Four world indoor records reported at Nordic champs in Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä, Finland, site of the 2012 WMA world indoor meet, saw four world records last weekend, report the Koops in Gemany. They write of the Nordic championships: “Along with a number of national records (including nine Finnish national records) showed high levels of these two world records . . . The Finn Leo Saarinen improved in his hometown of his own M80 shot put record set in January this year to 13.68 meters (44-10 3/4). Ilpo Sopanen (M75) increased the pole vault world record of four years old (Bud Held, USA) by two centimeters to 2.92 meters (9-7). The M80-winning high jump Samuli Korpi (FIN) with strong 1.35 (4-5) bettering the 1.31 previously by Nils-Bertiv Nevrup, Sweden, and his wife Irene Merjamaa (W75) won the weight throw (4 kg) with an impressive 10.40 (34-1 1/2), previously 9.54 (31-3 3/4) by Kaija Jortikka, Finland.” Results are here for the three-day meet that attracted 463 (mainly from Finland).
2 Responses
I recall someone telling me that this was only a FOUR lane track. However, I couln’t believe that WMA would award a World Indoors to something that small. However, these results suggest that it is still just four lanes. Was that why the Finnish championships needed three days? Sorry, but are we off to the back of beyond, for limited facilities in two years from now, or are there plans to enlarge in the meantime?
The very first World Indoor Championships in Singlefinden Germany were also held on a four lane oval track. At least this one in finland is a mechanically banked track. I would bet that most sprint finals on the oval will be two heat finals, which will make the semi finals even more exciting because no one will want to be in the slow section final.
We all have to understand that as big as we would like to think that masters track is , it’s not that big at all. So therefore the only locations that want to put on our events are smaller commuties that consider our events big events to there local economy. Everyone wanted to complain about Kamloops having a flat track. Everyone who competed had to run on the same track. So maybe you dont run your fastest race of the season, but a win is a win.
We could all sit around and complain about what is wrong with this facility or that facility or we could appreciate the oppurtunity we have, to run in these great places and see and make new friends. I have had the pleasure of traveling all over the world to compete in Masters track. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
There are more important issue to deal with in masters track, then worlds being on a four lane banked track.
I challenge anyone that is reading this to go out and find a six lane 200m banked track, reasonably priced hotel rooms for three thousand athletes and officials, a thousand volunteers and a half million dollar budget, in this economy, to put on a masters world indoor championship, because from everything I have read about putting one on, that’s what it takes. As a athlete I welcome the challenge to run on any track in the world.
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