Long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo will be faster in the next World Cup year than twelve months ago. The 28-year-old finished Friday at the Karlsruhe Athletics Meeting for the season opener in the 60 meter sprint in 7.43 seconds. As expected, the exceptional athlete from the LG Kurpfalz did not make it to the final of the specialists, although she was five hundredths of a second better than a year ago. At that time she had won gold at the highlight of the season, the World Championships in the USA.
“I’m definitely happy that things are starting faster than last time,” said Mihambo three weeks before the German indoor championships on 18/19. February 2023 in Dortmund. “It’s super nice for me to compete with the best of the best in the sprint.” In the sprint final, relay European champion Lisa Mayer (Sprintteam Wetzlar) placed fifth in 7.25 seconds, giving her the best German position. Two-time Olympic medalist Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain) broke a 27-year-old meeting record in her victory in 7.04 seconds.
The long jump competition in Rheinstetten was won by the Munich European champion Ivana Vuleta with 6.76 meters without world champion and Olympic champion Mihambo. In August, Mihambo, weakened by a corona infection, was only three centimeters short of the Serbian winner. “I’m happy that I’m healthy again and was able to rest. Now I’m highly motivated to start again. I’m looking forward to the season,” said Mihambo.
Maryse Luzolo (Königsteiner LV) took third place in the long jump with 6.62 meters, the only 20-year-old Mikaelle Assani from Baden-Baden was fourth with 6.53 meters. It was a personal best indoor performance for both of them.
Over 3000 meters, Mohamed Abdilaahi from the LG Olympia Dortmund has to be patient in the hunt for Dieter Baumann’s German record. “The record isn’t just anyone’s, it’s Dieter Baumann’s. I’m still young, I’ll get it,” said the 23-year-old after fourth place in 7:41.88 minutes. Torben Blech from Leverkusen also took fourth place in the pole vault with 5.72 meters.
The highlight for track and field athletes this year is the World Championships from August 19 to 27, 2023 in Budapest. The indoor season is all about medals from March 2nd to 5th in Istanbul.
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