Finnish athletes faced a tough night at the athletics indoor competition in Lievin, France, with no representation in the final events after injuries and performance setbacks.
In Lievin, France, a high-level indoor athletics competition is taking place, but Finnish hopes faced significant disappointment. Among the competitors were three strong female hurdlers and pole vaulter Wilma Murto, who was kicking off her season. In the women's 60-meter hurdles heats, Reetta Hurske finished fifth in her heat with a time of 8.06 seconds, while Sara Keskitalo came in sixth, just a fraction slower. Unfortunately, both athletes did not qualify for the finals, marking a setback for the Finnish team.
Lotta Harala experienced a particularly distressing night, as she collided with the first hurdle in her heat and was forced to withdraw from the race entirely. This misfortune means that the finals, which are expected to be highly competitive, will take place without any Finnish representatives, a disappointment for fans and athletes alike.
On a more positive note, Wilma Murto has begun her pole vaulting season strongly, clearing 460cm on her second attempt and is gearing up for a height of 470cm. She had previously announced her ambition to compete vigorously in France, indicating a bright spot amidst the otherwise disappointing performance of her compatriots in the hurdles events. The situation remains fluid as further updates are expected from the competition.
