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News07 Aug 1999


The Germans triumph in Cologne

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Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF

8 August 1999 - Cologne - The Weltklasse in KÖln Grand Prix meeting started with rain and wind but the sun rapidly made its appearance and offered better conditions to the athletes. In front of an enthusiastic home crowd, the Germans offered a reminder of their strength and confirmed that they will be a force to contend with in Seville later this month. 

In a pole vault contest which saw five jumpers, Olympic champion Jean Galfione and members of the 6 metre club Okkert Britts and Rodion Gataullin finish with no mark, Germany claimed the first three positions with Tim Lobinger, Danny Ecker and Lars Borgeling. Lobinger or Super Tim – as he was nicknamed by the local audience – easily cleared 5.90m and made a good attempt at 6.01m which was not successful. Danny Ecker finished second with 5.85m, while Lars Borgeling cleared 5.75m. Borgeling took part in the 1998 IAF-Zepter Masterclass and obviously gained from the session where he was coached for two days by every fledgling pole vaulters’ hero Sergey Bubka.

Another event in which Germany excels is the discus throw. The contest in Cologne today saw four-time and current World Champion Lars Riedel in fine form and ready to defend his title in Seville. The 'Gentle Giant' was victorious with 66.98m on his fourth attempt ahead of fellow German Jurgen Schult (65.61m).

In the women’s 5000m, a trio made up of of marathon best performance holder Tegla Loroupe (KEN), her compatriot Leah Mallot, and Germany’s Irina Mikitenko led the race from start to finish with astonishing authority, battling it out over the final 300 metres in a desperate sprint. Mikitenko crossed the line first in 15:14.17 ahead of Loroupe 15:16.80 and Mallot 15:18.22.

Germany also claimed victory in the women’s shot put with World Champion Astrid Kumbernuss throwing at 19.05m on her first attempt, and in the women’s 200m where Andrea Philipp clocked 22.48 to win the race ahead of Nigerian Fatima Yussuf (22.68) and Sri Lanka’s Susanthika Jajasinghe (22.91). Triple Olympic champion Marie José Pérec finished fifth with 23.25.

Patrick Konchellah from Kenya clocked 1:44.77 to win the 800m race ahead of European champion Nils Schumann (GER) 1:45.05 who despite the cheers and support of the home crowd was not able to close the gap in the last few metres.

In the 3000m, Moroccan Brahim Lahlafi clocked 7:33.87 to take victory ahead of Kenya’s Daniel Komen (7:36.32). 1992 5000m Olympic champion Dieter Baumann was encouraged by the incredible local support and sprinted towards the line to come third.

After an excellent start from Ghanaian Leonard Myles-Mills (whose reaction time was 0.136 compared to 0.173 for Obadele Thompson), the Barbadian Thompson dug deep into his reserves over the last 30 metres to beat Myles-Mills by 0.02 seconds. Olympic champion Donovan Bailey was third in 10.30. Hurdler Tony Dees who had taken a lane left open by a withdrawal was fourth with the time of 10.37.

Kazakhstan’s Olga Shishigina confirmed her excellent shape this season by winning the 100m hurdles here in Cologne and by defeating some of the fastest specialists in this discipline. She took advantage of an excellent start and kept the lead throughout, crossing the finish line in 12.53 - her third best time of the year. American Melissa Morrison and Ludmila Engquist fought it out for second place, which was awarded to the American with 12.67 against 12.70 to Sweden’s Engquist. 

World record holder Colin Jackson demonstrated his superb class over the hurdles in a race he led from start to finish clocking 13.15 ahead of a field led by American Tony Dees who came in second with 13.41.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, American Sandra Glover produced a remarkable acceleration after the 200m mark and clocked 53.90 to take victory ahead of Andrea Blackett (BAR) who was fastest out of the blocks. Tacko Diouf from Senegal finished third with a time of 55.47

Romanian Monica Iagar-Dinescu won the women’s high jump contest by clearing 1.96m. Yelena Yelesina of Russia was second with the same height. Disappointed by her result, Dinescu declared that she was nevertheless happy to have recovered from injury and is looking forward to a great competition in Seville.

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