“I don’t quite understand yet”
Obstacle runner Meyer surprised with silver
08/20/2022, 10:44 p.m
At the European Athletics Championships, Lea Meyer is among the front runners over the 3000 obstacles, perseveres and rewards herself with a medal at the end. However, the second German runner goes away empty-handed.
Lea Meyer surprisingly won the silver medal at the European Athletics Championships over 3000 meters obstacle. The runner from ASV Köln was only beaten by Luiza Gega from Albania in a personal best of 9:15.35 minutes in Munich. Gega won in 9:11.31 minutes in front of Meyer, Bronze went to Britain’s Elizabeth Bird in 9:23.18 minutes. The second German runner, Elena Burkard, finished twelfth in 9:39.63 minutes.
Lea Meyer needed 9:15.35 minutes to reach the finish line.
(Photo: IMAGO/Michaela Merk)
Meyer ran a courageous race, moving into the top three early on and even silver on the final lap. Defending champion Gesa Krause, who was twice European champion, had to forego defending her title for health reasons. “I was hoping for a fast race,” said Meyer, “I don’t quite understand what happened yet.” After the penultimate day of the European Championships, the German track and field team, for which walker Saskia Feige won bronze on Saturday morning, now has 14 medals under her belt.
The German 4×400 meter relays could not run at the front. The men finished seventh, the women fifth. The Dutch Femke Bol celebrated her third gold in the relay after successes in the 400 meters and 400 meters hurdles.