Athletics European Championships: RIku Illukalla has a tough fate

Finland Riku Illukka qualified from the 100 meter semi-finals in a really bitter way.

Illukka was the first to qualify. There was a measly two thousandths of a difference in the next place.

“It’s a sad situation, but this time,” he said.

He ran in the first heat, during which there was a three-meter headwind. In the third heat, there was only one meter to go, and no less than six runners pushed Illukka for a harder time.

“For me, the headwind is really poison. If it had been three meters downwind, I could have won the race. I’m such a good downwind runner.”

The Finn did not directly become a victim of the highly controversial set rule, because even with the old rule he would have been subject to a time comparison. According to the new rule, all the runners-up in the sprints are decided by time comparison, and running in the top two of the heat does not mean an automatic place in the runner-up.

There was still something to worry about. Illukka’s next place was taken by Lithuania Adas Dambrauskas was able to run in a calmer headwind.

“After all, it’s a funny rule and it puts the athletes in an unfair situation. Of course, I wouldn’t have [vanhalla säännölläkään] straight ahead into those headwinds. But I don’t like the rule.”

Illukka has already set his sights on the 200 meters, which is his main distance in Birmingham. This summer, the sprinter, who broke the Finnish record of 20.43, goes directly to the semi-finals thanks to his ranking.

“It’s a shame that the next place was so close. However, this opened up the places. Now only towards Thursday’s race.”

Hilla Uusimäki pushed his body to the limit in the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles. The result of 54.70 was two tenths away from the final place.

Uusimäki SE 54.28 would have opened the gates to the final race.

Uusimäki couldn’t stay on his post in the Alexander stadium. Among other things, he had to interrupt an interview with MTV.

“I’m feeling exceptionally bad. I’ve never felt so weak. I don’t know what’s causing it,” Uusimäki said.

“There is an overall bad feeling.”

Runner started hard in the semi-finals. That was the intention. In the last hundred meters, the thighs were full of lactate.

“There weren’t the powers that should have been,” he said.

“For some reason, the final straight was no longer running.”

According to the athlete, he felt normal in the morning and the exercise felt good. So there was hardly any illness in the background.

Uusimäki’s time was the third best of his career. He was tenth in the European Championships.

“It’s not a bad result. I’ve raised my level really bad this year. However, the main goal was to reach the final. Something went wrong today, because my fitness has been at a record level,” Uusimäki said.

The runner emphasized that the 400-meter hurdles are “very tough” at the moment.

“We should get some sugar now,” he said as he left.