Vadlejch, Stahl, Charleston and Olyslagers highlight Paavo Nurmi Games
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Approximately 14000 enthusiastic spectators watched Jakub Vadlejch's impressive 89.51 meters throw, Daniel Stahl's win in the men's discus throw with 70.38 meters and Olympic silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers' high jump of 2.01 meters and Cravont Charleston's 100 meters performance of 9.95 seconds at the Paavo Nurmi in Turku, a World Athletics Gold meeting on Tuesday (13).
In this track and field event, the athletes showed just how high the competition is. With such impressive performances, it's no wonder that this meeting was given 'Gold' status by World Athletics.
Men’s javelin throw:
Jakub Vadlejch from Czech Republic landed the javelin at 86.67m in the opening round before setting the world seasonal lead with a mark of 89.51m in the second round. He improved the previous world lead of 88.67m set by India’s Neeraj Chopra, who won the opening leg of 2023 Diamond League meetings in Doha with 88.67m last May.
Jakub Vadlejch: “I had a very good start and I knew I could do better, but during the second throw I almost twisted the ankle and I did not want to risk. I think it’s okay now. Let’s see”.
Last year’s Turku meeting winner Oliver Helander from Finland set his seasonal best with 87.32m in front of his home fans one year after his win at this meeting with his PB of 89.83m.
European champion Julian Weber took third place with a best mark of 85.82m.
Men’s discus throw:
Olympic champion Daniel Stahl won the men’s discus throw with a mark of 70.38m in the fifth round. Stahl overtook world champion Kristjan Ceh from Slovenia, who took the early lead with a throw of 68.67m in the first round. Stahl produced two more throws over the 67 metres at 67.40m in the fourth round and 69.63m in the sixth round. Stahl has a special relationship to Turku, because it’s birthplace of his mother. His grandmother still lives in the Finnish city.
Austrian record holder Lukas Weisshaidinger finished third with 66.84m.
Daniel Stahl: “My goal today was to rock and roll, throw far and have fun. My mother comes from this town and I love this stadium, these people. It’s amazing for track and field. However I am not happy with this performance. I did not have the rhythm in my first three throws, but my goal was to have the determination all the way and not give up. I was a little bit jumpy but the sun will rise up tomorrow, so just continue. After the fourth round, I felt I could push more forward and I did that. This was my 13th meet over 70 metres, so I am very proud of it”.
Women’s high jump:
Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers won her second consecutive competition improving her seasonal best and a meeting record to 2.01m on her third attempt a few days after her win in the Diamond League in Paris with 2.00m. The Australian jumper failed three attempts at the world leading mark of 2.03m.
British record holder Morgan Lake took second place improving her seasonal outdoor best to 1.97m ahead of Iryna Gerashchenko from the Ukraine (1.94m).
Nicola Olyslagers: “I was so glad with my third attempt to get over the 2.00 metres. It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the form I was a couple of years ago. I am hoping, with this momentum, I have got 2.03m in me. It feels scary when you look at it, but I am learning that what I have inside me is enough to get over it. I know my technique is not the best, as it’s early in the season, but I know when I compete with Yaroslava Mahuchik, the two of us can push each other to both get PBs this year”.
Men’s 100 metres:
Cravont Charleston won the 100 metres final in 9.95 a few weeks after improving his PB to 9.91 at the Los Angeles Grand Prix. Charleston had won the heat in 10.10. Henrik Larsson set the Swedish record with 10.17.
Cravont Charleston: “It felt great. I wanted to come out here and run sub-10. I got out really well in the first 30 metres”.
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
European indoor and outdoor bronze medallist Ditaji Kambundji won the women’s 100 metres hurdles in 12.79. European silver medallist Luca Kozak from Hungary took the second place in 12.93 with a very narrow margin over Laeticia Bapte from France (12.93), Sarah Lavin from Ireland (12.94) and European Indoor champion Reetta Hurske from Finland (12.97). European champion Pia Skrzyszowska was disqualified for a false start after clocking 12.84 in the heat in her come-back race after an injury.
Men’s pole vault:
US KC Lightfoot set the meeting record of 5.90 at the first attempt before failing three attempts at 6.00m. Australia’s Kurtis Marschall finished second with 5.71m. Piotr Lisek took third place with 5.46m.
