CASTER SEMENYA RETURNS WITH VICTORY IN LAPPEENRANTA

The South African clocked 2:04.22 in the 800m in her first competitions since winning the 2009 World title in Berlin last August.

Kenyan Caroline Chepkwony took the early lead with Semenya well behind after the first 400 metres - covered in 62.05 – before closing strongly in the final 200 metres to take a comfortable victory.

Mari Järvenpää of Finland ran a good home straight, too, to take second 0.49 seconds behind Semenya.

"It was not easy to come here to compete, but I’m quite satisfied with my result today,” Semenya told the crowd. “I took the pace quite early before the finishing line, because I wanted to run a better time after the slow first lap, and 2:04 was just what I was looking for."

Semenya's next race will be the 800m in Lapinlahti on Sunday 18 July.

Evilä takes a fine Long Jump battle

As expected, the men’s Long Jump was the top event on an exceptionally hot (+32 C) evening in Lappeenranta. Finland’s Tommi Evilä, the World bronze medallist in Helsinki 2005, produced a solid series to underscore his role as one of Finland’s best medal hopes for the European Championships in Barcelona. Evilä reached a windy 8.19m, 8.16m, 8.12m and 8.03m before passing on his fifth attempt.

"This was the best competition I’ve ever had", Evilä said. “In Helsinki 2005 I did a quite similar series, but then I found a peak. That’s still to come this season.”

Denmark's Morten Jensen showed again that he’s ready to fight for the medals in Barcelona after reaching 8.16m in the sixth round to take second. Korea's Kim Duk-Hyeong (8.10m) was third, followed by 18-year-old South African Luvo Manyona (8.04m).

Mullings clocks 10.02 in the 100m heats

Jamaica's Steve Mullings clocked 10.02 in the Men's 100m heats before taking the final in 10.16. The Heats were ran in a tailwind, but in the Final the wind was -1.3 m/s.

"I’m just recovered from a hamstring injury and that’s why I’m very pleased. Yes, the Heat was a better run - not only because of the wind conditions", said Mullings who was just 0.01 seconds shy of his PB.

South Africa's Cornel Frederics went under 49 seconds for the first time in his carreer to win the 400m Hurdles in 48.99. The Women’s 100m was won by the USA's Joanna Atkins in 11.33, but in the 200m Bahamas’ Sheniqua Ferguson beat her in 23.28 - 23.32. Josanne Lucas took the first place to Trinidad in the women's 400m Hurdles in 56.42.

Finnish spectators were very interested in European 3000m Steeplechase champion Jukka Keskisalo's performance in the 3000m. Keskisalo had just came home from the high altitude training camp in Switzerland with Matti Räsänen.

Kenya's Geoffrey Kipsang's long kick was too much for both Finns and took the win in 7:59.57. Räsänen passed Keskisalo in the last 50 metres to take second, 8:02.18 to 8:02.23.

The men’s Discus was a good competition between Finland's Mikko Kyyrö and Frantz Kruger. Kyyrö opened with his season Best 62.43m and Kruger throw 62.02m in the fifth round, which means that both will be on the Finnish Team at the Europeans.

(Text: Antti-Pekka Sonninen. Photos: Paula Noronen.)