Konstanze Klosterhalfen underpinned her title ambitions at the start of the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul.
The European outdoor champion over 5000 meters reached the final over 3000 meters with a start-finish victory in the preliminary heat in 8:53.50 minutes. In the meantime, the 26-year-old from Leverkusen was up to ten meters ahead of her rivals.
Klosterhalfen had won silver at the 2019 Indoor European Championships over 3000 meters as well as over 1500 meters two years earlier. “I enjoyed the run,” she said happily. Hanna Klein from Tübingen also won her race in 8:59.28 minutes and advanced to the final on Friday (6:15 p.m.).
Kolberg convincing over 800 meters
Majtie Kolberg had a strong showing in the 800 meter heat. With a personal best of 2:01.94 minutes, the 22-year-old middle-distance runner from Ahrweiler reached the semifinals.
Kolberg had already reached the semi-finals at the World Championships in Eugene and the European Championships in Munich. High jump high-flyer Christina Honsel (Wattenscheid) easily made it into the finals with a jump of 1.91 meters.
Triple jumper Hess with the second best qualifying distance
Triple jumper Max Hess has his sights set on another European Championship medal. With 16.67 meters, the Chemnitz native achieved the second-best qualifying distance.
Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo should hardly be able to surpass the 26-year-old European Championship third in the hall from 2021, 2019 and 2017. The Portuguese presented 17.48 meters. Sara Gambetta (Halle/Saale) fought their way into the shot put final with 18.33 meters and Julia Ritter (Chemnitz/18.05).
Title fights continue until Sunday
The long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo (LG Kurpfalz) and the pole vaulters Bo Kanda Lita Baehre and Torben Blech (both Leverkusen) are among the favorites in the medal races in the European title fights that will last until Sunday.