The Finnish Sports Federation also nominated runners for the men’s and women’s 4×100 meter relay teams and the women’s 4×400 meter relay team for the European Championships in Munich.
19:12•Updated 19:13
Toni Kuusela has been chosen as the third representative of the Finnish athletics EC team for the men’s javelin throw and Sara Killinen for women’s shot put.
– The team has now got its character. 69 athletes will go to Munich. In addition, we have seven reserve athletes who will stay in Finland, says the Finnish Sports Confederation’s (SUL) top sports coaching manager Tuomo Salonen.
– We have assembled a high-quality team that has the potential to succeed in Munich. Several of the top athletes showed excellent stamina at the Kaleva Games in Joensuu, and that bodes well for next week’s European Championships.
Keränen, Laine and Koskinen on reserve – Kemppinen is out
Men’s javelin Toni Keränen and Topias Laine are the first and second reserve athlete to stay home. There is a reserve athlete in the women’s shot put Suvi Koskinen.
The men’s 4×100 meter relay was named Niko Kangasoja, Oskari Lehtonen, Samuel Purola, Samuli Samuelsson, Eino Vuori, Santeri Örn as well as a stay-at-home reserve athlete Roope Saarinen.
The women’s 4×100 meters were named Lotta Kemppinen, Anniina Korttemaa, Johanna Kylmänen, Aino Pulkkinen and Anna Pursiainen and as reserve athletes Jenna Kokkonen, Sara Francis and Elisabet Salmela.
However, Kemppi will not be seen in the EC competitions. In her place, Jenna Kokkonen, who was originally selected as a reserve athlete, will travel to the Games. Kemppi has been bothered by pain near the left Achilles tendon. It has been rehabilitated and Kemppinen has been training, but has not competed this summer.
Kemppinen’s coach Mervi of Brandenburg according to Kemppinen stated based on the last trainings that he will not go to the EC competitions.
The women’s 4×400 meter relay team was named Mette Baasaturis Kristiina Halonen and Viivi Lehikoinenwho ran in the 4×400 meter relay team of the under-20 World Championships in Cali Veera Mattilarunning 800 meters in European Championships Eveliina Määttänen and 400 meter runners Aino Pulkkinen and Milja Thureson.
The relay athlete who stays home has been part of the youth World Cup team Ronja Koskela.
– The relay teams’ final compositions and running order will then only be locked in Munich, says Salonen.
Partanen will not compete in Munich
Originally a competitive walker selected for the EC team Brother-Matti “Aku” Partanen misses the European Championships in Munich.
– Aku has a nerve problem in his right buttock. It came even before the World Championships in Eugene and has not improved. Aku hasn’t been able to train properly, so it doesn’t make sense to go to the European Championship, Partanen’s coach Valentin Kononen stated.
– Now we are trying to get the leg in shape so that Aku can still compete in the fall.