Finns fail to deliver in Finnkampen athletics meet

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There is not much to say - at least not much of any encouragement - about the year’s Finnkampen, the traditional Finland vs. Sweden track and field international, fought out in Gothenburg this time between two teams that managed to produce no medallists at the recent IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
      Finland lost all four matches - the men, women, boys, and girls alike.
     
It was the first Swedish double victory in the adults since 2004 and their ninth straight win in the women’s competition.
      Sweden came out on top in the men’s event by just eight points - 208 to 200, but the margin was greater among the women - 213 to 197.
      Things were made worse, at least among the men, by the fact that on paper the Finns should have won, according to their best performances this season.
      It was symptomatic that not even in the visitors’ flagship event did they take full points.
      The men’s javelin was won by Ari Mannio, with a throw barely over 80 metres, but neither Teemu Wirkkala nor Antti Ruuskanen could achieve anything better than 78 metres - well below their personal best for the season.
      The pattern was repeated conspicuously often in other events, particularly on the second day, when the blue and yellow colours of the Swedes were rampant.
     
The autumn looks like being a time of serious reflection for Finland’s athletics authorities - many would suggest the sport - once a Finnish calling-card - is in some kind of crisis.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  No change in Finnkampen pecking-order: Finnish men win, women lose again (1.9.2008)

Links:
  Finnkampen (Wikipedia)

Helsingin Sanomat