Motonet GP Joensuu

Motonet GP Joensuu is part of EA Classic Permit series.

Joensuu Meeting is first year part of EA Classic series. Meeting has 11 years tradition under the belt. This years edition will be the most international ever, we have athletes from 30 different countries attending.

Javelin: One of the highlights for 12th edition will be both Javelin throws. World leader Magnus Kirt from Estonia will compete in Joensuu second time in his career and surely is one of the biggest stars this year. 2014 European Champion Antti Ruuskanen is leading Finn in startlist. At 35 years age, Ruuskanen is still one of the best javelin throwers around. His season best is 85,15. Indian rising star Shivpal Singh is also attending. He threw over 86 meters early season and is now attending European circuit for first time. Hometown boy Lassi Etelätalo has a fight against WC standard. Best throw this far is 81,95 so we need one more meter from Lassi. 2016 European champion Tatsyana Khaladovich from Belarus is top name in women Javelin. Khaladovich won London Diamond league just few days prior Joensuu and has great season best 67,22. Field record holder (63,43) Asdis Hjalmsdottir is also in start list. Finns Jenni Kangas and hometown girl Heidi Nokelainen are aiming over 60 meter mark for first time this summer.

Sprints: Women hurdles is thrilling event. All best Finns Nooralotta Neziri, Annimari Korte and Reetta Hurske are competing in Joensuu. All have ran under WC standard this year. Korte is national leader with 12,86 which she did in perfect winds in Lapinlahti on Wednesday. However Polish Klaudia Siciarz has best sb 12,82 in the lineup. Siciarz was silver medalist at U23 Europeans last week so she`s in great shape. Isabelle Pedersen, last year 12,72, and South African Rikenette Steenkamp, 12,81 last year, are also running in Joensuu`s Central Field.

Mens 100 and 200 meters: Andrew Fisher PB 9,94, SB 10,15 is big favourite in 100 meters. Closest challengers are Japanese Takuya Kawakami 10,24 PB/SB and Norwegian Jonathan Quarchoo 10,34 SB. Best Finn in start list is Viljami Kaasalainen with 10,57 this year. Kirara Shiraishi from Japan is favourite in 200. He has PB 20,68 from this year and he ran 20,3 in Belgium few days ago wind assisted. Oskari Lehtonen ran under 21 sec last year in Joensuu, he`s national leader with 21,13.

Distance events: Mens 3000 meter target is to beat field record 7.49,05 owned by Joensuu`s local hero Jukka Keskisalo, steeples European Champion from 2012. Rising finnish running star Topi Raitanen meets tough opponents from Bahrain, Norway and Great Britain. Finland`s Camilla Richardsson ran 9.38,93 in France which qualifies her to world champs in Doha. In Joensuu she will meet many great European runners who are still aiming for WC standard. Caroline Chepkurui Tuigong from Kenya paces and races 9.30 pace. Young Fancy Cherono, only 17y, has best PB 9.23,92. Other notable athletes are Israeli Adva Cohen who finished 5th in Berlin EC last summer and Universiade winner Alicja Konieczek from Poland.

Women 800: Maryna Arzamasava, world champion 2015 and European champion 2014 is top name in start list. She has great PB 1.57,54, this year 2.02,51. Norwegian Hedda Hynne and Revee Walcott-Nolan are top contenders. Finnish number one Sara Kuivisto will have chance to attack 2.01. Mens 800 meter field is surrounded by 1.46-1.47 guys. Biggest name is Andreas Bube, whose record is 1.44 from few years ago. At age of 32, he`s still one of the best two rounder guys in Europe.

Men long jump and triple jump: Kalle Salminen from organizing club Joensuun Kataja is national leader with PB 775. Jamaican Ramone Bailey, Turks and Caicos athlete Ifeanyi Otuonye are favourites with 795 and 799 season bests. Both of them jumped over 8 meters last year. Mens triple jump is interesting one. Simo Lipsanen competes in his second hometown and is national leader with 16,57. Big jumps are yet to come but we all know those are coming soon. Simo`s national record is 17,12. Closest challenger comparing to season list is Polish Adrian Swiderski with 16,56.