Gina Lückenkemper continues to be lightning fast in the World Cup season. The double European champion from Munich got in the mood for the World Championships next month with her superior 100-meter victory at the German Athletics Championships in Kassel.
European javelin champion Julian Weber and Olympic silver medalist with the discus, Kristin Pudenz, were also in good form when they won their championship titles in front of 13,000 spectators at over 30 degrees in the Auestadion. On Sunday, the track and field athletes will choose more title holders, the highlight being the long jump performance by Malaika Mihambo.
Lückenkemper, third in the World Championships with the sprint relay, has consistently set good times this year, winning this time in 11.03 seconds and was very satisfied with it. “I had already planned to run a regular 10 for today. I also believe that it would actually have been possible, but in the end the day was long for us with the three laps,” said Germany’s “Sportswoman of the Year” on ZDF with a view to their daily workload.
Internationally, the American Sha’Carri Richardson and the Jamaican Shericka Jackson are the benchmark, who sprinted 10.71 and 10.65 seconds in almost parallel competitions. Lückenkemper is hoping for a place in the finals at the World Championships from August 19th to 27th in Budapest.
Weber: “The 90 meters are a certain blockage”
Weber wants to fight for the medals in Hungary’s capital. At 88.72 meters, he came within 82 centimeters of his personal best. This year he is second best worldwide behind the Czech Jakub Vadlejch, who has already thrown 89.51 meters. “The 90 meters are a certain blockage. I’ve got it and I want to throw it too,” said Weber, who made the championship hat-trick perfect with the title. “There’s definitely still something going on, there’s still more to come,” promised the man from Mainz on ZDF.
Pudenz reinforced her position as number one among German discus throwers. “We’re back on the right track after a few competitions that I didn’t really like,” said the runner-up from Potsdam after the victory with 65.98 meters. Her title streak, which started in 2019, continued.
High jumper Potye in a class of his own
In the high jump, Tobias Potye, who came second at the European Championships, was in a class of his own. The man from Munich mastered 2.27 meters with ease and narrowly missed a personal best of 2.31 meters in the last attempt. “It’s a great start to the second half of the season,” said Potye, who is eyeing a place in the top five at the World Championships.
Overall, the German Athletics Association hopes to do better than in Eugene, when there was gold and bronze. “I think we have a few irons in the fire this year. I hope that they will burn accordingly and be successful,” said President Jürgen Kessing.
