Minna Nikkanen vaults a Finnish indoor record in Vaasa (© Mika Kanerva)
European junior champion Minna Nikkanen’s national record in the Women’s Pole Vault and 2005 World bronze medallist Tommi Evilä’s long jump victory headed some good jumping performances at the Finnish Indoor Championships in Vaasa, 21 - 22 February.
Nikkanen, 20, cleared 4.35m on her third attempt which means that she can now start focusing on the European Indoor Championships in Turin. Another new athlete to break the Finnish Federation’s Entry Standard for Turin was long jumper Juho-Matti Pimiä, who leapt his personal best of 7.89m to place second, only one centimetre behind Evilä.
Stabilised Nikkanen
The technique of Nikkanen who twice cleared 4.35m outdoors in 2007 (at the European Junior Champs in Hengelo, where she won the gold and at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka), last year became very unstable and she lost against Vanessa Vandy at the Finnish Championships and as a result missed out on a team place for Beijing.
“Now I am faster than last summer, and my technique works much better, too. I have not tested my speed yet, but I feel running very easy and comfortable. Of course I thought the European indoor champs would be possible for me, but it was not the most important thing on my mind today," said Nikkanen.
Her last attempt at 4.45 was very promising, but she hit the bar slightly when going down.
"My only problem now is, that I push in a wrong direction with my hands up there," she analyzed.
Vandy, 19, cleared 4.15m for second place and hoped that she could find a good run-up and her normal technique soon.
"Well, this was only my second competition of this season, and maybe my day will come at the Finnish U23 Indoor Champs in Turku in next weekend," said Vandy.
Food poisoning couldn’t stop Evilä
Tommi Evilä was in a good mood after setting a good series of 7.81, 7.83, 7.86 and 7.90m on Botniahall´s Mondo track, although he was not happy with the conditions.
"The track was a bit sloping, and it was not easy make a good take-off. Anyway, I had six solid ‘basic jumps’, said Evilä. "Besides, I got food poisoning from mushroom soup some days ago.”
Evilä started his Indoor season with using only a16 step run-up, but in Vaasa he ran 18 steps, which gave him more speed, of course. He believes that has enough time to find his best technique for the European Indoor Champs.
Juho-Matti Pimiä used his very last chance to reach the Finnish team for Turin. At his sixth attempt he hit the board perfectly and flew his longest legal wind jump so far (7.89m). Wind-assisted he has jumped 8.00m in the Sweden-match in September 2007.
"Only 1 cm loss doesn’t bother me at all, as I set such a good result. Everything came together in my last jump," said Pimiä, whose main event was the Pole Vault until three years ago.
But it will be European U23 silver medallist Petteri Lax (8.11m PB outdoors in 2008) who will join Evilä in the Finnish Long Jump squad in Turin, though he only leapt 7.66m in the Botniahall.
"The Long Jump is the best (indoor) event in Finnish Athletics right now. I’m very happy for both Juho-Matti and Petteri," said Evilä.
Omojuwa and Åstrand surprise
On the huge Botniahall´s 400 metres track there were some big surprises in the sprinting events and lots of personal bests in the longer distances, as well.
Nigerian-born Seyi Omojuwa won the women’s 60m only millimetes ahead of Sari Keskitalo as both clocked 7.49. In the men’s 200m Jonathan Åstrand was stronger than European U23 champion Visa Hongisto, who will run the 400m in Turin. Åstrand set his PB 21.39 and Hongisto 21.48.
Åstrand could not compete in the 60m on Saturday because of fever. Joni Rautanen won easily in 6.72 seconds after his main rival Jarkko Ruostekivi was disqualified in the semi-finals due to a false start.
Karin Storbacka won both the women’s 400 & 800m and her 800m result 2:04.56 will gave her a place in the Finnish team for Turin. Also Mari Järvenpää’s winning time in the 1500m of 4:21.62 will be enough for selectors.
Finally, Johanna Halkoaho, 32, won her 16th National Indoor title as she ran 8.36sec in the 60m Hurdles.
Antti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
Winners at the Finnish Champions in Vaasa:
MEN:
60m Joni Rautanen 6.72
200m: Jonathan Åstrand 21.39
400m: Jan Bosas 48.53
800m: Robert Rotkirch 1:50.38
1500m: Niclas Sandells 3:45.13
3000m: Mikael Bergdahl 8:16.26
60mH: Juha Sonck 7.77
400mH: Ari-Pekka Lattu 52.54
5000m walking: Jarkko Kinnunen 20:17.30
High Jump: Niko Kyyhkynen 2.19
Pole Vault: Vesa Rantanen 5.45
Long Jump: Tommi Evilä 7.90
Triple Jump: Aleksi Tammentie 15.70
Shot Put: Mika Vasara 18.49
WOMEN:
60m: Seyi Omojuwa 7.49
200m: Sari Keskitalo 24.18
400m: Karin Storbacka 54.83
800m: Karin Storbacka 2:04.56
1500m: Mari Järvenpää 4:21.61
3000m: Sandra Eriksson 9:33.62
60mH: Johanna Halkoaho 8.36
400mH: Emma Millard 58.68
3000 m walking: Karoliina Kaasalainen 13:15.43
Pole Vault: Minna Nikkanen 4.35 NR
High Jump: Mari Sepänmaa 1.80
Long Jump: Noora Pesola 6.17
Triple Jump: Elina Sorsa 13.49
Shot Put: Johanna Pulkkinen 15.83
