Finland was close to getting two EC medals from the javelin final. The expert was delighted with the Finns’ performance.
Topias Laine received his silver medal. KIMMO BRANDT / AOP
Topias Laine, Janne Läspä and Aleksi Yli-Mannila competed well in Espoo’s under-23 athletics competition. The whole trio made it to the next rounds in the javelin final, and Laine grabbed the silver medal by 23 centimeters with a throw of 80 meters. Läspä was fourth and Yli-mannila sixth.
The second medal was also close, but Läspä’s best throw was approx
Iltalehti’s athletics expert Arto Bryggare was especially happy for Laine. Suffering from injury and side problems, the thrower was unable to challenge the winner who threw more than 83 meters, but took the surest silver medal of the Games.
– He said that he had health concerns the previous year and how he has survived this year, he did pull himself together well. The best thrower won. Topias performed at his best, the expert says.
Bryggare points out that not a single Finnish thrower failed in the final, even though the bronze medal fell short of the matchbox. On the other hand, he was worried during the race when Läspä grimaced after his throws.
– I hope nothing happened. He apparently hurt himself.
Läspä was able to complete the laps and managed to improve his ranking by a notch in the last lap. Fortunately for everyone, the man seemed to have been spared the worst injuries.
– After the fourth throw, when I started walking, it was a bit painful. Then it got pretty painful. I taped it really tight so that I could continue the race. It’s probably not the worst thing in the world when you can walk, Läspä said after the race.
Towards China
Janne Läspä was fourth. KIMMO BRANDT / AOP
Laine said after the race that the next focus will be on the Kaleva Games and the following week’s Universiade. From the Kaleva Games, Laine can even grab a place at the World Championships, but that would require a hard stretch among Finland’s top throwers.
– I’m going to Kaleva to fight for medals. If he gets a good result from the Kaleva Games, when it is the last time to register for the World Championships, then of course he will go there. But it requires 82 or 83 meters. Access to the Finnish team is behind hard work, Bryggare advises.
Finland’s top result of the season is by Oliver Helander 87.32 thrown in Turku. Behind him is Toni Kuuselan 84.37. Tilistoskolmonen is last summer’s European Championship medalist for adults Lassi Etelätalo (79.93). Lainea has the fourth best quote.
22-year-old Laine is planning to go to the Universiades of student age. Bryggare reminds us that Laine’s goal to compete in a student sports event organized in China right after the Kaleva Games is a reasonable solution. He points out that the Universiades are higher than the current European Championships.
– In Finland, it is not understood that way. It’s a much tougher competition than these European Championships. There are athletes from all over the world. It always depends on the sport, but the level is often tough. Winning there is a really great achievement.
The official name of the next Universiade is Chengdu 2021. So the games were supposed to be held in 2021, but the corona situation in China postponed the games twice.
Recent European Championship medalists have also been named to the Finnish team for the Universiade Eemil Helander and Jessica Kähärä. The entire team will be announced on the 20th.