Finland – The 24th edition of Vantaa Marathon took place 14th of October 2017. Despite the rainy and fairly chilly conditions almost 1400 runners stood behind the start line ready for their challenge in marathon, ½ marathon and ¼ marathon.
More than 1300 runners crossed the finish line in Vantaa Marathon
Vantaa Marathon is the last event in the series of four events called Vantaan kestävyyskierros. This series includes Extreme Run in May, Vantaa Triathlon in June, a cycling event called Vuelta Vantaa in July and the Vantaa Maraton in October.
The men’s marathon was won by Jukka Salo who clocked 2.37.24. The fastest runner in women’s marathon was Johanna Lindholm who ran well under 3 hours and crossed the line in 2.54.29. The second woman, Soili Kosonen, was not far behing the day’s winner with a 2.58.23 marathon. With her superb marathon time Soili Kosonen confirmed the overall victory for the Vantaan kestävyyskierros series.
Next year, the fifth event, Vantaa Skiing, will be included in the Vantaan kestävyyskierros series. The winner of the series gets a € 1,500 cheque.
Soili Kosonen and Teemu Törmälä were the overall winners in the 2017 series. Congrats to the winners!
In Vantaa a total of 28 runners finished the marathon in under 3 hours!
In 2016 Vantaa introduced a marathon relay as one of their events. This year 13 teams had entered the competition. Teme Ski Team won the men’s race in 2.39.50 and team Ice Power Finland won the women’s competition in 2.56.13. Great runners in both teams!
The half marathon saw some fast times. Men’s winner Jarkko Järvenpää finished his half in 1.08.28. and Salla Loiske took women’s victory in 1.28.39.
The Fun Run – in other words the ¼ marathon was won in the women’s category by Mira Tuominen in 38.48 and Tommi Hytönen took the podium with 34.01.
An attempt at Guinness World Record and hobby horses
This year Vantaa Marathon had a western couple competing in the marathon. An indian and a cowboy, Raine Rinne and Juha Nurmela, “rode” their hobby horses through the marathon course in 5.47.44. An experienced marathon runner, Kalevi Saukkonen, ran his 85th marathon of the year in Vantaa. He has run 2158 marathons throughout his career!
Jussi Kallioniemi, aka Läskimaija, attempted to get into the book of Guinness World Record. He ran the marathon with a 80-pound backpack on his back. The world record of Guinness was not broken this time but crossing the finish line was still a success as Kallioniemi managed to raise 8540 € with his run to the Red Cross Catashtrophe Fund.
In Vantaa 524 marathoners, 593 half marathoners and 192 quarter marathoners crossed the finish line!
The Marathon was run in the Tikkurila Sports Park on Saturday 14.10.2017. The distances were full marathon, ½ marathon, ¼ marathon and a marathon relay.
Vantaa’s Marathon is organized Kenttäurheilijat-58, Korson Kunto and Vantaa Salamat. Next year Vantaa Marathon will take place 13.10.2018.
Results:
Maraton men:
1. Jukka Salo, Kenttäurheilijat-58, 2.37,24
2. Jarno Piik, TriathlonSuomi -Team, 2.40,31
3. Petri Turpeinen, Forrestguuri, 2.41,37
Maraton women:
1. Soili Kosonen, Ice Power Suomi, 2.58,23
2. Tiina Föhr, Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat, 2.58,51
3. Veronica Kengo, IF Nykarlebynejden, 3.13,34
½-maraton men:
1. Jarkko Järvenpää, Tampereen Pyrintö, 1.08,28
2. Karlis Viksne, Latvia, 1.15,20
3. Jarno Vikman, – , 1.20,54
½-maraton women:
1. Salla Loiske, Elimäen Vauhti, 1.28,39
2. Leena Mäkäräinen, Kenttäurheilija-58, 1.29,53
3. Kirsi Roine, – , 1.33,48
¼-maraton men:
1. Tommi Hytönen, Kenttäurheilijat-58, 34,01
2. Jani Strömsholm, – , 36,00
3. Petri Juuti, Kenttäurheilijat-58, 37,05
¼-maraton women:
1. Mira Tuominen, Valkeakosken Haka, 38,48
2. Maija Saarinen, Finnair, 41,46
3. Venla Saari, Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat, 42,57
All results: http://resultservice.fi/2017/vantaa/