Finnish female endurance runners are having a hard time. According to Lasse Virén, the competitive situation is similar to his peak years.
Kaleva Games in Vaasa 27.–30.6. followed the events moment by moment in this article.
VAASA.
When the four-time Olympic champion Lasse Virén honors the Kaleva Games with his presence, it feels like we are really in the presence of someone big.
Virén and his wife are familiar visitors to Finland’s biggest athletics competitions. In addition to the Kaleva Games, the legend is a regular guest at least at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku.
Virén enjoys the fact that there are currently interesting things in many Finnish athletics. The hard fights are especially interesting.
– I look at a little bit of everything, so you can’t say that any particular sport is particularly good. The women’s ton vitonen was a very good competition, she refers to the final of the Kaleva Games on Friday.
Finnish women’s endurance running is currently in an unprecedentedly good situation. There are great runners at every distance, from 800m to marathon.
Virén remembers his own times.
– That’s a damn good thing. In my time, fierce mutual competition increased the level of results a lot. There were a lot of us.
New entrepreneurs
Particularly interesting names are young ones Nathalie Blomqvist mixed Ilona Mononenwho dazzled the European Championships in Rome with their SE runs and great placings.
Blomqvist has greatly improved the Finnish record of 5,000 meters. On Sunday, he ran in front of Virén with a perfect solo for a decent time.
The 20-year-old Mononen, who quickly switched to steeplechase, has in turn broken by Sandra Eriksson the 3,000-meter steeplechase Finnish record from ten years ago.
– Everyone looks good. It could have potential medalists. You just have to practice and be able to trust yourself.
– When they have shown the way, more new entrepreneurs can come from there, Virén reminds.
Records in jeopardy
Point Virén’s records may be in danger. His Kaleva Games 5,000 meter race record is 13:24. A man’s SE is eight seconds harder.
It has been speculated that Kaleva won the championship of the Games Mustafa Muuse will take SE under its name in the next few years.
– It doesn’t matter who takes them. They are made to be broken.
He doesn’t know Muuse. A year ago, Virén missed by Eemil Helander medal run under Espoo in the 23-year-old European Championships.
– I didn’t make it to Espoo to watch. I don’t know if it hurt, but still.
Finland has not received an Olympic medal in athletics for eight years. Virén cannot say whether any Finnish track and field athlete will bring a medal from Paris.
– That’s a big question mark. We hope that there will be a good result. Medals may be far away.
Kaleva Games in Vaasa 27.–30.6. followed the events moment by moment in this article.