Saturday is a super day for women at the Kaleva athletics games in Lahti, as the program includes three sports, each of which has up to three athletes going to the World Championships in Budapest. These are pole vault, triple jump and 100 meter hurdles.
For the national championship competition, the top level is tough in these sports. At their best, the best Finns in these sports are at the top of Europe, as has been seen in the European Championships of the past year. Wilma Murto is a two-time European pole vault champion, Reetta Hurske European Championship gold medalist in the 60-meter hurdles and Kristiina Mäkelä European triple jump silver medalist from Munich last summer.
Sports expert Mikaela Ingberg tells you what to expect from the three hard-level sports.
Puhe at 15:45, TV2 and Areena at 17:25
10:30 M 10-match, 100m
10:50 M puck, qualifying
11:20 M 10 match, length
12:35 N moukari, qualifying
13:00 N 7-match, length
13:05 M 10 match, ball
13:15 M height, qualifying
14:30 N 7-match, javelin
15:20 M 10 match, height
15:30 N length, qualifying
15:50 N 400m aj, heats
16:20 M 400m aj, heats
16:30 M javelin, qualifying
16:50 N 800m, heats
17:20 M 800m, heats
17:20 M 3-jump, qualifying
17:45 N 3000m ej, final
17:45 N altitude, final
18:05 M 10-match, 400m
18:10 N staves, final
18:20 M 400m, final
18:30 N 400m, final
18:45 N 7-match, 800m
19:05 M moukari, final
19:05 M 110m aj, heats
19:20 N 3-jump, final
19:20 N 100m aj, heats
19:55 M 3000m ej, final
20:20 M 110m aj, final
20:35 N 100m aj, final
1. Will the silver medalist in the high hurdles run under 13 seconds?
Reetta Hurske has won the two previous Finnish championships in fast fences, and in Lahti she is also a clear favorite to win.
The Tampere native ran a Finnish record of 12.70 in June. Even though there have been a few slower races in between, Ingberg believes that the winning time will fall well below 13 seconds.
But what is the silver medalist’s time? Ingberg estimates that for the first time in the history of the Kaleva Games, the silver medalist could also break 13 seconds. The best silver result at the Kaleva Games is 13.01.
Annimari Korte has run 12.83 this season and Lotta Harala 12.85. Nooralotta Nezirin the season’s best is 13.04.
– I would hope that someone could surprise and challenge Reetta, who has been the clear number one. I see that Lotta is the most likely. This year, at least two women could very well run under 13 seconds, if the conditions are good, says Ingberg.
Lotta Harala is stuck in the last ranking place of the World Championships. Annimari Kortee, on the other hand, should improve her ranking points a bit so that she could qualify for the Games.
Quick hurdle heats at 19:20 and the final at 20:35.
2. Will the European champion return as Finnish champion?
They have won two pole vault European championships in the past year Wilma from Murro an international track and field star and established his place in the sport’s toughest competition series, the Diamond League. As a result, Murto is an increasingly rare sight on domestic pitches. Out of his nine competitions this season, he has jumped three in Finland.
Ingberg encourages viewers to pay attention to Murro’s confident behavior in a competitive situation. After all, he is one of the best athletes in his sport in the world.
– Wilma is so professional in everything she does. It also sets a good example for younger athletes, says Ingberg.
Last year the Finnish championship was won Elina Lampelawho this season has improved his record to 456. Also jumped 450 Saga Andersson is stuck at the World Cup venue.
Ingberg believes that winning the Finnish championship is an important step for Murro before the World Championships starting in three weeks. However, last year he missed out on silver at the WC and a few weeks later he won EC gold in Munich with a new Finnish record.
– The Finnish championship is in a certain way a matter of honor for every athlete, even if they have won medals in prestigious competitions, says Ingberg.
The women’s pole vault final starts at 6:10 p.m.
3. Will Kähärä join the battle for victory?
Kristiina Mäkelä, 30, has a record ten championships from the triple jump at the Kaleva Games, but now she is going to the WC finals in a new situation. The SE woman’s summer season has not taken off yet, as the season’s best has been 13.92.
Senni Salminen is the statistical leader as the only person to cross 14 meters (14.03) in the season. Under-23 EC bronze medalist Jessica Kähärä has jumped his record 13.87 this season.
According to Mikaela Ingberg, the trio needs positive signs of their condition from Lahti, so that the preparation for the World Championships in Budapest can get off to a good start. For Kähärä, a small improvement in the ranking points would also be good, so that the World Championship place would be secured. The World Championship ranking closes on Sunday evening, so the Kaleva Games are the last place for the athletes to show off.
Ingberg believes that any of the three triple jumpers can take the championship on a good day. He expects that Kähärä will come to the winning battle to “mix up the deck”.
– It’s a really big plus that Jessica has risen to that level. He has huge potential in the triple jump. He’s naturally fast, and when I watched the best jump at the European Under-23 Championships, it went a bit side to side. When he gets to do a little sport technique next winter, there can be no matter how hard the results are, says Ingberg.
The women’s triple jump final starts at 19:20.
The Kaleva Games in Lahti 27.–30.7. Urheilu follows the events in this article.