What the high jumper Christina Honsel, who competes for TV Wattenscheid 01, is currently doing can only be described in one word: world class.
So far this year, Christina Honsel has won every competition she has entered. That alone is worthy of all honor. But what the 25-year-old achieved at the high jump gala on Friday in Weinheim, she never expected.
With a jump of 1.98 meters, she pulverized her personal best – this had previously been 1.90 meters indoors and 1.92 meters outdoors. At the same time, Honsel made the norm for the European Indoor Championships (March 2nd to 5th in Istanbul) and the norm for the World Championships in Budapest in August.
Only one jumped higher in the world
“The trend was upwards and there were indications of a better height,” said Christina Honsel after the competition. “But I still can’t really believe that it will be 1.98 meters.”
In the still young indoor season, with European champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh from the Ukraine, only one athlete worldwide jumped higher than the native of Dorsten. At national level, 1.98 meters is the best indoor result by a German for 13 years: Meike Kröger (LG North Berlin) broke the two-meter mark in February 2010.
This height remained for Honsel, who at the age of six with the athletics started and since she was 16 she has been completely into the high jump card, still unmatched. But in its current form, it seems only a matter of time before this magical mark falls.
Injuries throw Honsel back
Christina Honsel: fit and overjoyed
With the victory, Honsel not only crowned her excellent indoor season so far, she also draws strength from it after a long period of suffering and uncertainty. In the past two years, various foot injuries, operations, a torn ligament and symptoms of overuse had thrown the 25-year-old back again and again. For the first time in years, Honsel was able to train fully this winter.
So far, the long-damaged foot has held up – even in competitions. “My muscles are a little sore today, but otherwise I’m fine,” she revealed to the Westphalia Football and Athletics Association the day after her triumph.
Next up for Honsel are the German Indoor Championships in Dortmund on February 18th and 19th. According to the results so far, you can confidently act as a favorite.
