athletics
Klosterhalfen cancels participation in European Championship
Konstanze Klosterhalfen did not get fit in time. Photo
© Oliver Weiken/dpa
After an infection, Konstanze Klosterhalfen was unable to get back into shape in time for the European Athletics Championships in Rome. The 27-year-old canceled her participation. Now she is hoping to compete in the Olympics.
The 27-year-old had hoped to start until the very end despite an infection, as the German Athletics Association (DLV) announced. Klosterhalfen had originally been nominated for both the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters in Rome.
Klosterhalfen now wants to concentrate intensively on getting fit for the German championships in Braunschweig at the end of June in order to then meet the standard for the Olympic Games in Paris in the summer. “Koko has prepared for this season with great effort. It is a great shame that she has now had to accept such a health setback at the crucial moment. But it is absolutely logical to forego a start at the European Championships. This way she can maintain her hope of qualifying for the Olympics,” said national coach Isabelle Baumann.
In addition to Klosterhalfen, long-distance runners Alina Reh (half marathon team) and Miriam Dattke (10,000 meters) will also miss the European Championships. According to the DLV, problems in their preparations prevent them from being able to start the European Championship races in promising form.