Last year’s Finnish national team athlete Toni Keränen competed in his second opening race of the season.
Last summer’s EC representative Toni Keränen got the opening result of the summer in Oulu. PASI LEISMA
A spear thrower representing the Reapers of Liminga Toni Keränen competed in the Oulu Motonet GP races and finished second with his sixth throw of 79.71 meters. In the end, the level of the competition was not great, as only four throwers achieved a result.
The same situation was also on Wednesday in Joensuu.
Finland’s top man Oliver Helander threw one measured result of 81.27 in Oulu and won. The third was from Japan Yuta Sakiyama With his throw of 79.13 meters.
Keränen was quite satisfied with his first result of the summer. He does not hide behind circumstances or injuries, but comments that Oulu’s Raat stadium has offered the best to the javelin thrower. The next goal is an intermediate race to increase the feeling before the Finnish championships.
– There are good races coming up in Mikkeli. For once, a decent spear contest has been organized there. It’s probably on schedule. We still have to plan, Keränen thinks at the stadium.
The Mikkeli Games will take place on July 21. The week after that, the Finnish championship will be contested, so a small intermediate race in Etelä-Savo could suit Keränen well.
– If you could do this a couple of races before the World Championships. Kaleva’s competitions and one other. After that, we will compete among ourselves, who will be chosen for Budapest. There are three for sure, but there are plenty of others besides me.
In Oulu, Oliver Helander gave strong criticism towards the organizers of the Motonet GP by commenting on the drastic schedule of organizing two races within a week. Keränen did not participate in the Joensuu Games on Wednesday, but he understands his colleague’s frustration.
– It is not optimal to have two days in between. At this point, some people don’t want to risk it and go to both.
Cutting
The start of Keränen’s season was delayed due to elbow surgery performed in April. The old pain still makes throwing painful.
– A bone spike forms at the end of that humerus. When I throw the javelin and the arm goes straight, there is bone contact. It then breaks loose pieces there and the head of the humerus breaks. Then it is not good to throw the spear.
The injury requires regular maintenance, but also honing the throwing style.
– I had to remove the extra parts from there and half a centimeter of the humerus to fit the arm straight. A little tuning, Keränen describes.
– Now for the technique, we have to come up with something so that the elbow is not strained. We have already made changes and added shoulder support so that I can rotate my hand a little higher.
Keränen threw a full six rounds in Oulu, five of which were measured. Each of those measured exceeded 76 meters, but the 80-meter limit remained until the next games.