The Germans at the European Championships in Munich - Men
At the last European Championships in Budapest the German Team won 23 medals - 8 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze. Now excactly four years later Munich is the host city and the situation is not as good as 1998. But in many events the German athletes have good chances to win a medal again.
Tim Lobinger (Photo: Chai)
So in the men´s individual sprints it will be almost impossible to reach one of the first three places. The british sprinters are too strong, and then are the one or the other of different countries who have good chances to win a medal, like the Greek Olympic Champion in the 200 Meter - Kederis or one of the young polish guys. But the 4 x 100 Meter relay is the big hope of the Germans. "We did a lot of special training so I think we can fight for a medal", Uwe Hakus, the German sprint coach says.Ingo Schultz against the Britishs
One of the favorites in the 400 meter-race is Ingo Schultz. The biggest competitors of the Vice-World Champion of last year will be the British runners again. But the 27 year old athlete from Hamburg is in a good shape and it will be a big event. And the 4 x 400 Meter relay wants to win a medal - it doesn`t matter what happens.
Many competitors will have Nils Schumann in the 800 Meter race. It depends if the young Russian, Yuri Borsakowski will run the 400 or the 800 Meter, if he runs the 800 Meter he will be a big favorite, Wilson Kipketer from Danmark is fit and there are some french, belgian and dutch runners, who can be dangerous for the Olympic Champion.
Dieter Baumann one of the favorites
At the long distances Dieter Baumann, who probable will run the 10 000 Meter is one of the favorites. Maybe the spanish or italian runners will try to disturb his plans to win Gold.
In the jumping events Charles Friedek stands a good chance of success in the triple jump. But if everything will run normally, the fight between Gold and Silver will be decided between Mister triplejump, Jonathan Edwards and the young swedish junper Christian Olsson.
Martin Buß, the World Champion in the highjump isn`t in a very good shape, and in the long jump, the young Schariar Bigdeli will be happy, if he reaches the final.
Maybe Mike Fenner can see to it, that he will fight for a good place and maybe in the area of a medal.
In the 3000 Meter Steeplechase it will be also very difficult for Damian Kallabis to defend his titel of 1998. The young Filmon Ghirmai could reach the final, if he runs as good as at the German Championships in Wattenscheid.
The shape of the day will decide
In the pole vault everything is possible. And it doesn`t matter if Tim Lobinger, Danny Ecker or Lars Börgeling will jump - everybody of these three can be the lucky one. Probably the shape of the day will decide, what happens.
In the throwing events the reigning Champion in the Discus, Lars Riedel will not compete because of injuries, but Michael Möllenbeck will be a very good representative instead of Riedel. He has good chances to win a medal. Also the javeling thrower Boris Henry and Raymond Hecht could fight for precious metal.
And if Karsten Kobs will be in a good shape, you never know what happens in the hammer throw event.
Ursula Kaiser
