Athletics | The surprise name ran the top time in Finland’s 10,000 meters, the expert was stunned: “How can it go like this?”

Orientation multiple prize medalist Tuomas Heikkilä ran the domestic best time of the 10,000m season 29.18.21 in Lahti on Saturday.

Athletics expert Lauri Hollon according to this tells a sad story about the ten-ton level in Finland.

“I don’t belittle Heikkilä’s performance. It was a good time, but it raises concerns about how it can go like this, that the orienteer runs the top time of the season”, wonders Hollo.

“For the top European level, that’s a couple of rounds,” he continues.

Representing Switzerland Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu won EC gold in Rome with a time of 28:00.32. 15 of the A finalists covered the distance in less than 28 minutes and 20 seconds.

Hollo reminds that the men’s 10,000 meter run has not been in a “terribly good model” in Finland for years. IT is Martti Vainion 27.30.99 from 1978.

“Ten tuna is an eternal problem species. You don’t want to select a young, enthusiastic group there who would like to focus on just ten tons.”

24 years old Mika Kotiranta broke ten tons last season at 29.10.69. This season, Joensuu Kataja’s man has suffered from health problems.

The best quote remains 29.25.47, which was the domestic top time of the season before Heikkilä’s crash.

“Kotiranta’s 29.10 last year was a really good, promising performance – especially when you take into account that the 24-year-old is still relatively young for a runner in his twenties,” Hollo reflects.

Second as a name, he brings up the 5,000 meter Finnish champion Mustafe Muusen23. Hollo believes that a Turku Sports Association runner could be the flag bearer of a traditional journey.

“If, for example, Muuse were to clock one seriously run tenth at the beginning of next season, the result could be quite strong,” says Hollo.

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The truth is that there aren’t many ten-ton runners anymore.

According to the expert, the root cause of Finland’s poor performance level is the lack of entrepreneurs.

“The truth is that there aren’t many ten-ton runners anymore. Everyone can see that from the statistics. And by the way, there aren’t even ten-ton races, so I take my hat off to Lahti for organizing something like this,” says Hollo, referring to Saturday night’s performance.

How to get more entrepreneurs is a more problematic question.

“More young people would be needed who would start the path of a long-distance runner early enough. I know it’s not the easiest way – it feels boring, you have to spend hours [harjoitteluun] and suffer, but it is needed if such [kymppitonnilla pärjääviä] athletes are wanted.”