Athletics-EM: Smilla Kolbe with fastest German time over 800 meters since the reunification

Smilla Kolbe set a new national record for Germany’s fastest time over 800 meters since German reunification, finishing third in her heat with a time of 1:57.80 minutes during the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. This marks the quickest performance by a German woman in this distance since August 29, 1990, when DDR athletes Sigrun Wodars and Christine Wachtel won gold at the same event in Split. Wodars still holds the German record with a time of 1:55.26 minutes from 1987. Kolbe, who was the defending German champion, described her performance as one she had been waiting for. “I knew I was in good shape, and I needed a race to show that,” she said. She praised British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, who won the race, for setting the perfect pace. The result highlights a resurgence in German women's middle-distance running, with Kolbe’s time surpassing all previous performances by German female competitors in the post-reunification era. Majtie Kolberg, another German athlete competing in the 800-meter event, faced difficulties after just 300 meters due to an injury in her upper leg. She had brought the injury to Birmingham and had been unable to fully train for the past month. Despite her determination, Kolberg admitted she felt unable to continue. “I wanted to be at the starting line,” she said, adding, “but I didn’t feel capable of going on.” In the discus throw, only Henrik Janssen qualified for the final, achieving a distance of 65.42 meters. Steven Richter and Marius Karges finished 13th and 15th with throws of 62.02 and 60.73 meters respectively. Richter expressed frustration at missing out, saying, “These distances are ones I hit in my sleep.” His teammate Karges did not make the cut. The high jump competition promises a strong showing, with Italian reigning champion Gianmarco Tamberi qualifying for the final after clearing 2.23 meters, his best mark of the season. Falk Wendrich also secured a spot in the final. However, former European silver medalist Tobias Potye is absent from the competition in Birmingham. The results reflect both triumphs and setbacks for German athletes at the European Championships. While Kolbe’s achievement marks a milestone in German athletics history, others faced challenges, including injuries and missed opportunities. The competition continues with further events, offering more chances for German athletes to shine.