Hurdle runner Antti Sainio and discus thrower Mico Lampinen took bronze in the under-20 World Championships.
Antti Sainio took bronze in the 400m hurdles final at the Under-20 World Championships in Athletics in Peru’s capital, Lima.
Sainio’s time was 49.61. The winner was the United States Vance Nilsson with a time of 49.26, while second place went to the Czech Republic Michal Rada at 49.30.
The time that entitled him to bronze was Sainio’s second best in his career. He had run the 19-year-old Finnish record of 49.36 in the semi-finals of the World Championships.
At the end of the fence final, Sainio rose from fourth place to third with a fierce finish.
– When I was fourth, I thought I had to get a medal and I was able to fight for it. Before the run, my foot and knee hurt so bad, but I decided to give it my all. I knew that the end would be good today, Sainio said according to the union’s press release.
The hard surface track had an effect
The 19-year-old aituri representing Tampere’s Pyrintö said that the metatarsal was already sore during the Games. However, he thought that Lima’s hard-surfaced track has also affected the leg.
– I think I’m going to film the leg at home, although it didn’t affect the performance now, Sainio said.
According to the sports federation’s release, Sainio’s bronze medal is the Finns’ second medal of all time in the 400-meter hurdles at the World Championships under 20 years of age. The last time the medal came off, when Heidi Salminen became the real champion in the 2021 Games.
– This is of great importance to me. This creates motivation for the future. A lot of work has been done for the medal and it was awarded now. I’m really happy, Sainio said.
Lima intermediate stage, aiming for Olympic gold
The discus thrower also won bronze Mico Lampinenwho set his personal record in the discus throw final with a result of 62.20. American Bryce Ruland took gold with 62.59 and Holland Jarno van Daalen silver with a score of 62.22.
Lampinen, who threw an even series, broke his record with his second throw.
– I planned before the competition that in the first one I would try to throw 59-60 meters. If it works out, I’ll go get a button roll. The first throw was a good 60 meters and the second then 62.20, Lampinen said according to the sports association’s release.
According to Lampinen, the throw that brought the medal was a bit low, just like all the other throws in Saturday’s final.
– This is what I came for. It’s a bit sad that the silver was two centimeters away, but it was a success, it was a record in an important place, Lampinen estimates, according to the press release.
Lampinen, who represents the Vantaa-based Kenttäurheilijat 58 club, described the Lima Games as just an intermediate stage and the main goal is Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028.
Weak luck on the final stretch
Mila Heikkonen was in fourth place at the end of the women’s 400-meter hurdles final, when one leg hit the fence violently, the sports association says in a press release. However, Heikkonen’s ranking, who fell to seventh with a time of 57.64, improved by one, when second-placed U.S. Jasmine Robinson was disqualified due to track fault.
– At the end of the straight I felt like I could fight for third place, but I stumbled a bit at the penultimate fence. Until then, the run was rhythmically good and I was strong at the end, Heikkonen said according to the release.
Gold was taken by France Meta Tumba with a time of 55.59 and Poland ran second Wiktoria Gadajska at 56.87.
Competed in the moukari final Emmi Mäkäläinen missed his first three throws without a result. Mäkälainen’s throws hit the cage.
– The throws didn’t feel like their own. It was a lot of work, since it’s been almost two weeks since the last proper throwing practice and I need a lot of throws, Mäkäläinen said, according to the sports association.