Jukka Keskisalo in the World Steeplchase final in Paris (© Getty Images)
A little over a couple of months since the conclusion of the spectacular 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Paris and the Finnish Federation has announced a major national initiative in an effort to match the emotion and excitement that Eunice Barber and the French sprint relay team provided in the packed Stade de France, when Helsinki hosts the Worlds in 2005.
Finnish Athletics, the national member federation yesterday launched a development program called “Team Helsinki 2005”, a similar stipend system having been put in place when the Finns hosted the inaugural World Championships in 1983.
The aim of the program this time round is to support Finland’s international elite athletes and coaches on their way to both Athens 2004 and Helsinki 2005.
There were 47 athletes altogether named in the team which is split into two groups, with 13 realistic ‘medal candidates’ in the premier division, and a second group of 34 ‘challengers’.
The groups are open to anyone to be promoted or relegated in the course of the program. There is also an additional ‘follow-up’ group of three injured athletes who have previously medalled or at least competed at major championship level, who if they significantly recover will be added to the initiative.
All the major names are included – Arsi Harju, the Olympic Shot champion and Janne Holmen, the European Marathon gold medallist, plus multiple World or European medallists such as Aki Parviainen, Heli Koivula and Mikaela Ingberg, and the new hope for Finnish distance running steeplechaser Jukka Keskisalo who was 9th in Paris.
There will be an official press conference held for ‘Team Helsinki 2005’ in January 2004, when the team leaders, captains, sponsors, and a specific development and training program will be published.
In the intervening period the team leaders and national team coaches will discuss individually with all the athletes and their personal coaches during November and December.
The financial support for all the group members will increase compared to what they have received previously from the federation but also the back-up support will be improved. After the "development discussions" athletes and coaches will sign a contract with Finnish Athletics. The contract will include strict anti-doping-clauses.
The team will then formulate a schedule of training camps which will be divided into long (4-6 weeks) periods abroad 2-3 times per year, and short (2-4 days) periods in Finland 5-6 times per year. The first training camp abroad will be held in Athens, Greece in late April - early May 2004.
The athletes are:
(name - event - personal best - local club)
MEDAL CANDIDATES (13)
Arsi Harju, Shot put M, 21.39, Perhon Kiri
Janne Holmén, Marathon M, 2.12,10, Jomala IK / IF Åland
Paula Huhtaniemi, Javelin W, 64.90, Noormarkun Nopsa
Mikaela Ingberg, Javelin W, 64.03, Vasa IS
Olli-Pekka Karjalainen, Hammer M, 81.70, Töysän Veto
Conny Karlsson, Shot put M, 20.78, Pargas IF
Jukka Keskisalo, 3000m steeple M, 8.17,72, Joensuun Kataja
Heli Koivula-Kruger, Triple jump W, 14.39, Kauhajoen Karhu
Taina Kolkkala, Javelin W, 64.06, Porin Tarmo
Jaakko Ojaniemi, Decathlon M, 8192p, Peräseinäjoen Toive
Aki Parviainen, Javelin M, 93.09, Joensuun Kataja
Tepa Reinikainen, Shot put M, 20.88, Kangasniemen Kalske
Ville Tiisanoja, Shot put M, 21.09, Kenttäurheilijat -58 Vantaa
CHALLENGERS (34)
Kirsi Ahonen, 59.75, Javelin W, Lapuan Virkiä
Kim Bergdahl, 3000m steeple M, 8.30,02, Gamlakarleby IF
Tommi Evilä, Long jump M, 804, Tampereen Pyrintö
Oskari Frösen, High jump M, 230, IF Länken
Johanna Halkoaho, Long jump W, 679, Suodenniemen Urheilijat
Tommi Hartonen, 100+200m M, 10,21+20,47, HIFK -friidrott Helsinki
Tiia Hautala, Heptathlon W, 6369p, Porin Yleisurheilu
Tero Järvenpää, Javelin M, 80.43, Tampereen Pyrintö
Natalia Kilpeläinen, Triple jump W, 14.18, Joensuun Kataja
Wilson Kirwa, 800m M, 1.44,69, Lahden Ahkera
Jarkko Koski-Vähälä, Javelin M, 81.46, Ullavan Kilpa
Juha Kukkamo, 800m M, 1.47,09, Lahden Ahkera
Mikko Kyyrö, Discus M, 63.24, Keravan Urheilijat
Ari-Pekka Lattu, 400m hurdles M, 49,36, Lahden Ahkera
Johanna Manninen, 100m+200m W, 11,33+22,93, Nurmon Urheilijat -99
Jari Matinlauri, 5000m M, 13.49,49, Lahden Ahkera
Johan Meriluoto, Triple jump M, 16.95, Borgå Akilles
Esko Mikkola, Javelin M, 82.48, Nokian Pyry
Hanna Mikkonen, High jump W, 190, Ruoveden Pirkat
Matti Mononen, Pole vault, M, 565, Imatran Urheilijat
Janne Mäkelä, 400m hurdles M, 49,59, Oulun Pyrintö
Matti Niemi, 110m hurdles M, 13,57, Turun Urheiluliitto
Tero Pitkämäki, Javelin M, 80.45, Nurmon Urheilijat -99
Markus Pöyhönen, 100m M, 10,23, Helsingin Kisa-Veikot
Sini Pöyry, Hammer W, 68.28, Kaukasten Voima
Susanna Rajamäki, Heptathlon W, 6021, Karijoen Tappara
Vesa Rantanen, Pole vault M, 572, Virtain Urheilijat
Johanna Risku, 1500m W, 4.07,32, Turun Urheiluliitto
Mia Strömmer, Hammer W, 69.63, Tampereen Pyrintö
David Söderberg, Hammer M, 78.83, IF VOM
Timo Tompuri, Discus, M, 69.62, YU-Team Sahalahti
Jussi Utriainen, Marathon M, 2.13,10, Lahden Ahkera
Samuli Vasala, 5000m M, 13.28,17, Turun Urheiluliitto
Teemu Wirkkala, Javelin M, 80.57, Toholammin Urheilijat
FOLLOW-UP -GROUP (3 + all the others)
These athletes will automatically be named in the groups if they will recover well from injury.
Toni Huikuri, High jump M, 231, Helsingin Kisa-Veikot,
Mika Halvari, Shot put M, 22.09 (indoor), Helsingin Kisa-veikot,
Harri Haatainen, Javelin M, 86.63, Helsingin Kisa-Veikot.
Link to local organising Committee's site for Helsinki 2005 - 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, click here.
