halkivaha won the 10km walk in 51:22.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS?
The meet was held in Kajaani, at Vimpelinvaara stadium, which had hosted this competition once before, in 1984 before the Los Angeles Olympics. The four days which attracted 25,500 spectators featured many new champions with a few long winning streaks coming to an end.
Pitkämäki back on top
On the men’s javelin where the qualification was held on Saturday afternoon, the three throwers who competed in the Stockholm leg of the Samsung Diamond League were given special treatment by the Jury of Appeal who let Pitkämäki, Teemu Wirkkala and Ari Mannio straight to the final due to the narrow window between these two meets. The 27-year-old Pitkämäki had won four straight titles, 2004-2007, but was then defeated twice in a row in 2008 and 2009. First two years ago in Tampere Tero Järvenpää hit a big personal best 86.68m to win over Pitkämäki and then last year the Finnish number one in javelin throw finished only in third place behind winner Teemu Wirkkala and silver medallist Antti Ruuskanen. It was Ruuskanen, who was thought to have a shot at his first title having won the qualification with a relaxed 82.51m throw, but in the final things went as usual: a duel between Pitkämäki and Wirkkala which has been usual this summer.
Wirkkala started with a strong 83.88m throw in round one giving indication that he would not surrender his 2009 title easily, but Pitkämäki this time found his big throw earlier than in Barcelona or Stockholm, already hitting the winning throw of 85.19m in round two. Overall his series was much more balanced than in previous meets with all six throws measured and four over 83 metres this time. Wirkkala was second with that first round effort 83.88m and Ruuskanen third winning his second straight medal after a silver in 2009. Ari Mannio, who faded a bit towards the end of the season was fourth with 79.30m.
Karjalainen’s Hammer Throw streak continues
In other events Olli-Pekka Karjalainen, who had won the previous 12 titles starting in 1998 as an 18-year-old, came under tremendous pressure this time with two throwers almost equally strong this season. Karjalainen, who finished in 10th place in Barcelona at the European Championships, had not thrown over 75m since May and both David Söderberg and Tuomas Seppänen had marks over 74 metres recently coming to this competition. Söderberg especially was thought to have a shot as the 30-year-old had recorded nine medal finishes out of nine competitions from 2001-2009 behind Karjalainen with eight of them silver. But the old champion still wasn’t going to step aside.
Karjalainen started with a good 74.92m throw and lead the competition from start to finish. But it wasn’t easy with Seppänen also coming close already in round one with a 74.36m effort, very close to his 74.60m personal best from earlier this season. Söderberg had problems with a foul in each of first two throws, but the he too came to life in round three with a 74.53m which brought all three just within 56cm midway to the competition. Seppänen came close to the win in round five producing a personal best 74.73m, but after Karjalainen he had his 13th title in the bag, he bettered his own mark to 75.20m with the last throw of the competition. So it was 13 golds for Karjalainen and 10 medals with nine silvers to Söderberg and first medal to Seppänen. The 24-year-old from Pori is probably the best bet to take over from Karjalainen in the future. After a problematic 2009 season, he added more than four metres to his personal best this season having only thrown over 70m once before 2010, but with seven 70-metre competitions out of seven this summer.
In the Long Jump Tommi Evilä also was under threat. The 2005 World Championships bronze medallist had lost to Petteri Lax in Barcelona, but in Kajaani he still had what it takes and the Tampere jumper took his seventh title with a 7.86m winning jump. The competition was tighter than expected with Lax jumping to second with 7.77m and 19-year-old Roni Ollikainen with a surprise bronze medal and a big personal best 7.75m. Otto Kilpi, who was narrowly left out of the final in Barcelona was fourth with 7.72m and Eetu Viitala fifth with 7.51m. Mikko Kivinen who was looking good early in the season later saw the rest of his summer ruined by injuries and could only jump 7.50m this time for sixth place.
In the high jump 30-year-old Osku Torro finally grabbed his first title with a 2.24m win after a long wait, but in the pole vault 22-year-old favourite Eemeli Salomäki could not defend his 2009 title. Salomäki, who had a jumped season’s best 5.60m two times, latest in the Barcelona qualification, no heighted at 5.25m to give others room for the win. And there was a surprise winner too with 23-year-old Jere Bergius from Tampere stepping up to win with a 5.50m personal best adding five centimetres to his previous best 5.45m from 2008. Aleksi Tammentie easily won his third straight triple jump title with a 15.80m jump.
In the others throwing events Robert Häggblom won the shot put with a 18.92 season’s best and Frantz Kruger once more took the discus title with a 61.10 throw. Furthermore Lassi Raunio came back to close in on his 7862 personal best from 2006 winning the decathlon with 7679 points and Antti Kempas won the 20km walk in 1:29:20.
Men’s track -
In the men’s running events a lot of focus was on the sprints with the sprint relay team having finished in seventh place in the Barcelona final with a national record. But only two members of this team actually took part to the 100m race with Hannu Ali-Huokuna falling ill and Jonathan Åstrand only running his preferred 200m distance. In the 100m final which was run against the wind Joni Rautanen grabbed his second title in addition to the 2008 one clocking 10.66. Rautanen, who has run his outdoor best 10.40 this season has finally overcome the injury problems which prevented him running outdoors after a successful indoor season in 2009. Hannu Hämäläinen, who was excellent in Barcelona where he advanced to semi finals in 100m, faded to second place looking a bit exhausted clocking 10.85 well behind Rautanen.
