Today may be one of the most noteworthy days of the Championship. In addition to great 200m and 5000m races, the return of non-stadia competition and women’s javelin, today probably had the most recent Olympians competing. Olympians who became World Champions today include Michelle Rohl, W55, USA, Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, 5000m; Mika Polku, M45, FIN, Sydney, high jump; Dominic King, M35, GBR, London and Rio, 10k racewalk; Niina Kelo, W40, FIN, Beijing, javelin and Indre Jakubaityte, W45, LTU, London, javelin. Rodrigo Moreno Munar, M55, COL, Beijing, also competed today earning bronze in the 10k racewalk while Marsha Baird, W45, USA, Sydney and Athens, placed sixth in javelin.
Three time Olympian, Michelle Rohl, USA, leaving the pack on the way to winning 5000m gold.
Earlier in the Championship, Rachid Chouhal, M45, MLT, London, placed 7th in 100m; Violeta Guzmán, W45, MEX, Athens, placed 4th in hammer and earned silver in weight; Zsolt Németh, M50, HUN, Sydney, earned bronze in hammer; Niina Kelo, W40, FIN, Beijing, earned silver in shot put; Nadine Kant, W45, GER, Athens, became World Champion in shot put; Paul Osland, M55, CAN, Seoul, competed in 800m and will compete in 1500 next.
Paul Osland, M55, Canada, who competed in Seoul Olympics, competing in 800m.
Non-stadia competition returned today with the 10k racewalk. Multiple WMA racewalk recordholder, Andrew Jamieson, M75, AUS, was again atop the podium. Teams from France won the most titles by taking W65, M70, W35 and M35. The closest race was in M70 where Alberto Pio, ITA, finished eight seconds faster than Jose Luis Lopez Camarena, MEX.
Torkjell Spigseth, NOR, on his way to 7th place in M75 10k racewalk.
Patrice Carnier, FRA, 24.43s, Allan Tissenbaum, USA, 24.44s, and B John Wright, GBR, 24.49s, treated spectators to a fantastic M60 200m final at Ratina. The youngest male competitor, Steve Djob, M35, FRA, ran 23.40s in the semis to place 13th following his100m 12th place finish. Jochen Gippert, GER, WMA indoor recordholder, did the best of the M45 finalists fighting a 1.9 m/s headwind. Michael Kish, M70, USA, who ran faster than the current WMA 100m record, but with a +2.4 m/s wind, earlier in the Championships, had to fight a 3.0 m/s headwind to win today. Nicole Alexis, W60, FRA, who broke the WMA 100m record twice at this Championship, did the same in 200m both with strong headwinds. WMA W55 200m recordholder, Julie Brims, AUS, matched her gold medal won earlier in the Championship. Sinah Florence Hänssler-Hug, GER, edged Serena Caravelli, ITA in the W40 final.
W35 200m runners nearing the finish.
All of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland women vaulters, Jemma Eastwood, W40, Irie Hill, W50, Alison Murray, W55, Teresa Eades, W60, and Sue Yeomans, W65, earned the top spot on the podium. Between them and the host country vaulters, Marketta Västi, W70, Kirsti Viitanen, W75, and Inkeri Fält, W80, they captured all but two of the contests.
Deia’ Goff, USA, clearing the bar to earn silver in W45 pole vault.
W55- javelin was contested at Hervanta while W60+ was at Ratina. Olympians were winning at their contests with Indre Jakubaityte surpassing the current WMA record. Angela Müller, W60, GER, was leading the competition from her first throw then Heli Herlevi-Malila, FIN, threw 33.86m to pass Angela by 6cm.
Beijing Olympian, Niina Kelo, FIN, winning W40 javelin
Women’s and men’s 70+ 5000 was also contested at Hervanta. Angela Copson, W75, GBR, continued her fantastic Championship by breaking another WMA record. David Carr, M90, AUS, also broke a WMA record today.
Esther Pedrosa, ESP, and Niamh O’Sullivan, IRL, lead the W60 race. Esther will win and Niamh will earn bronze.
Dieter Kollhammer, GER, on his way to gold in M75 5000m
