Eläintarha Field, Helsinki, Finland, September 16-17, 1922
Aleksandr Klumberg of Estonia set a new decathlon world record at the International Autumn Games of the Helsinki IFK Club in Helsinki. After two days of gruelling competition, Klumberg achieved 7485.690 points under the 1921 scoring tables, surpassing the previous record held by Evert Nilsson of Sweden by over 200 points. However, Jim Thorpe’s performance of 7710.775 points from the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, also recalculated with the 1921 tables, remained higher. Thorpe's record, achieved over three days, is not entirely comparable.
Klumberg’s decisive edge came in the javelin throw, where he achieved a massive 62.20 metres (203-9), far exceeding the 40–55 metre throws of other leading decathletes that season.
A reporter of the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper noted:
“The javelin always leaves his hand as though shot from a gun.”
The exceptional form of Paavo Nurmi continued as he won the 1500 metres in a time of 3:59.8, setting a new Finnish record. This performance placed him at the top of the European rankings for the year, a season with relatively modest competition on the continent.
Lauri Härö, Finland’s fastest sprinter, recorded 22.4 seconds in the 200 metres, equalling the official Finnish record. A week earlier in Stockholm, Härö had clocked 22.3 seconds, but this was not ratified as a national record under the rules of the time since it was achieved abroad.
Härö also ran 10.8 seconds in the 100 metres, matching Uuno Railo’s ambiguous but officially recognised Finnish record. Questions about the validity of Härö’s time arose due to reports of a false start, but it remains on the record books.
Both the 4x100 metres and 4x400 metres Finnish relay records were broken during the weekend. IFK’s strong 4x400 metres team, comprising Wickholm, Åström, Bengtström, and Wilén, set a new national record of 3:25.2. Wilén’s anchor leg was timed at 49.2 seconds with a flying start.
The following day, the same IFK team, with a rearranged lineup of Åström, Bengtström, Wilén, and Wickholm, set a 4x100 metres club record of 44.2 seconds. This remained Finland’s season best until the national team improved it to 43.8 seconds a week later during the France-Finland dual meet.
Ilmari Nikander achieved the season’s best in the pole vault with 3.65 metres (11 feet 11.7 inches), five centimetres shy of Armas Rauhamaa’s Finnish record.
Helsingin Sanomat, September 17, 1922 (in Finnish)
Uusi Suomi, September 17, 1922 (in Finnish)
Hufvudstadsbladet, September 17, 1922 (in Swedish)
Idrottsbladet, September 19, 1922 (in Swedish)