Malaika Mihambo was not able to enrich her proud collection of medals with the indoor title she was aiming for. The 29-year-old had to settle for fourth place at the European Championships in Istanbul after a nerve-wracking competition just behind the podium.
At the title fights in the Turkish metropolis, all-around athlete Manuel Eitel, high jumper Tobias Potye and pole vaulter Torben Blech also finished fourth, just behind the podium.
After the unfortunate conclusion of Mihambo
Mihambo satisfied nonetheless
For Mihambo, the competitions in Istanbul were just a way station to the much larger goal of Budapest. “It was a very tough competition. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a jump that I hit perfectly,” said the 29-year-old, who was positive about the competition. “But I’m very happy with the run-up and I think it will pay off in the summer.”
After 6.67 meters in the first round, the exceptional athlete from the LG Kurpfalz had to digest two invalid attempts. Although she missed a few jumps in the fourth round, her 6.83 meters were enough for first place. But the competition countered, and in the end it meant fourth place for Mihambo. Victory went to Briton Jazmin Sawyers with 7.00 meters.
Vain with a personal best
Ulm’s Manuel Eitel (26), coming fourth in the heptathlon with a personal best of 6047 points, just missed the first medal by a German since 2015, 32 points were missing from the podium. World champion and world record holder Kevin Mayer from France won the title with 6348 points. Potye (27), second in the European Championships from Munich, also had to line up just behind the podium with 2.26 meters when Dutchman Douwe Amels (2.31) won. After a strong European Championship, the Leverkusen pole vaulter Blech (28) had to settle for fourth place after 5.80 meters. Nor did winner Sondre Guttormsen from Norway jump higher.
The great German euphoria after the start did not continue in the Ataköy Athletics Arena in the last few competitions. At the start, Klein (29) won silver ahead of Konstanze Klosterhalfen (26). “It’s incredibly pushing,” said the winner from Tübingen for the rest of the World Cup. At the latest there, the Leverkusen competitor Klosterhalfen wants to be in front again. “It’s a step towards the outdoor season and that’s where it counts,” said the German record holder.
