Leipzig (AP) – Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo is the German long jump champion in the hall for the fifth time in a row. At the national athletics championships in Leipzig, the world champion won with 6.81 meters.
Mihambo didn’t quite come close to her world best of 6.96 meters, which she jumped in Düsseldorf last Sunday. As in the previous year, second place went to Merle Homeier from Göttingen, this time with 6.66 meters.
Mihambo will now end her indoor season and will not take part in the World Championships in three weeks in Belgrade. The 28-year-old from LG Kurpfalz is now concentrating on the outdoor season with the World Championships in Eugene in the USA in mid-July and the European Championships a month later in Munich.
Local hero Robert Farken won the title as German indoor champion over 1500 meters for the first time. After three previous successes over 800 meters, the 24-year-old runner from Leipzig prevailed in 3:50.70 minutes. In a tactical race, Farken stayed 15 seconds ahead of his annual best, which is just a good second away from the German record.
Farken said there was some truth to the rumors that he wanted to attack the record, but explained: “You can’t force things like that.” He promised: “He’ll fall.” Second was Mohamed Mohmed from LG Olympia Dortmund in 3:52.34 minutes.
Fabian Heinle, who came second at the European Championships, won the exciting men’s long jump competition with the last jump of 7.64 meters. Three years after his first national indoor title, the track and field athlete from Stuttgart jumped two centimeters further than U20 European champion Oliver Koletzko from Wiesbaden. The best of the year and defending champion Maximilian Entholzner was absent due to adductor problems.
