The walking events of the classic Finland-Sweden match Finnkampen took place yesterday in Tampere.
A match that is a tradition since the first edition dates back to 1925 and over the years has always grown as the most important moment of a prestigious struggle between Finland and Sweden.
It is therefore not surprising that we have witnessed new national records and six personal bests (three in men and three in women)
The two walking events of the senior category took place on the distance of 5,000m track walk for women and 10,000m track walk for men.
10.000m men track walk
It had to be a battle to the last meter between Finland and Sweden and the battle was with three personal bests, two of them of high prestige.
Victory to Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) with the time of 38:39.28 new national record of Sweden.
Second place to Veli-Matti Partanen (FIN) in 38:44.13 also this new national record of Finland that cancels the 39:23.44 of Valentin Kononen, current coach of Veli-Matti Partanen who had established it on Aug. 26, 1995 in Helsinki ( FIN).
Third place to Ato Ibanez (SWE) in 40:24.99 he too at the new personal best (previous 40:50.72 established in Helsinki, FIN on Aug. 30, 2014)
The standing for Nations at the male level sees Sweden prevail over Finland for 13 to 9
Below is the updated season world list of the first 11 performances on the distance (all those under the time of 40:00.00):
5.000m women track walk
Victory to Elisa Neuvonen (FIN) in 22:44.56 new personal best (previous of 22:46.85 established in Birmingham, GBR on Jul. 2, 2017).
Second place to Hele Haapaniemi (FIN) in 23:06.74 new personal best (previous of 23:35.54 established in Vantaa, FIN on Jul. 12, 2016).
Third place to Tiia Kuikka (FIN) in 23:12.29 new personal best (previous 23:21.83 established in Stockholm, SWE on Sep. 2, 2017).
The standing for Nations at the female level sees Finland prevail over Sweden for 16 to 6
Finland, however, won the Finnkampen 2018 against Sweden for 206-202, in particular with the contribution of the walk races in which, thanks also to the victories in the youth categories in which Sweden did not take part, had the following result:
Finandia 38 - Sweden 19.