Five Tampereen Pyrintö athletes named to Finland's squad for Birmingham Europeans

Finland will field a 65-athlete team at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on August 10–16, and Tampereen Pyrintö has five competitors selected despite two local stars missing the meet through injury, Tamperelainen reports.

Earlier coverage noted that Reetta Hurske has been battling injuries this season and faces a difficult year after turning 30. The club also boosted its relay squad this spring by signing Finnish champion Hilla Niemelä to strengthen the relay.

Club veteran Jarmo Hakanen called the absences a blow. Reetta Hurske did not compete outdoors this season, and Saga Vanninen is sidelined by a season-ending overload injury. "Saga is only 23, so she has many championships ahead," he said, while expressing concern for Hurske, now 31. He praised those who made the cut and backed them to post solid results in Birmingham. Hakanen highlighted 400m hurdlers Jere Haapalainen and Antti Sainio, who took gold and silver at the U20 European Championships three years ago; Haapalainen has battled multiple injuries, while Sainio is now the national record holder over the longer hurdles. He noted that high jumper Daniel Kosonen was selected on ranking despite not meeting the Finnish Athletics Federation's 2.17m minimum, his season best being 2.07m. Lotta Harala will close her international career at these championships and, he hopes, can at least reach the semifinals and finish on a positive note. He added that Ella Junnila's 1.86m in rainy conditions suggests she could manage 1.90m in Birmingham and potentially place among the top eight. Finally, Hakanen said improved training facilities at Pirkkahalli would likely attract more student athletes to Tampere.

The wider Tampere region is also represented by hammer thrower Henri Liipola, 400m hurdler Hilla Uusimäki, shot putter Emilia Kangas and 4x400m relay pick Veera Mattila.