An unknown paddler promises a tougher result than Lotta Harala and Reetta Hursketta – the main sport is still elsewhere | Sport

With Lena Spoof held the Finnish women’s 100-meter hurdles record of 13.24 for no less than 25 years. Over the course of twenty years, SE has fallen rapidly down to 12.65.

At one time, Spoof’s record was also the under-20 SE. However, they were unable to break it Lotta Harala, Nooralotta Neziri or Reetta Hurskekaan.

A 17-year-old was needed Mila Heikkonenwho broke it in July in Porvoo by four hundredths.

Heikkonen’s coach Anne Suoranta was surprised that Spoof’s 45-year-old record was broken. Entrepreneurs, especially in the 21st century, have been at their darkest.

SE woman Harala achieved a best time of 13.65 in the under-20 category. Hurske, who is the second fastest of all time in Finland, on the other hand, 13.43.

– Before the race in Porvoo, I hadn’t thought about the Finnish record. There was no smell what the youth SE is. After the heat went well, we started to see what it is. In the field interview, I promised that I would go harder in the final, Heikkonen feels.

The SE in question was a drastic move from Heikko, who was born in 2006. Especially considering that the 100-meter hurdles is not his main distance.

A skilled paddler

Heikkonen’s starting main event is the 400-meter hurdles. In that, he is eighth in the world statistics of his age group. If he succeeds, he can run for medals at the Under-20 World Championships held in Lima, Peru this week.

However, Heikkonen’s development this summer has been dizzying, especially in the speed fences. Even before this year, the record for women’s fences was 14.14, so it has improved by almost a second.

That is not surprising in itself, because Heikkonen is very skilled at hurdles and crossing the fence.

According to Suoranta, this is reflected in the fact that the transition to the fence height of the women’s 100-meter fences (84) has been even more natural than with the lowest fences. In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, on the other hand, 76-centimeter-high fences are used.

Heikkonen is surprised by his performance in the 100-meter hurdles. Especially when the last training season was largely spent rehabilitating from a back problem.

– I haven’t practiced quick fences any worse, because it has always been a side sport. It also helps with long fences. I’ve been wondering if I should become a speedboater. Not yet, however, Heikkonen laughs.

– The speed side has developed a lot, even though I had a back problem throughout the training season. With rehabilitative training, development has apparently come.

“Freezing hard”

Heikkonen has also been announced for the 100-meter hurdles at the Junior World Championships. In Peru, however, the main focus is primarily on the 400-meter fences.

– Quick fences are more comfortable. It’s not that bad at all. Even though the four-legged fences is a terrible journey, it still fascinates more. I think my features are better for long fences. We’ll see how it develops in the next few years, says Heikkonen.

According to Suoranta, the reactivity values ​​are very hard at Heikkonen. They have come to the fore, for example, in jumping tests performed during the training season.

– They are really hard. I don’t understand how. The thing where you jump seven times flat-footed as high as possible is strength, says Heikkonen.

In the 400-meter hurdles and hurdles in general, it can be seen as resilience.

– I believe that it has something to do with how you put in the effort and get off the fence. I try to strengthen the legs so that the descent is as stable as possible. Anne has said that especially in high speed fences it is really good if the reactivity jump is at such a hard level. It certainly won’t hurt even in 400 meter fences.

There are comments about the 76-centimeter fences in the women’s 400-meter hurdles that they are too low for women. A skilled fencer wouldn’t mind, even if the fences for that distance were higher.

– In principle, it wouldn’t hurt, even if they were raised to the height of the speed fences. Fence technology and fence crossing would be more important. Of course, it would change the nature of the sport a bit. If you look Femke Boliawith really long legs, looks like he just stepped over the fence.

Attacking SE in Lehikoinen

Speaking of boli, Heikkonen’s sport has two individuals who are the brightest stars in all of athletics: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol. Among them, especially McLaughlin-Levrone has shone with no less than six world records.

In Paris, he won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal with his latest ME quote of 50.37. It is not impossible that one day Heikkonen will be able to run in the same race as McLaughlin-Levrone.

– Running looks so easy and effortless. He goes with 14 paces between fences for a long time, but still goes really well. Running is so gestureless and flawless.

Heikkonen has a great example of the same club. Also seven years older representing HIFK-Friidort Viivi Lehikoinen once had the reputation of a great junior star.

However, the road from the youth value competition winner to the SE woman and the adult EC sixth was not easy.

– Before my first European youth championships in Jerusalem, I asked Viiv about what it was like in the junior championships. I feel that was useful information.

Lehikoinen set the Finnish under-20 record of 56.49 at the 2017 Grosseto Junior European Championships. Heikkonen states that his goal is to break the SE time in question.

Because of his age, Heikkonen has the opportunity to show it off next summer as well, when Tampere will host the European Youth Championships.

– I would say that it is a realistic goal. If you run that kind of time, you can be pretty high in the junior WC final. Hopefully it will go this summer as well, but if not, next summer at the latest, Heikkonen trusts.

Important sleep

Heikkonen invests in sports holistically, starting with recovery and body care.

– No one has had to go to muscle maintenance. I try as much as possible to take care of everything myself, in order to have the best possible legs to train. I go for massages and muscle care, but what you do to your feet really affects your feet, Heikkonen says.

Suoranta says that Heikkonen invests in sleeping properly. For teenagers, it’s not a matter of course when you’re still on social media late at night.

Heikkonen says that he strives for a regular sleep pattern and tries to go to bed no later than 10 p.m.

– Yes, I also have exceptions, but at least I strive for it. If I go to bed late, it makes me anxious because I know I’ll be tired in the morning. That motivates me when I have to go to bed early. I will probably be able to wake up much more refreshed in the morning and perform better.