KC Lightfoot: “The crowd was awesome. They got me through it. I was a little tired on the day. Finally not being injured. I can actually train and try to jump at 100%”.
Women’s pole vault:
European indoor and outdoor champion Wilma Murto from Finland cleared a seasonal best of 4.75m in her second attempt to win the women’s pole vault in front of her home fans. Her compatriot Elina Lampela set her PB of 4.56m to take the runner-up spot.
Women’s hammer throw:
World champion Brooke Anderson won the seventh of her eight competition this year in the women’s hammer throw with a mark of 76.45m in the second round. Anderson produced a second best mark of 74.51m in her only other valid attempt.
World silver medallist Camryn Rogers threw the hammer to 76.21m in the first attempt to take second place. Silja Kosonen took third place with 72.56m ahead of world bronze medallist Janee Kassanavoid from the USA (71.92m) and European bronze medallist Sara Fantini from Italy (70.37m).
Men’s 800 metres:
European indoor silver medallist Benjamin Robert from France launched his kick in the final straight to win the men’s 800 metres in 1:44.40 a few days after setting his seasonal best with 1:43.48 in Paris last Friday. Clayton Murphy, who won the Olympic bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro, took the second place in 1:44.91 ahead of Andreas Kramer from Sweden (1:44.95).
Benjamin Robert: “My tactics were not good. I was fourth or fifth and blocked a lot, going inside and outside, but I finished fast and I am happy. I know my shape is good and I am ready for the World Championships. My goal for Budapest is the gold medal. I am going there to win”.
Women’s 800 metres:
World finalist Anita Horvat from Slovenia won the women’s 800 metres setting a PB of 1:58.73 holding off South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso (1:58.87) and Olympic fourth placer Jemma Reekie from Great Britain (1:59.41).
Anita Horvat: “I died a bit in the second lap, but then I came back with a sprint, so I am happy. My next race will be in Poznan”.
Men’s 110 metres hurdles:
Last year’s US Championships fourth placer Jamal Britt won the men’s 110 metres hurdles final in 13.32 ahead of South American record holder Rafael Pereira from Brazil (13.41) and Hassane Fofana from Italy, who improved his seasonal best to 13.43.
Jamal Britt: “I barely did much tonight between the heat and the final. I ran 13.3 while sitting around pretty much the whole time, so it’s still pretty decent. Sub-13 is there, I am just waiting to execute that race. My goal for 2023 is to make the US team and medal”.
Women’s 400 metres hurdles:
Jessie Knight from Great Britain won the women’s 400 metres hurdles setting her PB with 54.32. Australia’s Sarah Carli improved her PB to 54.66 to finish second ahead of Finland’s Viivi Lehikonen (54.88). Taylon Bieldt from South Africa improved her PB to 54.91.
Jessie Knight: “I ran with 14 strides until the fifth hurdle. I needed that. It’s not been the best start to the season but today is the first day I got it right. I am very relieved. I will go into a training block now for two weeks then I will go to Ostrava. Now I can go home really motivated”
Men’s 400 metres hurdles:
Frenchman Ludvy Vaillant improved his seasonal best to 48.50 to edge two-time Diamond League champion Kyron McMaster from British Virgin Island (48.57) and Khallifah Rosser (49.16).
Ludvy Vaillant: “It was a little bit windy in the last metres, but it’s a good time. I was expecting more, but it’s good. I will take it”.
Women’s triple jump:
Reigning Commonwealth champion Shanieka Ricketts from Jamaica leapt to 14.20m in the fifth round to win the women’s triple jump ahead of European indoor champion Tugba Danismaz from Turkey (14.03m).
Shanieka Ricketts: “It was not the best series, but to come out with the win, I am grateful”.
Women’s 1500 metres:
Sarah Healy from Ireland took a narrow win in 4:03.85 holding off European mixed relay cross country champion Gaia Sabbatini from Italy, who set her seasonal best with 4:03.88, and Ellie Baker from Great Britain (4:03.95).
Sarah Healy: “It went out slower than I expected and I was behind the pacemaker. I wanted a nice even race but in the second half I just thought about winning it. I went for it with 300m to go and just hang on”.
Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase:
Abraham Seme from Ethiopia clinched the win in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase with 8:17.44 ahead of Emil Blomberg from Sweden (8:20.01).
