Gatsioudis throws 91.69 metre world javelin lead, as Parviainen also goes over 90 metres! Saturday 24/06 Kuortane, Finland - At the Elite Games meeting in Kuortane today, 1999 World silver medallist Konstadinos Gatsioudis of Greece captured this season's world javelin lead from Finland's Aki Parviainen with a wonderful new personal best of 91.69 metres. It was the first time that Gatsioudis had crossed the 90 metre line in his career and in doing so he also became the fourth longest thrower of all time behind Germany's Raymond Hecht, World Champion Parviainen and double Olympic champion Jan Zelezny (CZE). Most significantly in winning here today Gatsioudis beat both Parviainen and Zelezny. It was an epic competition with the large crowd of spectators standing and clapping every thrower. It was an atmosphere in which the competitors thrived and in all six men threw better than 82 metres! Parviainen was also in fine form with a season's personal best of 90.97m for second place. However, World recordholder Jan Zelezny, who has been over 90 metres in both his previous competitions this season could find no answer to either man and finished third with 87.80 metres. Gatsioudis who threw 89.84m to win the Grand Prix Final last summer and had already come close to 90 metres with 89.48m earlier this season was obviously relieved to have at last joined that exclusive club of throwers. "I have come so close in the last two years and there has increasingly been a lot of pressure on me to get over that mark (90m). Now the pressure is off and I'm not just happy, I'm doubly happy because I have achieved this throw in Finland where the javelin is a national sport. The spectators have been wonderful, standing and applauding all the throwers not just Aki. As a javelin thrower you can get no better than to throw 90 metres for the first time in Finland!" enthused a delighted Gatsioudis. Yet Aki Parviainen was a satisfied man too. "Obviously it's good to have thrown over 90 metres at this same meet in the last three years and so I'm more than satisfied with my best throw. However, my throwing is technically not good at the moment. My upper body is too fast and that's why my throws are landing out to the left of the sector. I would have loved one more long throw in this competition but I must be patient, Sydney is not yet!" The Finnish Federation's meeting in Kuortane was also the qualification venue for much of the Finnish Europa Cup team and with this extra incentive there were also many other fine results. A good quality men's shot put saw two more Finns breach 20 metres this summer. European Indoor silver medallist Timo Aaltonen won with 20.10 from Tepa Reinikainen's 20.08m in second place. World Junior hammer Champion Olli-Pekka Karjalainen took the hammer with 76.59 metres. While the men's high jump was won by Oskari Frosen with 2.25m. The highlight of the women's programme, well you shouldn't be surprised, was also the javelin. The winner was European bronze medallist Mikaela Ingberg who threw a new Finnish record of 63.76m (new implement). In second was former World junior champion Taina Uppa with 61.13m and in third with a new personal best of 61.01m was Paula Huhtaniemi. The competition was so strong that reigning Olympic Champion Heli Rantanen who is returning from a serious shoulder injury could manage no better than fifth with 59.05m. Selected Results - KUORTANE 24.6.2000 (Finnsh unless stated) Men's Javelin: 1) Konstadinos Gatsioudis (GRE) 91.69, 2) Aki Parviainen 90.97, 3) Jan Zelezny (CZE) 87.80, 4) Harri Haatainen 83.98, 5) Tom Pukstys (USA) 82.57, 6) Harri Hakkarainen 82.10, 7) Marko Hyytiäinen 79.21, 8) Ty Sevin (USA) 76.00, 9) Juha Laukkanen 74.80. Men's Hammer: 1) Olli-Pekka Karjalainen 76.59, 2) Mikko Danbäck 73.86, 3) Marko Wahlman 72.23, 4) Samu-Petteri Simo 71.51 Men's Shot 1) Timo Aaltonen 20.10, 2) Tepa Reinikainen 20.08, 3) Ville Tiisanoja 19.45, 4) Jani Illikainen 19.22, Women's Javelin: 1) Mikaela Ingberg 63.76 national rec, 2) Taina Uppa 61.13 3) Paula Huhtaniemi 61.01 4) Kirsi Ahonen 59.75, 5) Heli Rantanen 59.05 ENDS.