Toni Kuusela will go to the European Championships in Munich as the third javelin man. Oliver Helander’s health situation raises question marks again.
Joel Sippola,
Petra Manner,
Laura Arffman
The current situation of the men’s javelin throw was properly discussed at the Kaleva Games in Joensuu. Toni Kuusela and Toni Keränen fought hard for the last European Championship place in Munich.
The Finnish Sports Confederation (SUL) had placed a lot of importance on the third javelin selection for the Joensuu Kaleva Games. The requirement was to cross 82 meters.
Both Kuusela and Keränen answered the shout. Keränen immediately raced in the opening round with the second best arc of his career, 82.52. However, Kuusela did even better than this with his season’s best 84.01.
SUL announces the final competition selections today. However, Kuusela’s place in the competition is practically certain. The men’s head-to-head matches are tied 2–2.
The 84.01 throw made in the finals of the Kaleva Games still has the biggest weight. Keränen’s best of the season is 82.89 thrown in Oulu on Midsummer.
– According to my understanding, Toni Kuusela is stuck in the third race place. He won the mutual fight by a meter and a half, the javelin coach Petteri Piironen guessed Urheilu shortly after the javelin competition.
The story continues after the video and picture
Helander’s situation is worrying again
Perhaps Finland’s biggest javelin hope, by Oliver Helanderthe race ended after the first round.
– The warm-up went well, but after the first throw my back cramped and I couldn’t move properly. When even walking is difficult, throwing the javelin is also difficult, Helander explained to Urheilu.
However, Helander was not worried about the European Championships.
– I’m going for an MRI tomorrow. Let’s make sure it’s nothing more serious. I think I can throw there.
Despite Helander’s difficulties, Finland’s javelin situation seems promising for the European Championships. Specially Lassi Etelätalo an upbeat mood is pleasing.
At the World Championships in Oregon, Etelätalo was the third best European after competing with his season best of 82.70. On Sunday, Etelätalo became the champion in the sixth round with a season’s best 84.62.
It is the second best javelin arc of Etelätalo’s career. His record of 84.98 is from 2014. Etelätalo also threw 82.13 in his second one on Sunday.
– Yes, with results like that, it’s okay to go looking for success. We’re going to get a medal, Piironen announces.