Andre Niklaus of Germany celebrates winning the 1000m discipline of the men's heptathlon and winning the gold medal overall (© Getty Images)
Jacob Minah and Lilli Schwarzkopf took the German indoor titles in the multiple events last weekend (26 / 27 Jan) in Frankfurt.
Both defended their titles. 25-year-old Jacob Minah, who had improved his Decathlon best to 8099 points last year, collected 5763 in the Heptathlon. In the individual events he achieved the following results: 6.94 (60 m), 7.23 (LJ), 13.26 (SP), 1.97 (HJ), 8.03 (60 m h), 4.60 (PV) and 2:49.82 (1,000 m). Steffen Kahlert took second with 5,643 while Matthias Prey was third with 5591.
It had been reigning World Indoor champion André Niklaus, who was in the lead after six of the seven events. But due to a cold he decided not to run the 1000m and stopped competing. Niklaus had clocked 7.20 for 60 m, then jumped 7.04 m, followed by 14.89 m (SP), 1.97 m (HJ), 8.14 (60mH) and 5.00 m (PV). Niklaus, who is keen on defending his World title in Valencia, had collected 5052 points from the six events.
In the Pentathlon, Lilli Schwarzkopf achieved a personal best of 4641 points. She clocked 8.55 (60mH) followed by 1.81 (HJ), 14.83 (SP), 6.24 (LJ) and 2:16.59 (800 m). The 24-year-old was especially happy with a personal best in the Shot Put. Claudia Tonn (8.78 / 1.78 / 12.86 / 6.43 / 2:10.71) took second with 4566 points while Sonja Kesselschläger was wthird with 4,523 (8.53 / 1.78 / 14.94 / 6.09 / 2:19.85).
Elsewhere Christina Schwanitz achieved a notable result. The 22-year-old improved her personal best in the Shot Put to 18.44m in a regional championship in Sindelfingen (Southwestern Germany).
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
