Athletics: Lotta Harala withdraws from home meet, hamstring injury persists

Finnish track and field star Lotta Harala will not compete in the upcoming Tampere GP on Sunday due to a lingering hamstring injury. The 34-year-old hurdler announced her withdrawal via her Instagram stories, expressing disappointment at missing the home competition.

"The home competition is always very special. It feels bad," Harala wrote. She added that she is receiving the best possible rehabilitation and her focus is on returning to the starting line safely and as soon as possible.

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Home competition is always very special. It feels bad.

The hamstring injury has troubled Harala throughout the beginning of her season. It previously forced her to skip the Kuortane GP in June. She did, however, open her season at the Lahti GP, where she recorded her season's best time of 12.79 seconds.

Harala also participated in the Joensuu GP earlier this week but withdrew from the 100m hurdles final after the preliminary heats. The Tampere GP is set to feature a strong lineup of Finnish athletes, including high jumper Ella Junnila and pole vaulter Ella Mikkola, who are preparing for the European Championships and the U20 World Championships, respectively. Other notable participants include hammer throwers Krista Tervo and Silja Kosonen, sprinter Riku Illukka, and 400m hurdles national record holder Antti Sainio.

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Rehabilitation is being done with the best possible expertise. The focus is on reaching the starting line as soon as it is safe and possible.