An unimaginable start from Antti Tuisku’s team at the SM level – the 16-year-old anchor brought victory in his first pair sprint | Sport

Jämin Jänne won his second consecutive Finnish championship in the men’s pair sprint.

Antti Tuiskun ski team AT Ski Team’s start at the SM level was perfect. The team immediately won gold in their first Finnish championship. 16 year old anchor Olivia Puranen even competed for the first time in a pair sprint.

Emmi Lämsä ran away from the others by more than eight seconds on his own last leg, and Puranen maintained the gap until the finish line, even though Teho Ski Team Iisalmen Vilma Ryytty approached inexorably and eventually narrowed the gap to a troublesome 0.8 seconds.

Ounasvaara Ski Club Josefina Böök crossed the finish line in third place.

– I feel completely crazy now. There were a few difficulties in qualifying. Luckily there were a few hours to collect… Really good skiing from Emmi for that last leg and it gave me a good place. Then just go all the way to the finish line, Puranen said.

Runaway to the top in his last leg Emmi Lämsä said that the team had a precise plan for the race.

– It was intended that I pull my last leg as hard as I can and try to give Olivia a good place. The plan worked out perfectly, Lämsä said.

– This is pretty cool. When I only got to know these girls in the summer and now I see a great achievement already. It’s unbelievable how well Olivia pulled herself together after the qualification. I am so proud of Olivia.

Vilma Ryytty started the anchor section in fourth place, 8.7 seconds behind the leader.

– AT Ski Team had a pretty big difference from us. I thought they were going to go, but on the last uphill I started to see the back. I wondered if the trip would be enough, but it wasn’t quite enough. It went well until the end and we reached well, Ryytty said.

Jämi defended his championship

Jamin Jante Cross mat Hakola ran away from Pohti Ski Team From Joni Mäe in the last ascent and secured Jämi’s second consecutive pair sprint men’s SM gold.

Mäki beat Hakola by 3.6 seconds. In the final meters, Imatra’s Athletes stretched for third Miro Karppanen before Vuokatti Ski Team Eero Rantalaa.

– It went as it should. I was expecting a tougher fight with Joni Mäki, but it didn’t come from Joni on that climb. Lepistö brought me to a good place, that’s where Mäki got into. However, it’s windy there all the time. Yes, the one who keeps the pace has to apply more power, Hakola said.

Lauri Lepistö said that he had already seen during practice that “Rise’s” performance seems loose enough that the championship is likely.

– It was agreed that this would be taken care of in a hurry, Lepistö said.

– It was agreed not to take these to the end, Hakola added.

Joni Mäki returned to the race track after the Davos World Cup in mid-December. The competition left a dent.

– I feel like I’m not in the best shape at the moment. He wasn’t able to challenge at all when Risto left.

Mäki says that he was sick for a couple of weeks after Davos and didn’t train much.

– The last 1.5 weeks have already been quite good. However, you can already get a taste of the competition. Let’s try to get things rolling again, Mäki said.