Ursula Kaiser for IAAF
25 February 2001 - Dortmund - The situation at the German Championships in Dortmund was very difficult, with everybody talking more about Dieter Baumann than about the results. The 1992 Olympic Champion is the object of a two year ban by the IAAF but obtained a court injunction allowing him to compete in the German National Championships. He competed in the 3000m, winning the race in 7:47.29 min.
A lot of very young people convinced at this Championships. In the high jump two women reached 1.93 m, the 21 year old Elena Herzenberg, who won the competition, and the former world class jumper, Alina Astafei who was second. But Alina Astafei, who had been off form for a long time , was disappointed not to win the event. "I was sure, that 1.93 m would be enough to win," she said. Elena Herzenberg was happy. She jumped 1.90 m for the first time three weeks ago, one week later she reached 1.94 m and now she won her first German Champion title.
Tim Goebel, the big German sprint hope won the 60 m in a very good 6.58 once again improving his personal best. Now the 18-year-old youngster has big plans. "I want to reach the final in Lisbon and then we will see what happens".
Sina Schilke, the three-time European Junior Champion was the best woman in the 60m race. She crossed the line in 7.20 ahead of Marion Wagner (7.22) and Melanie Paschke (7.31), who has returned to the track this season after time off for a maternity.
The winner of the 200m was Holger Blume in 21.01 sec and the 800m was won by Nico Motchebon after a tactical and slow race in 1:51.28.
German Champion in the 60 m hurdles was Ralf Leberer in 7.65 sec – in the absence of European Championship silver medallist Falk Balzer, who was suspended by the German Athletic Federation following a positive doping sample.
"I would have preferred to be second behind Falk Balzer," Ralf Leberer said after the victory.
Michael Stolle had a very good result reached in the pole vault with 5.80 m. Martin Buss won the high jump with 2.25 m and Rene Sack was the best in the shot put event with 19.39 m.
A new star was born in the 400 m race as Shanta Ghosh won in an excellent 51.48 secs. Irina Mikitenko tried to find more competitors at her level, but outclassed the rest of the field. She won the 1500 m (4:09.97 min) and the 3000 m (8:52.41 min) and was head and shoulders above the other runners.
Juliane Sprenger recorded a personal best in the 60 m hurdles with 8.06 secs. The former European Junior Champion, Yvonne Buschbaum, was the best Pole Vaulter (4.40), but was unhappy with her performance: "I would like to finally clear 4.50 m", the 20 year-old said after the event.
Olympic Champion Heike Drechsler won the long jump with 6.56 m, ahead of heptathlete Sabine Braun (6.49 m).
Full results from the German Indoor Nationals can be found at the website of the DLV
