Gesa Krause becomes European champion again after her maternity leave, Gina Lückenkemper fifth. As in 2022, the German half marathon team will also collect plaques in Rome. One thrower will get his ticket to the Olympics.
Gesa Felicitas Krause was already able to feel like a winner with silver, wrapped in a German flag, during her comeback to the title fight after maternity leave, before the golden message came after the disqualification of the European champion.
Unlike the dethroned European sprint champion Gina Lückenkemper, the 31-year-old Krause managed to make it to the top of the podium in the 3000-meter steeplechase. In the 100-meter race, Lückenkemper, who won twice two years ago, had to settle for fifth place at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.
A little more than a year after the birth of her daughter Lola, Krause from Trier celebrated a remarkable return after winning the European Championships in 2016 and 2018. “Lola, mom loves you,” Krause said on the ARD microphone, sending greetings to her homeland. “It was simply the best year of my life: watching my daughter grow up and, at the same time, pursuing a dream like today.” With a time of 9:18.06 minutes, she was not far off the European best time of the year set by Frenchwoman Alice Finot (9:16.22). However, because she had stepped on the white line marking the track, she was subsequently disqualified.
No double gold like 2022
A month and a half before the Olympic Games, the Berlin-based Lückenkemper was laughing even without a medal. “I’m still completely fine with fifth place in Rome because the level in Europe has increased so much. The main focus is on the Olympic Games,” said the 27-year-old. “But we should have a lot of fun here with the relay.” While the British athlete Dina Asher-Smith won in 10.99, the Munich-based double European champion Lückenkemper crossed the finish line in 11.07 seconds.
Strong teams in the half marathon
Despite a personal best of 79.25 metres and qualifying for the Olympics, the 22-year-old hammer thrower Merlin Hummel (Kulmbach) narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the victory of the Polish Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki (80.95 metres). In the 3000-metre steeplechase, European Championship runner-up Lea Meyer (Leverkusen) and U23 European champion Olivia Gürth were further away from the podium.
After European Championship bronze for shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye at the start and half marathon bronze for long distance runner Amanal Petros, Krause provided the highlight of the mood. Previously, silver for the women and bronze for the men in the team ranking in the half marathon had also improved the balance.
Petros bad luck in the final spurt
“It means a lot to me, of course,” said Petros. In the final sprint for the title in the Olympic Stadium, the 29-year-old stepped onto the track edge and had to give up second place to the Italian Pietro Riva, who passed him with a provocative gesture. The title went to his compatriot Yemaneberhan Crippa in 1:01:03 hours. The German runners, including fifth-placed Melat Kejeta, even won silver as a team over the 21.1 kilometers past the fantastic sights of the Eternal City.
The day before defending champion Niklas Kaul’s start in the decathlon, the DLV selection picked up the pace shortly before the halfway point of the European Championships, which lasted until Wednesday, after there had already been disappointments, as at last year’s World Championships. There were also disappointments on Sunday evening, such as the high jump performance of Imke Onnen in eighth place and Christina Honsel in eleventh place in the lightning and rain. The victory went to world champion high jumper Jaroslawa Mahutschich from Ukraine with 2.01 meters.
Disappointments before relay race
Before Lückenkemper’s final appearance, the German Athletics Association had to deal with three sprint disappointments. Rebekka Haase (Wetzlar) was eliminated in the semifinals, Lisa Mayer (Wetzlar) and Jennifer Montag (Leverkusen) had to withdraw due to injuries.
The discus throwers and walker Christopher Linke, who started with high hopes, came away empty-handed on Saturday, while the hosts, including 100-meter European champion and Olympic gold medalist Marcell Jacobs, celebrated one title after another at the festival in their home country.
Source: Stern
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