Tim Lobinger securing his Olympic spot at the German Championships (© Getty Images/Bongarts)
The men’s Pole Vault proved to be the most thrilling competition on day one of the German Championships in Nürnberg. Up to nine athletes were still in with a chance to get one of the three tickets for the Olympic Games. In fine weather conditions Tim Lobinger, Danny Ecker and Raphael Holzdeppe finally qualified for Beijing.
Men’s events
5.75m was the decisive height in the Pole Vault. Six athletes were still in contention at that point: Experienced athletes Ecker, Lobinger, Lars Börgeling and Fabian Schulze as well as youngsters Alexander Straub and Raphael Holzdeppe, who had tied the World junior record recently with 5.80m. It was Lobinger who cleared 5.75m first. A week before he had almost given up hope of qualifying because of a lack of form. But he came back strong just in time.
Ecker was the next one to jump 5.75m at his first attempt. Before he had only jumped 5.50m and then missed 5.70m once. Ecker passed his next two attempts and went for 5.75m instead. The gamble paid off for the bronze medallist from Osaka 2007. Ecker resigned from competition after clearing 5.75m so qualified for Beijing with just three jumps! The background is that he suffers from an Achilles tendon problem in his right foot.
“I am just happy to have qualified for Beijing today,” he said and added: “I have to congratulate the other two. Tim for his great comeback and Raphael for his tremendous breakthrough this year.”
Holzdeppe failed at his first attempt at 5.75m but cleared that height at his second. Since none of the other three jumpers managed to do so the 18-year-old had secured the third Beijing spot.
“I have no words for this – I am overwhelmed,” said Holzdeppe. He and Lobinger both failed to clear 5.80m. Lobinger won the championship because Ecker had given up, Holzdeppe took the bronze.
The Long Jump produced another close fight for the title. Sebastian Bayer took the lead in the fifth round with 8.15m from Nils Winter, who remained second with 8.08m. While Tobias Unger won the 100m in 10.20 from Stefan Schwab (10.29) Thomas Blaschek once again just missed the national qualifiying time for Beijing. He won the 110m Hurdles after a bad start with 13.52 seconds, beating his training partner Alexander John by just one hundredth of a second. As expected Robert Harting won the discus with 66.26m.
Women’s events
Ariane Friedrich once more cleared 2.00 metres in convincing style at her first attempt. She had started the competition with 1.84m, then flying over 1.90m and 1.95m without a miss. There was no further competition from 1.95m onwards since second placed Annett Engel only managed 1.87m in this decisive qualifier for Beijing.
Friedrich had the bar raised to 2.04m, which would have been a personal best by one centimetre. She missed that mark three times though her first one was quite close.
“I had a fall during the warm-up and my knee hurt after that. But I though this is the German Championship and I can not disappoint the spectators,” Friedrich said, who said it would be a dream to win a medal at the Olympic Games.
Betty Heidler took the national championship for the fourth time in a row, but the World Hammer Throw champion was far from happy with her performance. Her winning mark of 68.64m is not what she had expected in Nürnberg.
“I had trained very well last week and had good throws. But today my performance was poor. It seems to be a mental problem. We will analyse this and then train accordingly,” said Heidler, who will also seek assistance from a psychologist. After training well last week her aim had been to throw about 75 metres today. “But I was well away from that mark.” While four of her six throws were faults one of these was a bit of a boost for Betty Heidler. The hammer came down at around 72 metres, but she had slightly stepped over. Heider has a season’s best of 74.11m, which she threw in Wiesbaden at the end of May.
Similar to Heidler another top thrower is well below par as well at present: Christina Obergföll who just managed to defend her title. At her final attempt the European record holder threw 62.18m. Before it had looked as if Steffi Nerius would be the winner. She had thrown 61.91m at her second attempt. Linda Stahl was third with 60.18m.
Nadine Kleinert showed fine form when taking the Shot Put with 19.67m. All her six attempts were beyond the 19m mark.
“I am not yet satisfied with my technique. This has to get better for the Olympics. But there is still some time left until Beijing,” Kleinert said.
Christina Schwanitz took second with 19.03 m while Denise Hinrichs was third with 18.60 m.
Verena Sailer won the 100m for the third time in a row at these championships, clocking 11.28. There was a fine performance by Carolin Nytra in the 100m Hurdles. While Kirsten Bolm had to end her season because of Achilles tendon problems Nytra won with 12.87.
Standing ovations for Lars Riedel
There was a farewell to Gabi and Birgit Rockmeier, Andreas Erm, Boris Henry and Lars Riedel, who had ended their careers. It was none of the participating athletes but Lars Riedel who was celebrated with standing ovations on day one of the championships.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
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