Konstanze Klosterhalfen’s gold coup
On the lap of honor: Konstanze Klosterhalfen celebrates her victory over 5000 meters
What: REUTERS
It wasn’t even sure if it would start. And then Konstanze Klosterhalfen even runs to her first international title that evening in Munich. EM gold over 5000 meters. “Incredible,” she cheers. Long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, on the other hand, is inches away from the next title.
EFirst she ran a lap of honor in Munich’s Olympic Stadium with the German flag, then Konstanze Klosterhalfen (25) said euphorically: “That was the last thing I expected. I can’t believe that I won.” EM gold over 5000 meters at the European Championships in Munich.
With that she gives the German athletics fans the next great moment of this European Championship after the double gold on Tuesday by decathlete Niklas Kaul and sprinter Gina Lückenkemper.
The German record holder left behind the 10,000 meter title holder Yasemin Can in the last kilometer and surprisingly won in 14:34.20 minutes. It wasn’t even sure before that it would start. Perhaps you prefer relaxation and a break? Her coach was for it – but she prevailed.
“It’s a Dream! It was madness to walk here. Thank you to everyone who supported me,” said the 2019 World Cup third on ARD. “It’s the most beautiful moment of my life.” Three days earlier, the Leverkusen native had missed out on a medal in fourth place over 10,000 meters. It was the first double start of her career in a major title fight.
Still weakened by a corona infection at the World Cup
Sara Benfares from Rehlingen came in twelfth place. Alina Reh from Berlin had to give up. Briton Eilish McColgan finished third behind second-placed Yasemin Can.
At the World Championships in Eugene in July, Klosterhalfen, weakened by the consequences of a corona infection, missed the final over 5000 meters. Finally, after the World Championships at the Diamond League meeting in Chorzow/Poland, she again showed a good mileage and finished seventh over 3000 meters. “Purely in terms of feeling, it was a clear difference to Eugene, because I felt that I was competitive again,” she said and was happy to have “regained my own racing feeling”. In Munich she surprised herself.
Klosterhalfen has been training in Portland, Oregon, USA for three years and is the German record holder for a mile, 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
Mihambo narrowly beaten
Long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, on the other hand, was three centimeters short of the next title. The 28-year-old finished second in an exciting European Championship with a jump of 7.03 meters. Three and a half weeks ago, Mihambo had defended her world title, but that didn’t work at the European Championships. The victory went to the Olympic bronze medalist Ivana Vuleta from Serbia, who jumped 7.06 meters in her first attempt. Third place went to Brit Jazmin Sawyers.
Winner Ivana Vuleta (centre) with Malaika Mihambo (right) and Jazmin Sawyers
Quelle: AFP/ANDREJ ISAKOVIC
For Mihambo, a challenging time ends successfully even without a title. Your start at the EM had been open for a time after a corona infection. The long jumper from LG Kurpfalz and her competitors also faced special challenges in the final.
Because of a storm in Munich, the fight for the medals started a little later than planned and under more difficult conditions. After 6.71 meters in the first round, Mihambo increased to 7.03 meters in the subsequent attempt. At the World Championships, she jumped 7.12 meters. 22-year-old Merle Homeier (Göttingen) finished ninth in the European Championship final with a jump of 6.42 metres.
High jumper Potye surprisingly wins silver
Almost at the same time as Mihambo, another German celebrated silver: high jumper Tobias Potye only had to admit defeat to the Italian Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi after crossing 2.27 meters. For him there were 2.30 meters to book. The Ukrainian World Cup bronze medalist Andriy Protsenko was third with also 2.27 meters.
Defending champion Mateusz Przybylko finished sixth. At the height of 2.23 meters, the end for the Leverkusen was in the final. Dresden’s Jonas Wagner failed because of the initial height of 2.18 meters.
Lückenkemper sprints sensationally to gold over 100 meters
Sprinter Gina Lückenkemper sensationally won gold over 100 m at the European Championships in Munich. After a thrilling finish, the 25-year-old prevailed in 10.99 seconds in front of the Swiss Mujinga Kambundji – and then had to go to the hospital.
