In the 400-meter hurdles, Finns have a really delicious situation. However, you can be envious of the other Nordic countries, writes Urheilu’s editor Joel Sippola.
Joel Sippola sports reporter
Kaleva Games in Vaasa 27.–30.6. follows the events moment by moment in this article.
VAASA.
In Finland, there has been talk of a help boom for a long time. The word boom is specifically associated with women’s fast fences.
Reetta Hurske, Lotta Harala, Annimari Korte and Nooralotta Neziri have had a hard time. There has been success in value competitions from Hall’s side.
Recently, a significant milestone was seen when Hurske achieved Finland’s best ever ranking (6th) on outdoor tracks at the European Championships in Rome.
However, fence boom is a much broader concept. In long, 400-meter hurdles, we can talk about an even louder boom, although in Finland it has clearly remained in the darkness of women’s speed fences.
During the last ten years, the level has expanded greatly. There has been a lot of youth value competition success.
In the previous decade it was Oskari Mörö, who ran twice in the EC final. Now the former top promise has reached the EC medal level Viivi Lehikoinen.
Although Lehikoinen is out of Sunday’s race due to illness, an interesting twist can be expected from the final Kristiina Halonen (55,62) and Hilla Uusimäki (55,80) in progress. With their recent records, they are fourth and fifth in Finland’s all-time statistics.
There are several interesting talents behind the women’s top trio. 21-year-old Aada Aho has pressed well under 57 seconds this year.
Heidi Salminen, 20, won won the junior world championship in the sport three years ago. 17-year-old super talent Mila Heikkonen is the EC fourth from the under-18 competitions.
When a twenty-something is added to the youth group Laura Loponen and 19 years old Essi Niskala, it’s nice to enter the prestigious competition teams of the coming years. In the next European Championship held two years from now, we can even talk about a selection agreement.
While the boom in speed fences has been made by women, in long fences it affects both sexes. The best example of this is Jere Haapalainen and Antti Sainion achieved an exceptional double victory in last year’s European Youth Championships.
Mörö came close
Although there is plenty of scope and the future seems fascinating, the 400-meter hurdles have the same challenges as the women’s high-speed hurdles. Who is considered a real top performer at the international level and a winner of the youth competition?
Oskari Mörö showed in the years 2014–2016 that it is possible to reach the level of adults, at least in European terms. The Finn, who narrowly lost the bronze medal eight years ago, left behind others in that race Karsten Warholm.
Of course, even ten years ago, the level of the sport was tolerable compared to what it has become in recent years with, among other things, the shocking ME times.
Still, one can’t help but wonder how all the other Nordic countries have become super successful at the adult level in the last ten years.
Nordic quality
Sara Slott Petersen thumped eight years thus with a hard Danish banger in Rio de Janeiro for Olympic silver. Petersen, who had his best runs towards the end of his career, also won European Championship silver.
Norway’s Karsten Warholm has his own chapter with his Olympic gold, three world championships and a few ME performances.
Sweden, on the other hand, has Carl Bengtstrom, who for years had a reputation for hard talent. In Rome, he redeemed high expectations by winning the European Championship bronze.
Norwegian is also an interesting name for Nordics Henriette Jägerwhich is a 7-player Saga Vannisen former fierce competitor from junior races.
The 21-year-old Norwegian is currently making a strong mark in the 200 and 400 meters, but the absolute potential may still be better achieved in the long hurdles.
Would the highly promising Haapalainen and Sainio be able to add Finland to the tough medal chain of the Nordics?
Kaleva Games in Vaasa 27.–30.6. follows the events moment by moment in this article.