In the 200m Åstrand was expected to rule and he didn’t disappoint. Fresh after a 20.78 personal best in Barcelona heats, the 24-year-old sped to his first national title, against a headwind, in 20.98 keeping 100m winner Rautanen far behind in 21.31 for the second place. A surprise name Henri Parikka grabbed his second bronze of the competition clocking a 21.62 personal best after a bronze in the 100m as well. 23-year-old Matti Välimäki was an expected winner in the 400m with a season’s best 46.89 for his third straight title in this event.
In the 800m Mikko Lahtio made in five in a row with a 1:51.34 win and Niclas Sandells took the last title of the competition on Sunday evening, in the 1500m in 3:43.48, his first national title. 27-year-old Matti Räsänen also won his first title on Thursday and made it two three days later. Räsänen won both 5000m and 10,000m clocking times 13:53.87 and 29:24.45 respectively.
In the 3000m Steeplechase the absence of 2006 European Champion Jukka Keskisalo, who could not defend his title in Barcelona due to an injury, Janne Ukonmaanaho won his first title in 8:46.67. In the 110m hurdles former champion Juha Sonck, who was injured in his Barcelona heat, was also absent and Antti Korkealaakso took advantage winning his second career title. Korkealaakso lowered his 2007 personal best 13.89 achieved in this very same meet by 0.01 to 13.88 for the win. In the 400m Hurdles the spectators could witness the biggest surprise of the meet. Although Jussi Heikkilä, who had won the titles in 2007 and 2009, was known not to be in his best form, the way he finished in second place well behind the winner was still a shock. Heikkilä, who has a personal best 49.39 from 2008 and had run 50.60 this season competed in the heats in Barcelona and was not really thought to be under threat to defend his title from last year. But 20-year-old Petteri Monni, coming to the meet with only a 52.68 personal best from earlier this season, shocked the stadium with a massive 1.42 second personal best 51.26 leaving others far behind to win the national title.
Next generation makes its move – women’s competition
The women’s competition was shadowed by low quality in the results which is really no surprise right now in Finland. In the sprints Sari Keskitalo, who had won the last two 100m and the last four 200m titles has lost his speed in 2010, but was still able to hold on to her 100m title in a slow 12.02 winning time. But in the 200m there was a new champion with Keskitalo well beaten. Just 16-year-old Anna Hämäläinen won in 24.34 following a 24.24 personal best in the heats with Keskitalo in second clocking 24.50. Another favourite Ella Räsänen, also just 16 years of age, who had won the 400m earlier in 54.44, did not start the final. Räsänen, one of the most promising female athletes in Finland, was pushed surprisingly close in the 400m though. 17-year-old Aino Paunonen, the daughter of Ari Paunonen, still the national junior record holder in both 800m (1:47.74) and 1500m (3:38.07) and national record and European junior record holder with 7:43.20 in 3000m, pushed hard in the final straight for a second place and a big 54.84 personal best for her first sub 55-second race.
Mari Järvenpää won the 800m in 2:06.79, but was beaten in 1500m by Steeplechase specialist Sandra Eriksson who won in 4:25.34 against Järvenpää’s 4:25.79. In the 3000m Steeplechase former champion Johanna Lehtinen was trying a comeback, but bad luck seems to follow her everywhere as she sprained her ankle early in the race coming down from a steeple early in the race. Eriksson went on to win this event too grabbing her fourth straight title in 10:05.02 and then went to become a triple champion on Sunday winning a slow 5000m race in 17:07.05 personal best.
Marathon runner Laura Markovaara won the 10,000m in a 34:42.94 personal best and Ida Aidanpää shocked favourite Nooralotta Neziri in the 100m Hurdles winning in 13.62 personal best. Elisa Leinonen was second also setting a PB 13.75 with Neziri badly fading to third place in 13.78. 17-year-old Neziri has run a 13.46 personal best this season and following a fifth place at the World Junior Championships she was expected to win her first national title here.
In the women’s High Jump heptathlete Maiju Mattila stepped up a level for a surprise win over 29-year-old Hanna Grobler, who was ruled the event for a long time. Although hampered by injuries lately, Grobler was still the number one favourite before the competition. But Mattila’s jumping looked extremely good and after she made her 1.83m clearance with massive space between her and the bar it was clear a surprise might happen. Grobler, still leading going to 1.85m, had a very narrow miss with her first try, but Mattila continued with another clean clearance adding two cm to her overall best 1.83m which she had jumped indoors at the National Championships in Turku this winter. Grobler too cleared with her third jump, but 1.87m was too much for both and Mattila won the competition.
Minna Nikkanen an easy winner in the pole vault clearing 4.40m for her fourth career title. Nikkanen also tried a national record 4.47m, but that was too much this time. Elina Torro emerged as a double winner in long jump (6.19m) and triple jump (13.30m). Suvi Helin won the shot put with 15.38m and Tanja Komulainen topped the discus competition with a 56.38m winning throw. In the hammer Merja Korpela won her fourth straight title with a 66.94m throw. The 29-year-old, who recently finished eighth in the first major championships final in Barcelona, has finished out of the medals only once since 1999, in 2000. Recent World Junior Champion Sanni Utriainen won her first javelin title coming close to her personal best 56.69m from Moncton with a 56.29m winning throw and Niina Kelo won her third straight title in heptathlon with 5719 total points. Anne Halkivaha won the 10km walk in 51:22.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS?