12/12/99 - EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
VELENJE, SLOVENIA.

FINNISH JUNIOR SUCCESS

Turo Inkilainen who is advised by national long distance
coach Lasse Mikkelsson (also coach to Annemari Sandell) 
sprinted to the bronze medal in the junior men's race
at the European championships in Slovenia.

The 6.65km race was dominated by the Belgium talent Hans
Janssens who took the gold with ease. However, the two
minor medals were only decided on the line. Guillaume
Eraud (FRANCE) and Inkilainen (born 1980) were given 
the same time 23.12 mins but Eraud outdipped the Finn
for the silver medal.

Minna Myllykoski (born 1982!) led the Finnish junior 
women's team to a creditable 6th place in their 3.35km 
race, taking the individual seventh postion in the
process.

Conditions were TRUE cross country with a twisting
exceptionally muddy course providing a stiff challenge
to all runners.

PLEASE NOTE - NO Finnish senior runners were sent.
16 athletes including Sandell are at present training 
in Australia and a men's marathon relay team will be
travelling to compete in Japan in December.

ENDS.