With the Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships only a fortnight away, Andreas Hofmann won a high quality javelin final at the German Championships in Nurnberg on Sunday (22) ahead of reigning global champions Thomas Rohler and Johannes Vetter.
Hofmann’s opening throw of 89.55m proved handsomely sufficient for victory over two of his principal rivals for the European title in Berlin next month. The quality of the competition was such that Rohler was only fourth after five throws but the Olympic champion pulled out a final round effort of 88.09m to move into second ahead of Vetter in third with 87.83m.
On his comeback from injury, former European U20 champion Julian Weber had to settle for fourth despite extending his season’s best to 84.62m - a mark which puts him inside the top fifteen on the 2018 world lists.
“I'm very happy, it's my first German title. I really wanted to have this title for years, something always did not fit, now I've finally succeeded,” said Hofmann. “I am not so satisfied with the series but the conditions were not so good. The one throw was really good.”
Olympic champion Christoph Harting was similarly emphatic in the discus, winning the competition with his opening round throw of 66.98m before sitting out the rest of the competition.
The bronze medallist behind Harting at the Olympics, Daniel Jasinski threw 64.82m in the fifth round to finish second while Christoph’s older brother Robert narrowly ensured his place on the German team for the European Championships, finishing third with 63.92m although he is confident longer throws await in his swansong from major competition.
“I deliberately arrived in half-form because I want to be in top shape at the European Championships. I can certainly throw on a bit further so I still have some reserves for the European Championships,” said Harting, who won six major titles - world, Olympic and European - between 2009 and 2014.
“I am not really satisfied with the competition, I had hoped for more. I did not do everything optimally in the immediate preparation for the German Championships, there is certainly room for improvement.”
Dutkiewicz breaks championship record in the 100m hurdles
Pamela Dutkiewicz made a late start to her outdoor season due to injury but the world bronze medallist is approaching top shape with the European Championships just over a fortnight away.
Dutkiewicz won the 100m hurdles title in a championship record of 12.69 - the third fastest time of her career. The anticipated head-to-head with reigning European indoor and outdoor champion Cindy Roleder didn’t materialise though after she was disqualified in the heats due to a false start.
After some indifferent early season form, reigning European 3000m steeplechase champion Gesa Felicitas Krause prepared for her title defence by winning her specialist event in 9:34.58 by more than ten seconds from former European champion Antje Moldner-Schmidt in 9:45.82 while Konstanze Klosterhalfen continued her comeback from injury with a gun-to-tape win in the 1500m in 4:06.51.
“The time is okay under the circumstances, since I did not start this season so well. The title was the deciding factor this time,” said Klosterhalfen, who is still undecided as to which event she will contest at the European Championships.
“We have to look at which event I will run in Berlin at the European Championships. Personally, of course, I would prefer the 1500m because it is simply my favourite event.”
Other highlights included world indoor bronze medallist Mateusz Przybylko cleared a season’s best of 2.31m to win the high jump and Gina Luckenkemper won the women’s 100m title in 11.15.