Veera Mattila and Jessica Kähärä succeeded in the under-23 European Championships in athletics in Espoo. Mattila took silver in the 800 meters and Kähärä took bronze in the triple jump.
Emma Hyuppa,
Petra Manner
Veera Mattila took the fourth medal of the Finnish athletics team at the under-23 European Championships in Espoo, when he won silver in the 800 meters. Mattila ran her record 2:03.14 in the final.
The Voima runner from the Vammala region challenged even the race’s pre-favorite, Spain, in the final stretch by Daniela Garciawho, however, kept Mattila behind him by 0.18 seconds.
Mattila only found out about her time in an interview.
– Was there a record or not? Awesome then. I didn’t have time to think about anything, I just ran with it. I had thought that I would go with the lead and just fight, Mattila said happily.
Mattila’s previous record and season’s best of 2:03.55 was the sixth best of the final group, so the medal was a nice surprise. Mattila exceeded even her own expectations. He has previously represented Finland in the under-20 European and World Championships, but was far from the top.
– (The medal) was a surprise, yes. A place in the final was a goal and a wish. This is beyond all that. I still don’t believe this to be true, Mattila said.
20-year-old Mattila is only competing in the under-23s for her first season. He can compete in the same series two more years from now, when the European Championships are held next time.
Kähärä fought for bronze
Another medal was secured for Finland a few minutes later, when Jessica Kähärä stretched for bronze in the triple jump final. Kähärä jumped his bronze result with 13.59 in the fifth round of the competition.
Spain’s gold celebrations, which started at 800 meters, continued at the triple jump venue, where the early favorite Maria Vicente took an overwhelming victory with a result of 14.21. He beat the Swedish silver medalist Maja Åskagin with 45 centimeters.
The one who entered the race as a statistician Jessica Kähärä was relieved when his medal goal was met.
– It’s a really great moment. In the morning network, I rolled my ankle and it was quite painful during the race. But I fought well and the medal came, so I’m really satisfied, Kähärä said emotionally.
Even though Kähärä’s ankle hurt, skipping the race never crossed his mind. However, participation in Saturday’s long qualifying is uncertain, the multitalent says.
– This was a big battle victory. I knew that with Finnish guts I could fight through the race. I have jumped with pain before. I’ve had a tough couple of years and now I’ve made a comeback. That’s why this is great, Kähärä said.