Elisa Neuvonen’s SE time of 2:57.42 was enough in Eugene’s ideal conditions to finish 20th instead of 35 kilometers in a walk.
Elisa Neuvonen came in a 35 km walk celebrating the finish line at the World Championships in Eugene. Neuvonen, who was aiming to break the three-hour mark, reached the finish line in 2:57.42, which he broke Tiia Kuikan the Finnish record of 2:58.30 that he walked in the spring.
SE time was enough in the competition instead of 20th.
– It went better than I expected. The goal was to improve my own record under three hours. I had the Finnish record in mind, but I wouldn’t have been disappointed even if it hadn’t happened, Neuvonen said.
– The travel speed was better than I expected. Overall, the pace was steady, although the beginning was harder than planned.
Neuvonen was still strong in the last decade.
– The end after 25 kilometers was a battle. Especially in the last kilometers it felt like my legs were like macaroni. The legs were so limp that the other ankle was no longer under control and it felt like it was going to sprain, Neuvonen said.
Neuvonen was supposed to walk in kilometer times of 5:05–5:10.
– Actually, all the clubs went below 5:10 and were below the target time. There was even one kilometer under five minutes.
Kononen’s advice helped
World champion at the team service point Valentin Kononen gave instructions, which Neuvonen praised.
– I have a tendency for the body to tilt to the left. Vallu reminded me to straighten it and keep my head up so that the spirit flows better, Neuvonen said.
– It helped in the end. The technique worked.
The next goal is the European Championships in Munich.
– The Kaleva competitions depend on recovery. After that, go to Munich with better confidence, Neuvonen planned.
I cancel Kimberley Garcia won the championship with a time of 2:39:16. The medal trio was the same as in 20 kilometers, when Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo and China Qieyang Shenjie took other prize places.
Just recovering from an illness Tiia Kuikka was rejected for unclean walking.
– I was already feeling healthier, but that’s where the positive things ended, Kuikka stated.
– The walk felt semi-good, so the warnings came as a surprise.