Pekka Päivärinta
Encyclopedia
Pekka Johannes Päivärinta (born May 4, 1949, in Aura
, Finland
) is a former Finnish
long-distance runner. He won men's senior race in the first World Championships of cross-country running
in 1973
. He competed in 1972 Olympics
at 3000-meter steeplechase finishing 8th. In 1976 Olympics
he competed in 5000 meters and finished 13th. In 1975 he broke world record in 25000 meters running by his result 1:14:16,8. The record was broken by Bill Rodgers
in 1979.
Contrary to his fellow Finnish long-distance runner — and age mate — Lasse Virén
, Päivärinta underachieved in the major outdoor international championships of his active running career. On the other hand, he defeated Virén several times in the local and national Finnish races. One apparent obstacle to his success in the major international championships was that he ran badly in hot and humid conditions. This would partly explain his twenty-first place at 10,000 metres and thirteenth place at 5,000 metres in the 1974 European Athletics Championships, and his dropping out of the 10,000-metre heats in the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics.
Aura, Finland
Aura is a municipality of Finland. The name derives from the river Aura and the plough reminiscent shape of the municipality. The municipality was established in 1917 from parts of Lieto and Pöytyä....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is a former Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
long-distance runner. He won men's senior race in the first World Championships of cross-country running
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
in 1973
1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 1st IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 17 March 1973 in Waregem, Belgium.-Individual:-Team:- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :...
. He competed in 1972 Olympics
Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics
At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, 38 events in athletics were contested, 24 for men and 14 for women. There were a total number of 1324 participating athletes from 104 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
at 3000-meter steeplechase finishing 8th. In 1976 Olympics
Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics
At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, 37 events were contested in athletics. There were a total number of 1006 participating athletes from 80 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:**...
he competed in 5000 meters and finished 13th. In 1975 he broke world record in 25000 meters running by his result 1:14:16,8. The record was broken by Bill Rodgers
Bill Rodgers (athlete)
William "Bill" Henry Rodgers is an American runner and former American record holder in the marathon who is best known for his victories in the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon in the late 1970s...
in 1979.
Contrary to his fellow Finnish long-distance runner — and age mate — Lasse Virén
Lasse Virén
Lasse Artturi Virén is a former Finnish long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics...
, Päivärinta underachieved in the major outdoor international championships of his active running career. On the other hand, he defeated Virén several times in the local and national Finnish races. One apparent obstacle to his success in the major international championships was that he ran badly in hot and humid conditions. This would partly explain his twenty-first place at 10,000 metres and thirteenth place at 5,000 metres in the 1974 European Athletics Championships, and his dropping out of the 10,000-metre heats in the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics.
Personal bests
- 800 m
- Outdoor 1:52.5 (SaloSalo, FinlandSalo is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
23.7. 1978)
- Outdoor 1:52.5 (Salo
- 1 500 m
- Outdoor 3:37.2 (HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
28.6. 1973), - Indoor 3:52.3 (TurkuTurkuTurku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
27.2. 1972)
- Outdoor 3:37.2 (Helsinki
- Mile
- Outdoor 4:05.2 (OuluOuluOulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
2.9. 1975)
- Outdoor 4:05.2 (Oulu
- 2 000 m
- Outdoor 5:11.0 (LaitilaLaitilaLaitila is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is...
2.8. 1974)
- Outdoor 5:11.0 (Laitila
- 3 000 m
- Outdoor 7:57.2 (HyvinkääHyvinkääHyvinkää is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in Uusimaa region, approximately north of the capital Helsinki. The town was chartered in 1960. Hyvinkää belongs to the Province of Southern Finland. The population of Hyvinkää is ....
27.7. 1975), - Indoor 7:52.97 (RotterdamRotterdamRotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
11.3. 1973)
- Outdoor 7:57.2 (Hyvinkää
- 5 000 m
- Outdoor 13:28.51 (HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
16.9. 1973), - Indoor 13:49.0 (TurkuTurkuTurku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
22.2. 1975)
- Outdoor 13:28.51 (Helsinki
- 10 000 m
- Outdoor 27:54.43 (HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
23.6. 1976)
- Outdoor 27:54.43 (Helsinki
- 25 000 m
- Outdoor 1:14:16.8 (WR) (OuluOuluOulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
15.5. 1975)
- Outdoor 1:14:16.8 (WR) (Oulu
- Marathon
- 2:13:09.0 (FukuokaFukuoka MarathonThe , held in Fukuoka, Japan, is an international men's marathon race established in 1947. It is usually held on the first Sunday in December.The course record is held by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, running 2:05:18 in 2009 to best his own record from the previous year.-Men's winners:Winners of the...
8.12. 1974)
- 2:13:09.0 (Fukuoka
- 2 000 m steeplechase
- 5:46.8 (MariehamnMariehamnMariehamn is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government and Parliament of Åland, and 40% of the population of Åland live in the city...
9.8. 1969)
- 5:46.8 (Mariehamn
- 3 000 m steeplechase
- 8:25.4 (HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
26.7. 1972)
- 8:25.4 (Helsinki
External links
- http://www.tilastopaja.org/db/fi/atm.php?ID=8846