Athletics World Cup
Waiting continues: German sprint-ace missed the final
14.09.2025 – 2:08 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Her big goal is to achieve a final at a global tournament. Sprinter Gina Lückenkemper also fails at the World Cup in Tokyo.
Gina Lückenkemper missed the jump to the final over 100 meters at the World Athletics World Cup in Tokyo. The 28-year-old finished after 11.11 seconds in the semifinals and thus finished 13th. This time was not enough for the final of the best eight.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden from the USA achieved the fastest time of the evening, who moves into the final as a clear favorite in 10.73 seconds. Lückenkemper was the only German to get into the preliminary round. The double-European champion from 2022 will continue to be denied a place in a large single finale at a global tournament.
“I definitely didn’t blame myself today. I felt well prepared. I delivered a technically good race. It just wasn’t enough today, which is super annoying and just hurt. But well, that’s the sport, so I have to live with it,” said Lückenkemper on ZDF.
“The race felt much better than yesterday,” she said with a view to her lead (11.12 seconds): “I don’t really understand why it is only an 11:11 in quotes.” At her goal of a World Cup final, however, she wants to capture: “I’m not finished yet. I hate that I have to say that again, but I don’t give up.”
The attention of the top German sprinter is now aimed at the 4×100 meter relay. The preliminaries will take place on Saturday at 1.45 p.m. German time, the final is scheduled for Sunday at 2:06 p.m.
At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the German Quartet had bronze with Lückenkemper. In Tokyo, too, the team is again one of the medal applicants.