No medals from the javelin - Pitkämäki bitterly disappointed with 4th
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Aki Parviainen
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Finland's hopes of a World Championships medal in the men's javelin foundered in the Olympic Stadium last night, as Tero Pitkämäki and Aki Parviainen failed to deliver the success that the capacity crowd was baying for.
In conditions only marginally less hostile than those encountered by the athletes on Tuesday, the competition was won by the runner-up at the last World Championships in Paris, Andrus Värnik of Estonia.
He stunned the other competitors with a mighty heave of 87.19 with his fourth throw. Värnik can be regarded as something of a surprise winner, but in other respects the competition results went according to form. The Norwegian Olympic Champion Andreas Thorkildsen (86.18) was second, ahead of the veteran Russian Sergei Makarov (83.54), the Paris gold medallist.
Tero Pitkämäki was 4th, with his longest throw measuring 81.27. These four were the only competitors to break 80 metres in blustery conditions, with intermittent heavy rain. Pitkämäki could not come to terms with the weather, and was bitterly disappointed with his performance.
So were the Finnish audience, who had come in large numbers to witness the 22-year-old's breakthrough on the international scene.
Pitkämäki has produced the longest throw of the season so far (91.53), and was widely fancied to deliver what was likely to be Finland's only medal at these World Championships. Nevertheless, he met his betters on Wednesday night: both Makarov and Thorkildsen, his anticipated rivals, had several efforts well over the 80-metre line, and Värnik also delivered a second big throw over 85 metres.
Aki Parviainen finished in 9th place, registering 74.86 with his first effort, made in heavy rain. He apparently suffered a groin strain, and after a second no-throw he threw in the towel and left the arena with head bowed. The former World Champion said he will consider his athletics future before reaching any decision on where he goes next.
In conditions only marginally less hostile than those encountered by the athletes on Tuesday, the competition was won by the runner-up at the last World Championships in Paris, Andrus Värnik of Estonia.
He stunned the other competitors with a mighty heave of 87.19 with his fourth throw. Värnik can be regarded as something of a surprise winner, but in other respects the competition results went according to form. The Norwegian Olympic Champion Andreas Thorkildsen (86.18) was second, ahead of the veteran Russian Sergei Makarov (83.54), the Paris gold medallist.
Tero Pitkämäki was 4th, with his longest throw measuring 81.27. These four were the only competitors to break 80 metres in blustery conditions, with intermittent heavy rain. Pitkämäki could not come to terms with the weather, and was bitterly disappointed with his performance.
So were the Finnish audience, who had come in large numbers to witness the 22-year-old's breakthrough on the international scene.
Pitkämäki has produced the longest throw of the season so far (91.53), and was widely fancied to deliver what was likely to be Finland's only medal at these World Championships. Nevertheless, he met his betters on Wednesday night: both Makarov and Thorkildsen, his anticipated rivals, had several efforts well over the 80-metre line, and Värnik also delivered a second big throw over 85 metres.
Aki Parviainen finished in 9th place, registering 74.86 with his first effort, made in heavy rain. He apparently suffered a groin strain, and after a second no-throw he threw in the towel and left the arena with head bowed. The former World Champion said he will consider his athletics future before reaching any decision on where he goes next.
Helsingin Sanomat