Rain delays U23 Championships Day 3; Finland's Kosonen and Vanninen win gold
Posted : 15 July 2023
Heavy rain caused a slight delay to the schedule at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Espoo, but when the competition commenced, the athletes showcased remarkable performances.
Finland's Silja Kosonen and Saga Vanninen shone brightly, securing the host nation's first gold medals of the championships in a thrilling night of track and field.
In the women's hammer event, Kosonen, the favorite, lived up to expectations with an outstanding performance. She set a championship record with her opening throw of 73.71m, virtually guaranteeing her the gold medal.
Throughout the competition, Kosonen consistently threw beyond 70 meters, but her first-round throw remained her best.
In the heptathlon, Saga Vanninen faced a tough challenge from the Netherlands' Sofie Dokter, with the lead changing hands four times over the course of two days. Vanninen managed to create some breathing space in the javelin, the penultimate event.
Her season's best throw of 46.55m gave her a 100-point lead over Dokter, setting the stage for a thrilling finish in the 800m.
Dokter gave her all in the 800m, securing a personal best of 2:15.84, while Vanninen finished fourth in 2:18.16. With a total of 6317 points, Vanninen secured the gold medal, adding to her World U20 titles from 2021 and 2022. Dokter finished with 6256 points, earning the silver medal, and Estonia's Pippi Lotta Enok claimed the bronze with 6002 points.
After the victory, Vanninen expressed her happiness and relief, acknowledging the strong competition from Dokter. The gold medal held special significance for her as the championships were being held in her home country.
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