Krause achieves double DM triumph
Mihambo celebrates title with annual best performance and kisses
February 18, 2024, 6:27 p.m
Malaika Mihambo shows her best performance of the year so far at the German Indoor Championships. The duel for the title in Leipzig is close, Mihambo wins in the end with the European best of the year. Gesa Felicitas Krause wins twice, but still struggles.
Malaika Mihambo bowed and blew kisses toward the audience. The Olympic long jump champion celebrated her successful appearance at the German Championships in the hall in Leipzig with exuberance and visibly satisfaction. With the European annual best of 6.93 meters, the 30-year-old had set a first exclamation mark after her comeback and also straightened out the rankings in the German team.
“I had a lot of fun, even though it was a very tough competition. I’m glad that I got off to a good start. I think it’s as hoped or even better,” said Mihambo on Hall microphone: “That’s a good outlook for the summer.” At the Olympics in Paris, that’s where it counts for Mihambo.
On Sunday in Leipzig she celebrated her eleventh national title in a row. In addition to her best attempt, Mihambo flew at 6.59 and 6.83 meters, two of her five attempts were invalid. The fight for the title developed into a close duel with Mikaelle Assani. The 21-year-old from Baden-Baden put Mihambo under pressure with a personal best of 6.91 meters and ended up second. Third place went to U20 European Championship bronze medalist Laura Raquel Müller (6.48). Mihambo increased her previous annual best of 6.65 meters by almost 30 centimeters. Mihambo has planned her next indoor start at the ISTAF Indoor in Berlin next Friday.
Krause wins twice and struggles
The two-time European obstacle course champion Gesa Felicitas Krause was not completely satisfied – despite two titles. One day after her victory over 3000 meters (9:06.90 minutes), the 31-year-old from Trier also ran over half the distance to triumph on Sunday in 4:24.31 minutes. At the end of a strong final lap, Krause prevailed on the home straight and relegated Verena Meisl (Wattenscheid/4:24.53) to second place.
Although she performed well after her maternity leave, Krause saw a lot of room for improvement. “Of course I’m happy about the double victory. But tactically it was one of the worst races I’ve ever run,” said the winner after the 1500 meter run. “I’m of course happy, but I would have wished that the race goes a little nicer.”
In the men’s category, Marius Probst won the duel with local hero Robert Farken. The Wattenscheider ran a championship record of 3:36.36 minutes and the sixth fastest German time in the hall. “I’m speechless right now,” said Probst. On the home straight, the 28-year-old passed Farken (3:37.20), who had recently scratched the German record.
Simon Batz (Mannheim) won the men’s long jump. The defending champion was the only starter to crack the eight-meter mark; Batz jumped his winning distance of 8.01 meters in his second attempt. It was the longest jump at an indoor DM since 2013. At that time, Christian Reif won (8.06).