News18 Feb 2002

Grit Breuer storming to the title – but not going to Vienna

Grit Breuer storming to the titlebut not going to Vienna
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
18 February 2002 – Sindelfingen, Germany - Although Grit Breuer ran a world leading 51.49 in the 400 m of the German national indoor championships in Sindelfingen on Sunday, she decided not to run in the European Indoors in Vienna.

“The summer season with the Europeans in Munich is so important for me, that I decided not to go to Vienna. Additionally I am not yet 100 per cent healthy”, Breuer, who suffered from shingles, said. Still Germany will bring a 400 m runner to Vienna, who could at least reach the final: Claudia Marx celebrated her second place behind Breuer in a new personal best of 51.80.

The young runner from Berlin, who was a member of Germany’s 4x400 m team in Edmonton last August, found herself in a perfect race. Running right behind Breuer after 200 metres she managed to stay just a metre or two behind her for another 150 metres.

In the men’s 400 m Germany also has a candidate for the final, although Ingo Schultz will not go to Vienna. While Schultz did not start in the individual races but led Dortmund’s 4x400 m to the title at the end of the championships, Bastian Swillims won the 400 m in 46.22. “This was a strong performance by him. I believe he can win a medal in Vienna”, Schultz commented.

In the 60 metres Melanie Paschke is back on her way to her best form. In a convincing style she won the 60 m in 7.20. That was her best time after giving birth. Marc Blume also qualified for Vienna with 6.59 in the 60 m and then went on to win the 200 m in 21.03.

While he missed the German qualifying standard by three hundredth of a second, in the women's race, Gabi Rockmeier ran 23.02 and beat Melanie Paschke. Rockmeier will run the 200 m in Vienna, while Kirsten Bolm wants to reach the final of the European indoors as well after winning the 60 m hurdles in Sindelfingen in 7.97.

Long jumper Kofi Amoah Prah was happy. Having been in trouble recently with his run-up after the new 45 metre rule, which forced him to shorten his run-up, he managed six regular jumps. With 8.02 m Prah, who was fifth in the Olympics, won the indoor title for the first time since 1997. Second placed Schahriar Bigdeli also qualified for Vienna with 7.98 m. Germany’s prospects in the women’s pole vault are also fine. Winner Annika Becker and Christine Adams both cleared 4.50 m, while Yvonne Buschbaum was third with 4.35.

In the hurdles Mike Fenner was again number one in the national championship. Last summer’s win in Stuttgart was quite a surprise, but this time it was not. Training together with Florian Schwarthoff and Jerome Crews for more than a year now in Berlin, Fenner is well on the way back to his best form. Having a very good start Fenner led the field right from the beginning an won in a seasonal best of 7.57 seconds.

Having won already two bronze medals in the European indoors Fenner should be ready again to reach the final in Vienna. “I am very happy having won here. But all my preparations are focused for the European Indoors”, Fenner said.

With 7,65 Florian Schwarthoff, who will also run the European Indoors, came in second. But the 33-year-old, who had announced that after the European Championships in Munich he will end his career, had bad luck before the final. Someone stepped on his hand with spikes on – so Schwarthoff had to consult the doctor before the start and ran with a bandage around his hand.

The career of another great German athlete might last longer than this summer. Heike Drechsler has not yet decided when she will step back. In Sindelfingen she was back again as Germany’s number one. 6.59 m were enough to win the competition. Although she beat the German qualifying standard for Vienna, the Olympic Champion will not compete in the European Indoors. Instead she goes to a training camp to South Africa.

A doubtful starter for Vienna is Charles Friedek. The triple jumper, who is the defending European indoor champion, overcame a slight muscle injury and feels fit. “But somehow I can not yet transform this into very good jumps. I still have problems with the run-up. And most probably I will not go to Vienna”, Friedek said. But it would not be the first time that Friedek says no and then in the end turns up. Seville is the best example, when Friedek won gold in the end. In Sindelfingen he was second after taking the lead with his last jump. Friedek jumped 16.62 m, but was overtaken by Thomas Moede with 16.72.

The men’s pole vault was a disappointing competition for German standards. Danny Ecker had three jumps, did not manage to cross the bar once at 5.50 m and was out. He will most probably not be nominated for Vienna. As Tim Lobinger did not start due to stomach problems Richard Spiegelburg won the championship with 5.70 m.

Another top contender out was Nils Schumann. The Olympic 800 m Champion broke his arm when he fell off his mountain bike recently in the woods near his hometown Erfurt. He had to have an operation. And it seems unlikely that Schumann will be able to run in Vienna. So once again Rene Herms took advantage of Schumann’s absence and won the title – as he did before last summer. 1:49.93 were enough for Herms to take the title.

Results. Men:

60 m: 1. Marc Blume 6.59. 2. Kosenkow 6.68. 3. Riethmüller 6.75.

200 m: 1. Marc Blume 21.03. 2. Otto 21.29. 3. Kosenkow 21.61.

400 m: 1. Swillims 46.22. 2. Holz 47.82. 3. Hackelbusch 48.41.

800 m: 1. Herms 1:49.93. 2. Co 1:50.36. 3. Dertmann 1:50.84.

1500 m: 1. Kühn 3:48.83. 2. Knoblich 3:48.87. 3. Legath 3:49.49.

3000 m: 1. Fitschen 8:03.60. 2. May 8:06.51. 3. Kröckert 8:07.74.

60 m h: 1. Fenner 7.57. 2. Schwarthoff 7.65. 3. Schindzielorz 7.65

LJ: 1. Prah 8.02. 2. Bigdeli 7.98. 3. Pohle 7.66.

HJ: 1. Rhoden 2.22. 2. Kreissig 2.18. 3. Kohle 2.10.

TJ: 1. Moede 16.72. 2. Friedek 16.62. 3. Pohle 16.22

PV: 1. Spiegelburg 5.70. 2. Börgeling 5.50. 3. Wassilew 5.30