Pakka is completely at the top of the men’s javelin world. It opens up the dream seam for experienced Finns to return to the medal base, writes journalist Atte Husu.
Atte Husu
will show the World Athletics Championships on its channels from August 19 to August 27. See the program and broadcast information of the games at this link.
The eyes of the domestic athletics crowd have been fixed on the pole star this summer Wilma Murto. And for a reason.
Everyone knows Murro’s performances among the best in the sport in the Diamond League, which is why the defending European champion is also the spearhead of the Finnish team at the World Championships in Budapest starting on August 19.
Murto, who crossed the height of 480 meters, is third in the world statistics for the outdoor track season by Katie Moon490, and by Eliza McCartney, 485, behind. There were no significant differences between the trio in the fitness scale in July.
Although Murto carries on his shoulders the hopes of Finns for success in a sport where Finland has never won a World Cup medal, Murto does not have to get on the Budapest race machine as a lone medal candidate.
This was confirmed on the final day of the Kaleva Games.
90 percent
The international level of the men’s javelin has been modest this season compared to previous years.
By August 9, eight men have crossed the 85-meter mark, one of them from Belarus At Aliaksei Katkavets there is no right to compete in Budapest because of the Russian war of aggression.
Although Helander can be found in fifth place in the world statistics, the result of 85.32 seen in the WC final in Lahti is the hardest when we talk about the WC general practice of the throwers traveling to Budapest.
Something about the usual weaker javelin level tells that the number one man of the season Jakub Vadlejch was, besides Helander, the only one who could exceed 85 meters during the whole of July.
In Helander’s case, the World Cup general went very promisingly, considering the variables related to the competition.
He exceptionally kept up his WC gold throw, which was largely due to a pass in the sprint.
Helander’s personal trainer Tero Pitkämäki reported to Urheilu on Wednesday that Helander’s speed was 90 percent of normal in the opening rounds of the SC final. Pitkämäki described the drop in speed as significant.
As the WC final progressed, Helander increased his speed and could no longer stay upright. Also, the throws did not contribute to the readings of the early rounds.
– Bigger success, however, depends on the little things, Pitkämäki said.
Generals in a big role
Seven-time medalist Pitkämäki is the previous Finnish all-around athlete who has been able to celebrate a World Championship medal. This happened in Beijing eight years ago.
The current javelin model has been thrown at the World Cup level continuously since 1993. As the list below shows, the World Cup medalists, with a few exceptions, have gone to the main competition of the season with a successful general practice.
Helander’s starting points for the World Championships in Budapest are very similar from the point of view of results to last year’s World Championships in Eugene: in the Stockholm Diamond League, which served as a general practice at the time, the stick flew 85.46.
Although Helander had no medals to bring home from Eugene, the eighth place is his best ranking and also his most recent ranking appearance.
The 26-year-old throwing talent has even weaker memories, as all three previous trips to the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships had ended in qualification. The via dolorosa of the qualifiers ended right away in the first season of Pitkämäki and Helander’s collaboration.
Experience of success
If Helander cleared his qualifying spot at last year’s World Championships, so did the fifth-place finisher at the European Championships in Munich Toni Kuusela.
With Budapest in mind, the 29-year-old Kuusela threw promising games in July, although the repeatability of throws within the games was at a weak level.
When in the upcoming World Championships, the domestic javelin trio is complemented in the prestigious competitions by the one who always brings the season’s best to the table Lassi EtelätaloFinland has sent an experienced trio to Budapest who have learned to compete in tough places.
Everyone, when healthy, has the capacity to throw the 85m or so required for a medal.
It’s hard currency in the men’s javelin, whose international deck is in complete disarray in light of the statistics right now. The medal seam is smoldering in places other than the pole position.
will show the World Athletics Championships on its channels from August 19 to August 27. See the program and broadcast information of the games at this link.