Estonian Andrus Varnik denied
Finland the world javelin gold it had craved in Helsinki as local hero Tero Pitkamaki failed to make the podium. Varnik went one better than the 2003 worlds - when he won silver - thanks to his fourth-round effort of 87.17m.
But favourite Pitkamaki's best throw of 81.27m was only good enough for fourth.
Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway took silver (86.18m) while defending champion Sergey Makarov of Russia came third with 83.48m.
Pitkamaki had been hoping to replicate the success of fellow Finn Tiina
Lillak, who won the women's javelin title at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki with her final throw of the competition.
But it was not to be and he admitted his failure to get among the medals in his country's national event had hit him hard.
"It feels like the end of the world," he said. "Fourth place does not
cheer me up at all."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
