The German track and field athletes started fifth overall in the European Team Championships in Chorzow.
With 121.5 points on Friday after the first of three days of competition, they were behind Italy (141), Great Britain (131.5), Poland (127) and the Netherlands (125). Germany last won the European Team Championship in 2017. Poland, who were successful in the last two editions in 2019 and 2021, are considered favorites in front of their home crowd.
Discus thrower Kristin Pudenz (30) provided the only German victory at the start. The Olympic silver medalist from Potsdam won with 66.84 meters.
“I didn’t expect that I could throw a best performance of the season. And the victory for Germany, 16 points – that can’t hurt either,” said Pudenz. The second-best result was achieved by 24-year-old Yemisi Ogunleye from Mannheim, who finished second with 18.85 meters behind Portuguese Auriol Dongmo (19.07).
Meyer is fifth
Steeplechase Vice European Champion Lea Meyer competed over 5000 meters, ran at the top for a long time, but finally finished fifth. “That was definitely not what I wanted to achieve here today,” said the 25-year-old from Leverkusen. “I didn’t really pull through in the decisive moments.” Things didn’t go well for Lisa Mayer either: over 100 meters, the European relay champion from Wetzlar was only eighth in her run in 11.36 seconds.
In Chorzow, the German Athletics Association called up nine newcomers to the national team because a number of top athletes such as European champions Gina Lückenkemper (sprint) and Konstanze Klosterhalfen (run) or world champion Malaika Mihambo (long jump) canceled.