The Mikkeli Games should never have been organized and will not be organized again in the future, believes Iltalehti expert Arto Bryggare.
Taneli Juutinen beat last summer’s national team throwers. Jussi Saarinen
On Friday, an attention-grabbing athletics event was organized in Mikkeli, which focused especially on the javelin. Mikkeli Games attracted to the Sports Park, among other things by Oliver Helander, Toni Kuuselan, Toni Keränen and Anni-Linnea Alanen.
The throwers chose the Mikkeli race instead of the Motonet gp held in Lappeeranta on July 19. In the end, the men’s javelin race was completely withdrawn from the program of the GP.
Alanen won the women’s javelin with a throw of almost 60 meters. There was plenty of excitement in the men’s race, as the winner was the one with 82.85 Taneli Juutinenwho improved his record by three meters.
A total of four men got the stick over the 80 meter mark. Iltalehti’s expert Arto Bryggare thought Juutinen’s result was great, but otherwise there were few praises.
– Of course, it would be good if you could find those 85 meter men. That 82 is just about the qualifying limit and can be enough for the World Cup final, but that also depends on the conditions.
The idea of Mikkeli Games as an event secretly added to the competition calendar from the Sports Federation does not please the athletics veteran one bit.
– Nonsense competitions. They should never have been organized. Lappeenranta had better conditions and the same launch platform as in Budapest.
Bryggare believes that the legend of Mikkeli Games ends with the premiere.
– This was the last time for sure. In this case, the competition organization cheated the Finnish Sports Federation, and cheating always has a short way. I hope that good competitions will be organized in Mikkeli, but openly. Not vaguely and without telling about tunings.
Bryggare believes that the situation will also upset the sponsors. The Mikkeli Games were not televised and did not get the same exposure as the gp race. At the same time, the competition in Lappeenranta lost a lot of interest due to the intervention of the men’s javelin.
– What was done in Mikkeli was an outrageous bet. I don’t think that anyone who supports athletics for a long time wants to be involved in this kind of thing. And the athletes were certainly aware of the backgrounds of the set. I’m very disappointed.
Finland’s number one Helander had the opportunity to compete in Monaco’s Diamond League on Friday. Jakub Vadlejch was the best there with a score of 85.95 and Julian Weber second with a score of 84.23.
Getting down
Anni-Linnea Alanen won at the Mikkeli Games. EPA / AOP
Anni-Linnea Alanen ripped a throw of 59.86 meters in the last round at the Sports Park and got 2,500 euros with it. Bryggare can understand the decision of the 20-year-old Oulu Pyrinnö representative to head to Mikkeli instead of Lappeenranta.
– A great race was waiting in Lappeenranta, but it would be too close to the European Youth Championships. The result wasn’t great, but the world level in women’s javelin throwing is, if you will, very light. At 65 meters, we are close to a World Championship medal.
Alanen has thrown more than 62 meters this season. Bryggare believes that the young javelin can reach the final in his first World Cup.
– You have to remember that Alanen is a very talented thrower. The strength is the long stroke, which is important for the javelin thrower. He knows how to use all the steps brilliantly at best.
Before the World Championships, the Kaleva Games, which will be held in Lahti and start on Thursday, can fit in between.