The track action in the evening session began with Nathalie Blomqvist and Aino Suni among the 23-strong field for the women's 5000m final, and the two stayed side by side for almost the entire race, staying out of trouble towards the back of the pack as the pace ramped up around the halfway mark. Over the final kilometre, they were two of many unable to stay on the leaders' coat tails, before a final surge from Suni saw her cross the line in 12th place, in a time of 15:54.25, bettering her teammates' 15:58.36 and 18th position. Italy's Nadia Battocletti retained her title with ease in 15:37.84, over two seconds clear of her nearest challenger.
In the field, there was success for the Finns in the women's pole vault qualification. No athletes cleared the automatic qualification height of 4.55m, but Wilma Heltela was one of seven athletes to go clear at 4.50m and book a place in the final on 13th August. However, a best clearance of 4.25m would not be enough for Saga Andersson to join her compatriot in the 12-strong final.
Another two Finnish women were on the track for the 100m hurdles semi-finals - Lotta Harala was smooth over the barriers but a slow start cost her, as she finished eighth in the first race in 13.18. Saara Keskitalo knew she had to finish in the top four and go quicker than 12.89 to take a place in the final when she went in the third semi-final. The 2025 World University Games champion did the former, dipping on the line to snatch fourth, but a time of 13.09 was not quick enough to advance.
In the men's 100m, Riku Illukka finished fourth in the opening heat in a time of 10.57, just over three tenths down on his personal best but facing a head wind. He had a nervous wait during the next two heats before it was finally confirmed he had taken the 12th and final qualifying spot for the evening's semi-finals. Going in the last semi-final, Illukka knew fourth place in a time of 10.35 would see him sneak into the final, and he came close in a race won by former Olympic champion Marcel Jacobs, recording a time of 10.36, which was only enough for sixth place in the end.
Lakka and Sainio progress in hurdle events
In the morning session, Finland had three entrants in the 110m hurdles - first up was Ilari Manninen who was sharp out of the blocks but clipped later barriers and lost his rhythm, finishing sixth in a time of 14.13. However, there was better to come for Finnish fans, as Elmo Lakka then put in a smooth run and finished fourth in heat two in 13.84, before Santeri Kuusiniemi also came fourth in the last heat, clocking 13.89 which was enough for him and Lakka to both reach the semi-finals, which take place on 12th August in the evening session.
Another three Finns were on the starting blocks for the men's 400m hurdles, but only one will be back for the semi-finals on 12th August - Antti Sainio tracked his heat winner Julien Watrin well down the outside and recorded a season's best time of 49.70 and finished third.
Jere Haapalainen also ran a season's best of 50.37 from the outside lane in the opening heat, but the former European junior champion still came in eighth and last place, before a 50.90 run from Tuomas Lehtonen in the final heat was enough for sixth, but not to progress in the competition.
No joy in the field, middle distance or women's hurdles
The men's discus competition getting underway in the morning meant an appearance for Mico Lampinen, who began qualification group A with a 53.83m throw before improving to 56.47m with his second attempt to move into seventh place for the moment. However, he was soon surpassed and by failing to improve with his third attempt, he finished 13th in group A and short of the qualification mark.
Finnish champion Eveliina Maattanen was on the track for the opening heat of the women's 800m, and having stayed in the middle of the pack for the first lap, she struggled to stay with the increased pace in the second half of the race, and dropped to last place just before the finish line. There will be no semi-final place for the 30-year-old, but a season's best time of 1:59.62 will be something of a consolation.
A time of 55.93 in Monday's heats had seen Heidi Salminen comfortably into the semi-finals of the women's 400m hurdles, but she struggled to replicate that against tougher opposition, finishing in a time of 56.39 which was only enough to hold off Denmark's Martha Rasmussen and finish seventh. Italy's Ayomide Folorunso finished first in a time of 53.93.
Having been given a bye to the semi-finals, Finnish champion Hilla Uusimaki then took to the track in the next race. A strong start saw her lead over the first three barriers, and though she was passed on the inside on the final bend, a strong finish meant she stopped the clock at 54.70 to take fourth place, as world bronze medallist Emma Zapletalova took the win in 54.09. However, it was not enough for Uusimaki to take one of the fastest non-automatic qualification places.
In the men's high jump qualification, Daniel Kosonen cleared 2.15m but three fouls at the next height saw him bow out in 18th place.
