Thank you to all the photographers, especially Doug Shaggy Smith, Alex Rotas, Torrey Enoksen and Lutwin Jungmann, who spend so much time to capture us so well. The photos featured in these articles are from them and athletes’ posts on social media.
Athletes arrived to Ratina Stadium in the rain this morning. What affect would it have on the competitions? It didn’t impact Carol Finsrud’s, W65, USA, W60 WMA recordholder, bid to become World Champion in discus for the 13th time in 14 appearances. W60+ discus was contested in Ratina. The three of the four oldest women at this Championship competed against each other today. The oldest, Bhagwani Devi, W90, IND, placed second. Next oldest, Gloria Krug, USA, placed first and Ruth Baumann, GER, placed third.
W65 discus medalists Carol Finsrud, USA, gold, Mare Külv, EST, silver and Ināra Rozēna, LAT, bronze.
W55 and younger discus throwers competed at TESC. Bettina Schardt, W50, GER, 42.07m threw in the final round to take the lead. Two time Olympian, Joanna Wiśniewska, POL, responded with a 42.76m throw to regain the top spot. The youngest female at this Championship, Laurensa Britane, W35, GBR, placed third. Laurensa also earned silver in javelin on Sunday.
Women’s long jump was at the stadium today. The oldest female athlete at this Championship, Senni Sopanen, W90, FIN, earned gold by jumping farther than Gloria Krug, USA. Current WMA recordholder and 2018 WMA Best Female Athlete runner-up, Petra Bajeat, FRA, used her first jump to set the mark to beat which nobody, including her, could match. Heidi Häggblom, W40, FIN, had the best mark, 5.93m, for all jumpers.
Elise Marie Wåle, W80, NOR, jumping her way to silver.
Records fell in long hurdles as Jane Horder, W65, competing in her 13th World Championship and W60 WMA recordholder, ran faster than WMA Athlete of the Decade, Karla Del Grande’s, WMA record and Tami Graff, W85, USA, demolished her own WMA record by over 12 seconds. Mattias Sunneborn, M50, SWE, Sydney Olympian, and current WMA recordholder, won his race.
Photo: Alex Rotas
Current M55 WMA recordholder, Marco Segatel, M60, ITA, was victorious at Ratina where M60+ high jump was held. Valdis Cela, M70, LAT, 2018 WMA Best Male Athlete Runner-up, placed 3rd in his division.
Pekka Metsä, M75, FIN, is a study in concentration as he prepares to clear 1.18m and win Gold. Photo: Alex Rotas
Javelin at Ratina Stadium
Luboš Novácek, M45, CZE, during the javelin competition in which he placed 4th. Ahti Põder, EST, placed first with a throw of 62.18m.
Pole vault at Ratina Stadium
M55 pole vaulters post-competition pose. Thierry Moyse, FRA, won the competition with a 4.00m vault.
