Senni Salminen and Topi Raitanen’s true peak condition still hidden? Promising comments from the coaches for the European Championships: “In record shape”

JOENSUU. 3,000 meter steeplechase Top Raitanen and a triple jumper Senni Salminen haven’t had a top performance yet this season.

Last season, both were brilliant: Raitanen was in 8th place at the Olympics as the best European, Salminen jumped the Finnish record in June.

This summer has been more moderate so far. At the World Championships in Oregon, both missed the final spots. The races were a big disappointment for Raitase, Salminen didn’t get the success he wanted either.

Thinking about the European Championships in Munich starting on August 15, everything still looks good, say the coaches of the athletes.

Last season, Salminen was in great shape right from the beginning of the season and jumped the Finnish record of 14.63. In the 2022 season, Salminen has consistently jumped between 14.20 and 14.40 meters.

At the Kaleva Games, silver came off with a result of 14.29. It was the second best opening jump of Salminen’s career.

Coach Matti Mononen says that Salminen’s training in the spring was different than a year ago. The top jumps have been sought in a slightly different way.

– Senni is physically in record shape, but there has not yet been a successful jump. There are ingredients. When Senni gets one successful jump, there can immediately be a lot more dimension to the result, Mononen tells Urheilu.

According to Mononen, the biggest challenge is running on the plank. In Joensuu, Salminen stepped over five jumps, even though the step marker was moved forward and backward in the middle of the race.

– The steps got longer at the end. You have to find ease in speed running. We have been training hard all the time. Now the training is lightened. I believe that there will be a peak of fitness for the European Championships.

Watch Salminen’s silver jump at the WC in the video. The story continues after the video.

Salminen is also convinced that the results will turn up at the end of the summer.

– When I get the run going properly, I’ll be breaking records, no doubt. There is an upbeat feeling in the body. The main goal of the season has always been towards the European Championships.

Salminen is in 7th place in this season’s European statistics. Kristiina Mäkelä is tied for second place. The top result goes to Ukraine Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk with a result of 14.54.

At the Kaleva Games in Joensuu, Topi Raitanen showed that his condition is iron.

He ran the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a solo time of 8:21.10, which is just a couple of seconds off the season’s best.

Raitanen’s coach Janne Ukonmaanaho mewled contentedly after the run.

– Is Topi in record condition? You’re working out, it looks like it is. Today’s run also seemed to be in record shape. But now everything has to be done carefully before the European Championships, says Ukonmaanaho.

Raitanen’s record is 8:16.54 from summer 2020.

Raitanen ran to the SM gold with an accelerating pace division. The last 400 meters went a little over a minute.

– 8.21 in this wind with my own stroke means that the man is in a good mood, Ukonmaanaho continues.

Watch Raitanen’s last lap in the video below. The story continues after the video.

Ukonmaanaho says that despite the disappointment of the World Championships, his condition has been progressing according to plans all along.

At the World Championships, Raitanen’s World Cup start went wrong due to stomach problems.

– When things go well in training, it creates work peace. Training has gone well, we are on schedule. The top was also in good shape for the World Championships. It was just a single bad day, Ukonmaanaho emphasizes.

Raitanen was also confident after the winning run at the Kaleva Games.

– From here, the fitness will rise towards Munich.

Ukonmaanaho says that there is only one track practice left in Raitanen’s program before the European Championships, otherwise the practice is light.

Kirivahva Raitanen is in 8th place in European statistics with a time of 8:19.34.

Europe’s prime time is Italy With Ahmed Abdelwahed 8.10, 29.

The European Championship starts on August 15. broadcasts the races on its channels.