Parviainen throws 88m as Finnish Edmonton selections take shape
Chris Turner for the IAAF

2 July 2001 - This weekend saw a wealth of world class throwing
in Finland at the famous ‘carnival’ throwing meetings that were
originally pioneered by the javelin event in Pihtipudas which
celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.

Never forgetting that Finland has a tiny population of just five 
million it is staggering that this weekend eight Finnish men threw
over 80m in the javelin, another six went beyond 60 metres in the
discus and four more produced shot puts over 20 metres! The depth 
is not as strong in the women’s events but even here Mikaela Ingberg
the European javelin bronze medallist produced 63.13m.

World champion Aki Parviainen threw 88.67m to comfortably win the 
javelin in Pihtipudas on Sunday and he will be joined in Edmonton
by former world junior record holder Harri Haatainen who was second
with 82.87 metres.  The competition for the third world championships
team place will provide an interesting battle royal at next weekend’s
Finnish Championships in Turku as there are another seven or eight 
men in realistic contention.

In the shot carnival in Hämeenkyrö on Saturday Ville Tiisanoja who
was a world championships finallist in Seville produced a mighty 
20,74m to book his place on the plane to Edmonton. It is surely 
unthinkable that Olympic champion Arsi Harju who finished third 
with 20.35m would not travel to Edmonton but with a total of five
Finns over the ‘A’ standard this summer the world championship’s 
qualification battle is going to be very tight.

JAVELIN CARNIVAL
Pihtipudas 1.7.2001
Men - 'A' Final:
1) Aki Parviainen 88,67,
2) Harri Haatainen 82,87,
3) Harri Hakkarainen 82,80,
4) Sami Saksio 82,20,
5) Pekka Alaräisänen 81,63,
6) Esko Mikkola 81,16,
7) Ari Pakarinen 81,09,
8) Matti Närhi 80,41.
9) Juha Laukkanen 78,01,
 Men 'B' Final:
1) Jarkko Koski-Vähälä 77,81,
 
Women -
1) Mikaela Inberg 63,13m
2) Taina Kolkkala (nee Uppa) 56,90m (former world junior champ)
3) Paula Huhtaniemi 55,61,
 
SHOT CARNIVAL
Hämeenkyrö, Kyröskoski 30.6.2001
Men:
1) Ville Tiisanoja 20,74m
2) Conny Karlsson 20,40m
3) Arsi Harju 20,35m
4) Tepa Reinikainen 20,24m
5) Jani Illikainen 19,35,
6) Jarkko Haukijärvi 19,19m.

DISCUS CARNIVAL
Jalasjärvi 30.6.2001
Men:
1) Timo Tompuri 63,87m,
2) Mikko Kyyrö 62,16m.
3) Jouni Helppikangas 61,72m.
4) Mika Loikkanen 61,48m
5) Timo Sinervo 61,35m,
6) Petri Hakala 60,24m