athletics
Obstacle runner Krause achieves Olympic standard after maternity leave
Gesa Krause has returned to the international stage with a strong performance. photo
© Sebastian Willnow/dpa
After her baby break, Gesa Krause immediately secured her place at the Olympic Games in Paris. The former European obstacle champion showed a strong performance in China.
The two-time European obstacle champion Gesa Felicitas Krause made a brilliant international comeback after her maternity leave and fulfilled her dream of becoming one Olympic starting place fulfilled.
At the Diamond League meeting in Suzhou near Shanghai, the 31-year-old from Trier came third in 9:16.24 minutes. Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech won the 3000 meter steeplechase in 9:07.36 minutes. The German duel with Olivia Gürth was canceled. The U23 European champion, who had already qualified for the Olympics, had to cancel at short notice due to illness.
Disappointment for high jumper Potye
Two months ago, Krause successfully returned to national level with her indoor titles over 1,500 and 3,000 meters. A weight had been taken off her heart, she now said, looking at the ticked-off Olympic standard on the TV channel Sky. “The foundation has been laid, I think I can build on very good form,” she added. Although the games in Paris at the beginning of August were the big goal, she was secretly toying with a medal at the European Championships in Rome two months earlier, admitted Krause, who, in her own words, wanted to show in China that she was back.
Things didn’t go as well for the other German starters. In the shot put, World Indoor Championships runner-up Yemisi Ogunleye didn’t get past ninth place with 18.52 meters. Discus thrower Claudine Vita came seventh with 61.26 meters. High jumper Tobias Potye experienced disappointment; the European Championship runner-up only managed 2.12 meters and took tenth place. Once again things didn’t go well for pole vaulter Bo Kanda Lita Baehre a week after the Diamond League opener in Xiamen. The European Championship runner-up only managed 5.42 meters and came ninth.