Elizaveta Ryshich of Germany celebrates winning the Pole Vault (© Getty Images)
The German Federation selected 67 athletes (33 men and 34 women) to compete in the IAAF World Junior Championships in Grosseto. Germany will be represented in all women events apart from the 5000m and the triple jump while the men will be absent in only the 10,000m, 400m Hurdles and in the 3000m Steeplechase.
Good results and big fights in the throwing events
At the German national championships held in Jena, athletes performed particularly well in the throwing events with Nadine Muller winning the discus with a best throw of 56.38m and Johanna Hope taking the hammer throw contest with a best attempt of 59.13m. In the shot put, Christina Schwanitz dominated all her opponents and won the title almost one metre ahead of the second athlete with 16.26m.
In the under-18 category, Ann Kathrin Elbe from Magdeburg made a strong impression by winning the 100m, the 100m Hurdles and by being part of the victorious 4x100m relay team in a very good time of 45.80.
In the discus throw, there was a tight duel which ended up with the victory of Martin Wierig (59.95m) just a few centimetres ahead of Stefan Keller who won the shot put with 18.35m. Stefan Keller wasn’t completely satisfied with this result as he wanted to reach 19 metres.
There was another exciting duel in the hammer throw contest which was eventually won by Andreas Sahner who took the lead from Kamil Bethke with 74.97m against 74.15m)
In the Javelin Throw, Fabian Heinemann dominated the field with a good 71.38m. “My goal in Grosseto will be to finish in the top five,“ he stated.
Concerning the High Jump, Marius Hannisk, who already jumped 2.24m this season, had to stop at 2.12 because he felt a twitch in the neck. He even had to give up his national title in favour of the under-18 World champion from Sherbrooke Martin Gunther who also managed to clear 2.12m.
In the Long Jump, Sebastian Bayer won the competition with 7.57m, three centimeters ahead of Michael Ertl.
Zelalem Martel in shape for Grosseto
Zelalem Martel won the 3000m in 8:31.82 more than six seconds faster than the silver medallist. ”It was an excellent training for Grosseto where I will run the 5000m,” she stated
The decathlete Arthur Abele decided to compete in the 400m hurdles and ended first in 51.71. But this result will not change his plans to participate in the decathlon in Grosseto. ”I prefer the combined events and I think I have better chances in the decathlon than in the 400m hurdles. I can’t compete in both so I have decided to concentrate on the combined events,” said the 17 years old athlete.
Anja Pollmacher dominated the 400m in 53.62 and she said after the race: "It was a pity that the wind was so strong. If there had been better conditions and more competitors, I would have run a faster time.”
Women’s pole vault is most exciting event
When Anna Schultze won the Pole Vault competition with a 4.20-metre clearance she let her joy explode. “Last year I hadn’t been selected in the national team for the European Championships, but I learned a lot from that and I wanted to feel relaxed for this competition."
Behind Schultze, World Youth champion Lisa Rhysich was second (4.15) and Silke Spiegelburg (4.05) who already jumped 4.31m this year came third. Despite her experience in international events - she participated in the World Junior Championships in Kingston – Spiegelburg will not be part of the team for Grosseto as the DLV selected Anna Schultze and Lisa Rhysich who is only 15 years old.
Another 15 year old will be in the German team for Groosseto as Diana Dienel won the 400m (54.13) and the 800m (2:05.93 min). In Italy, she will run the 800m and the 4x400m.
"In the relay we hope to win a medal, but it will be quite difficult," she said. Annett Engel from Potsdam won the high jump with 1.83 m and was a little bit disappointed. "The weather conditions were really bad as the competition had to be interrupted because of pouring rain. I had to wait one hour and a half before jumping.” Annett Engel has a best mark of 1.87m.
Bad luck for the favourite Stephanie Lichtl in the 100m hurdles
Stephanie Lichtl, who was fourth at the European Championships last year, suffered from cramps in the semifinal and had to stop just before the first hurdle. Thanks to her 13.40 achieved earlier this season she has nevertheless been selected for Grosseto. The title was won by Carolin Nytra from Hamburg with 13.59.
In the long jump, Sophie Kraul who had good chances to qualify for the Olympic Games, didn’t participated in the German Junior Championships as she preferred to jump in Bad Langensalsa, about 100km away from Jena. There, the double European Junior Champion (100m Hurdles and long jump) of 2003, wanted to reach 6.70m but she didn’t succeed.
In Jena, her teammate Kathrin Geissler who will participate in the heptathlon in Grosseto won the long jump with 6.17m.
German head coach Wolfram Ruth expects between eight and ten medals
The German head coach for the Juniors, Wolfram Ruth, was satisfied with the results. "We hope to get between eight and ten medals," he said. In Kingston, the Germans only won two medals: Floe Kühnert won the pole vault and Tina Klein won the bronze medal in the 100m Hurdles.
Ursula Kaiser for the IAAF
