The pole final of the Kaleva Games in Lahti was Wilma Murro’s last competition before the World Championships. According to coach Jarno Koivunen, the new wings are sufficiently tested before the main event of the season.
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 pole vaulter competing as Finland’s only medal favorite at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest Wilma Murron should have competed today in the World Championship general race in Jockgrim, Germany.
However, Murro’s name did not appear on the competition list. The number three in the world statistics has had a little stomach trouble this week.
– Nothing more serious than that. There would have been flights yesterday, but they were skipped just in case, Murro’s coach Jarno Koivunen tells Urheilu.
According to Koivunen, no alternative competition was sought to replace Jockgrim. The two-time European champion tried out new pole equipment in Turku.
– At the Kaleva Games, we got another good pole vault experience, so we thought there was no need to forcefully go there, says Koivunen.
In the pole vault final held on Sunday, Murto tried different poles at different heights. He cleared heights of 450 and 464 handsomely in his first over.
So the Lahti experiment was obviously sufficient?
– It’s a good feeling. We will do one training session with those fins next week at the end of Turku. Yes, that’s enough.
“There’s no need to slouch there”
Koivunen does not yet know exactly when the two will head for Budapest.
The women’s pole vault qualification will be jumped on Monday, August 21. The final is a couple of days later on Wednesday.
– There are no exact dates yet, but we will probably go on different days because of rod transports. A few days before the qualification we go. Not any earlier, so that there is no need to slouch there.
According to Koivunen, Murto reacted to missing the race in his own positive way.
– There is so much time before the World Cup that nothing like this will affect them.
Murto won the Diamond League race in Lausanne, Switzerland a couple of weeks ago with a season’s best 480. Only the defending World Championship gold medalist USA has jumped better this outdoor track season. Katie Moon (490) as well as New Zealand, which has returned to the top Eliza McCartney (485).
Last year, Moon, USA, made up the trio of World Cup medals Sandy Morris and Australia Nina Kennedy. Murto was sixth at the time, which is his second best finish at the global championships.
At the Olympics, he has been fifth at his best.
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.