News06 Jul 2008


Hingst 4.55m, as heavy rain causes severe problems – German Championships, Day 2

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A rain soaked second day at 2008 German Champs in Nuremburg (© Getty Images)

Heavy rain marred the second day of the German Championships on Sunday (6). After a fine start bad weather moved in during the second part of today’s session and most events were suspended for sometime.

Despite the wet conditions the women’s Pole Vault produced fine results with Carolin Hingst winning the event with 4.55m, while the men’s Javelin Throw continued in the rain and produced a surprise victory for Tino Häber with 80.15m.

18,000 spectators watched the events on Sunday.

Women’s Events

The women’s Pole Vault was worst hit by the weather. Competition was stopped after a height of 4.25m, and athletes had to wait for more than one hour before they could continue. Defending champion Silke Spiegelburg had for example not jumped at all before the break since she had decided to enter the competition at 4.35m. She later cleared her opening height at her second attempt.

Five athletes were still in contention at 4.50m which proved to be the decisive height regarding the three tickets for Beijing. While Lisa Ryzih and Kristina Gadschiew missed this height Anastasija Reiberger (maiden name: Ryzih) cleared it at her first attempt, which in the end was good enough for second place. Spiegelburg jumped 4.50m at her second attempt and will also go to Beijing. It took Carolin Hingst three attempts to clear that height but a few minutes later she jumped 4.55m, with which she took the title.

“I am happy to have qualified for what will be my second Olympic Games though I only managed third place. I lost a bit of my rhythm during the competition and made some mistakes, which should not happen in Beijing,” said Spiegelburg.

There was a fine display in the rain by Antje Möldner in the 3000m Steeplechase. Taking the lead right from the start she ran her own race and came in with 9:50.05. Julia Hiller was second with 10:07.65, while Verena Dreier took third in 10:12.62.

Möldner had come to Nuremberg as the defending champion in the 1500m but she swapped distances this year and achieved a national record of 9:34.21 earlier in the season. “I believe I can achieve a time of around 9:30 and my aim is to be in the final in Beijing,” said the 24-year-old from Potsdam.

Men’s Events

Simon Kirch took the 400m title, which he also won three years ago. Kirch stormed down the homestraight and to finish in 45.57 seconds, beating Bastian Swillims (45.71) and Ruwen Faller (46.05).

Kirch’s time was the fastest of a German this year, though he missed the Olympic qualifying standard by little more than two tenths of a second.

“I had expected such a result, it was no surprise for me. I hope to further improve this season regarding the relay in Beijing. The aim is to achieve a place between third and sixth in the final,” said Kirch.

Daniel Schnelting won the 200m in 20.54 seconds from Alexander Kosenkow (20.59).

Charles Friedek took the Triple Jump with his final effort. The 1999 World champion jumped 16.56m to deny Andreas Pohle the title (16.50). But Friedek was disappointed since he missed the Olympic qualifying mark of 17.00m.

In the wet conditions it was very difficult for the Javelin throwers who went for cover in the stadium tunnel, starting their run-ups from there. Tino Häber surprisingly took the title with a 80.15m throw in the first round. This was the only throw beyond 80 metres. Peter Esenwein was second with 77.22 and Manuel Nau took third with 75.32.

“I did not expect this although I had good form in training,” said Häber. I took the opportunity in the first round because after that the conditions got worse. The javelins became slippery,” said Häber, who might now be selected for the Olympic Games. He had entered the competition with a season’s best of 80.10m.

The men’s Shot Put was moved outside the stadium because the circle in he stadium was seen as not suitable by the athletes. “It was slippery and dangerous because of the rain,” explained Peter Sack, who took second place with 20.41m. “I lost a bit of tension because of the move. But I am satisfied with my performance,” Sack added.

Ralf Bartels won the title with 20.60m. His second best would have been good enough for the win as well (20.47). Sven-Eric Hahn took third place with 19.55m.

Kobs retires

Markus Esser won the Hammer Throw with 76.75m, but he again missed the German qualifying standard of 78.50m. Esser has a season’s best of 77.62m. So it might happen that no German hammer thrower will make it to Beijing. Jens Rautenkranz took second place with 73.22m while Karsten Kobs was third with 72.73m. After the competition 36-year-old Kobs, who had been 1999 World champion in Seville, announced that this was the end of his career.

Injury for Kappler

There was other sad news. At the start of day two in Nuremburg Bianca Kappler’s Olympic season came to a shocking end. Warming-up for the women's Long Jump competition she ruptured her Achilles tendon and has to have surgery. Kappler had a season’s best of 6.73m and her form had suggested that she seemed to be well on the way to make it to the Olympic final.

Jörg Wenig for the IAAF

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