Obstacle runner Gürth surprises at debut

Olivia Gürth reached the final over 3000 m steeplechase in her World Championship debut.

The U23 European Champion qualified on Wednesday in Budapest with a personal best of 9:24.28 minutes thanks to a strong final sprint in fifth place in her preliminary heat and for the decision on Sunday (9:10 p.m. / ZDF and Eurosport).

“Somehow it happened to me that I did my own race. The last 600 m are my strength. I knew this was the sprint to the final,” said Gürth with a beaming smile on the “ZDF” microphone.

Vice European champion Lea Meyer (Leverkusen) is injured in the Hungarian capital. Former European champion Gesa Felicitas Krause (Trier) is on maternity leave.

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