Title fights in Budapest
Despite failures: track and field athletes want to “perform” at the World Cup
Decathlete Niklas Kaul is one of Germany’s greatest hopes for a medal at the World Cup. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
The series of World Cup failures does not stop at the German Athletics Association. Those responsible rely on “in every hair tip” motivated athletes and one or the other surprise.
“We have to say that we’ve been hit very hard and that top-class players have really been hit,” said sports director Jörg Bügner at the DLV media day in Erding. The World Cup starts this Saturday and lasts until Sunday next week.
“What’s crucial for us is that we still think we’ll perform well,” said Bügner. “We are confident that with a positive attitude and a young, fresh team we will experience one or two surprises and compensate for the whole thing.”
Some top athletes are missing
The two-time long jump world champion Mihambo had to withdraw from the title fights a month ago. Other athletes followed, such as the 5,000-meter European champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen or the runner-up in the pole vault, Bo Kanda Lita Baehre. 1500-meter runner Katharina Trost also had to cancel her participation in the World Cup. Many top performers “can’t simply be replaced, there aren’t ten behind,” said Bügner.
After only two medals at the World Championships in Eugene last year and a successful European Championship in Munich, the team around double European champion Gina Lückenkemper wants to impress in Hungary’s capital. “We know we’re not going into this championship with the best players,” said head coach Annett Stein, “but the athletes are highly motivated. We’re looking forward to the competition.”
The greatest German medal hopes in the new national athletics center in Budapest rest on the decathletes with European champion Niklas Kaul and the German record holder Leo Neugebauer as well as javelin throw European champion Julian Weber. The discus throwers around the Olympic silver medalist Kirstin Pudenz also hope to be able to intervene in the fight for the medals.