Catherine Ibarqueno and Antti Ruuskanen mark their dominance in Lapinlahti – Athletics news
As the Savo Games kicked-off in Finland, on Sunday, July 24, spectators observed a fierce competition among local Javelin throwers for earning a place in the team for the IAAF World Athletics Championships to be held in Daegu.
Among the visiting athletes, it was Catherine Ibarqueno who, for marking an impressive 14.59m long leap, emerged as the most prominent women Triple Jumper of the event. The event which commenced in Lapinlahti is regarded as the third-leg of the five-meeting
Finnish Elite Games series.
Just like the other athletics events around the globe, the competition at Lapinlahti too had been marred by drenched weather, which did not leave any room in ruining most of the contests. However, the athletes, as well as the organisers decided to somehow
continue with it.
Under the pouring drops, as the athletes kicked-off with their respective competitions, Luvo Manyongo, the Long Jumper from South Africa was the first to mark his dominance over the track. Undeterred by the gushing winds, he leaped for an impressive 8m.
Roni Ollikainen, the local athlete landed at 7.90m, with the wind blowing at double the speed his competitor from South Africa had to encounter.
As the winds gradually turned themselves into a storm, the organisers decided to stop the contest for a while. This hiatus continued for about 15 minutes. As soon as the competition resumed, Tommi Evila, the jumper from Finland, marked a landing of 7.89m.
However, resumption with the play could not last longer as the withering storm was followed by an hour long of rain. After the pour down was over, the women’s Triple Jump competitions were held under steady conditions.
Taking benefit of a less aggressive wind, Ibarqueno hit the 14.59m and 14.52 marks in her first two attempts. The results produced by her were not only viewed as of the expected title holder, but also as of the athlete who was going to give her opponents
a tough time at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. As she went on to strengthen her grip on the title, her best stride remained just 7 centimetres behind her personal best.
Following the women’s Triple Jump, the excitement seemed to return back to the stadium as the men’s Javelin throw kicked-off. Initially, the heated contest observed some big throws which set the momentum for breaking the Daegu record. Harri Haatainen put
forward an impressive 81.01m throw and then, Antti Ruuskanen outdid him with a throw of 81.95m.
Aimed at breaking the Daegu lead of 82.00m, Ruuskanen accomplished the feat and marked a throw of 82.29m in his final round. Despite observing such throws, the Finnish thrower believes that his technique was poor and he will improve his reach further, as
he eyes for the Daegu title.
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