Off the gold course
World Cup shooting star Neugebauer loses his lightness
08/26/2023 10:26 p.m
That’s what it should be, the first German medal at this World Championships in Athletics: But decathlete Leo Neugebauer is not so relaxed on the second day and the competition is stronger. A weak phase at the start of the competition day costs him precious metal.
At the finish, Leo Neugebauer raised his arms – but the German athletics team in Budapest could not redeem the decathlon ace either and missed the first medal at these world championships. After fifth place for the climber, who was still on course for gold on the first day, all the pressure is now on javelin thrower Julian Weber. At the end of the competitions this Sunday (8.15 p.m.), the European champion would like to win a medal at the world championships for the first time and carries the last German hopes.
A year after gold and bronze at the World Championships in Eugene – the worst performance of a German selection so far – Neugebauer, who started Saturday as the leader, experienced a weak phase at the start of the second half. The 23-year-old recovered from this, but with 8645 points the world’s best of the year did not make it onto the podium and also remained almost 200 points below his German record from June. “It could have gone better, but it was the first highlight where I was one of the top favourites. I’m not dissatisfied,” said Neugebauer: “Fifth place, good score, German record – that was a great season. I’ll mean it Learn lessons from the World Cup.”
“Now he seems paralyzed”
Last year’s second placed Pierce Lepage from Canada collected 8909 points to win, compatriot and Olympic champion Damian Warner was second with 8804 points. Lindon Victor from Grenada took bronze with 8756 points. Ulm’s Manuel Eitel (8191) came eleventh in his World Championship debut. European champion Niklas Kaul dropped out four years after his world title on Friday because of foot problems.
After weaker performances over 110 meters hurdles and in the discus throw at the beginning of the second day, Neugebauer, who was still at ease on Friday, fell out of the medal ranks after the discus throw. “He’s like he’s been replaced. Yesterday he was so light-hearted and was rewarded with great performances from discipline to discipline. Now he seems paralyzed,” said ARD expert Frank Busemann.
With 5.10 meters in the pole vault, Neugebauer reported back in the scorching midday heat of around 35 degrees and improved to second place. Despite another personal best in the javelin throw of 57.95 meters, he fell back again in the evening because the competitors – above all Victor – sometimes threw much further. The penultimate place over the final 1500 meters was definitely not enough for a long-awaited German silver lining at the end of the penultimate day. The team affected by some painful failures could be the first DLV team in 20 years to return from a World Cup without a title.
USA dominate the relays
The hot and humid day started with eleventh place for marathon runner Melat Kejeta and a surprise from shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye. With a personal best of 19.44 meters, the Mannheim native took third place in the qualification and, like Sara Gambetta, made it into the final on Saturday evening. There, Ogunleye came in tenth with 18.97 meters, Gambetta (18.71) came in twelfth. As in the previous year, the American Chase Ealey (20.43) won.
One year after bronze at the World Championships, the German women’s sprint relay, which subsequently slipped into the final after a protest because of a disability, still achieved sixth place. “We are super happy with it. We sold ourselves dearly on track one, the race was worth every honor after the rollercoaster ride of yesterday’s emotions,” said Lückenkemper. The weakened quartet around Gina Lückenkemper ran 42.98 seconds, the US relay team won gold in 41.03 seconds. The USA also won the men’s event in 37.38 seconds. Noah Lyles became the star of this World Championship with his third title after individual successes over 100 and 200 meters. The German relays over 4×400 meters each missed the finals of the World Cup on Sunday. The defending champions from the USA were disqualified after an illegal last substitution.
Pole vault high-flyer Armand “Mondo” Duplantis from Sweden successfully defended his title from last year. The Olympic champion and world record holder from Sweden won a high-class competition with 6.10 meters and twice just missed the world record height of 6.23 meters. Kenya’s running star Faith Kipyegon won her second 5000m title after winning the 1500m. European Champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen was absent in Budapest because of her foot problems. Last year’s third placed Marco Arop from Canada, who was born in Sudan, prevailed over 800 meters.