Krista Tervo regained the Finnish hammer record with a massive throw of 77.14m at the Motonet GP in Lahti, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event, on Wednesday (11) evening.
Tervo added seven centimetres to the previous record of 77.07m - also a European leading performance with the Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships just over a fortnight away - set by Silja Kosonen earlier this season at the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia.
"I have great confidence that the Finnish record won't be in my name for long," said Tervo after the competition.
On this occasion, Kosonen - who admitted she’s been struggling with illness since her victory at the Trond Mohn Games in Bergen last week - had to settle for second with 74.55m with Ireland’s Nicola Tuthill third with a lifetime best of 71.71m.
On the track, Maayke Tjin A-Lim won the 100m hurdles in 12.93 ahead of home favourite Nooralotta Neziri in 12.96 and reigning European U20 champion Moa Granat from Sweden also won the 400m hurdles in 55.68. Ilona Mononen also won the 3000m steeplechase with a solo 9:39.99.
Saga Vanninen also made her outdoor season’s debut after an outstanding indoor season in which she was crowned European and world indoor pentathlon champion.
Vanninen, who is still eligible to defend her heptathlon title at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Bergen next month, recorded 6.27m in the long jump and 24.32 in the 200m.