European Athletics Championships: Weißhaidinger wants to roll up the field from behind

The Austrian Athletics Association (ÖLV) sends a 14-man team, in 2018 in Berlin there was bronze for Weißhaidinger and for the marathon team. The team, consisting of nine women and five men, includes many young hopefuls, the average age is 24.9 years. For ten athletes it is the first continental title fights in the elite class.

ÖLV sports director Gregor Högler spoke of a “good mix of established athletes and rookies”. You are represented in the discipline groups sprint, run, hurdles, throw, jump and all-around, even though the limits have become stricter and stricter. 50 decisions are scheduled.

Athletics probably for the last time at Multi-EM

Athletics, like eight other sports, is part of the European Championships, but in future it will be separated again in terms of content and location.

“It took a year to coordinate the schedule. And the conditions for the sport weren’t always the best. Because if the marathon starts at noon, we can only hope for a bad weather day,” said ÖLV President Sonja Spendelhofer. You have to take into account the needs of everyone, including the media and financiers. “But ultimately the best possible conditions for the athletes have to be created.”

Weißhaidinger has ticked off World Cup disappointment

As coach of Weißhaidinger, Högler has the most promising Austrian under his wing, the disappointing World Cup performance three and a half weeks ago is over. The Tokyo 2021 Olympic bronze medalist threw the discus 66.82 m at the European Championship test in Andorf.

“After tenth place at the World Championships, I’m coming to Munich as practically the seventh European and this time I want to roll up the field from behind,” said the 30-year-old from Upper Austria. “It’s definitely an exciting situation. We will certainly approach things differently than in Eugene.”

The qualification in the Olympic Stadium is scheduled for Wednesday, the final for Friday. “Our mission to make a different color of medal goes until 2024. It can be an advantage that many people come from home. It’s a home EM, he’ll never have one again,” Högler told APA.

ÖLV ladies make the start

From an Austrian point of view, things start on Monday for Magdalena Lindner in the preliminary heat over 100 m, she comes as a follower for her second assignment next to the relay race with her colleagues. The former soccer player Julia Mayer competes with this year’s personal best of 33:16.76 minutes and after a high-altitude training camp in the 10,000 m run.

100 m ÖLV record holder Markus Fuchs did not get past the prelims in his two previous participations in the European Championships. This time, thanks to eleventh place in the European list of the best seasons in Europe, he can start directly in the semi-finals on Tuesday. “I want to repeat the performances I’ve shown all season, that would make me proud,” said the 26-year-old.

Walli does not spare himself the advance

The WM-23. Susanne Walli not only competes in her parade discipline of 400 m, but also over the 200 m and with the sprint relay. Since she is not in the top twelve of the season’s best list, she has to go through the stadium round in the preliminary heat. This is scheduled for Monday evening, the semi-finals for early Tuesday afternoon.

The Austrian track and field athlete Susanne Walli in St. Pölten in June

GEPA/Walter Luger

400m specialist Susanne Walli will be competing in three disciplines in Munich

“The system is a bit unfair to those who have to start in the heats,” agreed the 26-year-old from Upper Austria, who of course wants to advance at least one lap. “Over 200 m, I have no specific goal. We want to do well in the relay and even break the record if possible.”

Dadic and Hudson confident

After the cancellation for the World Championships, all-around athlete Ivona Dadic pushed ahead with a targeted preparation for the European Championships, the heptathlon will take place on Wednesday and Thursday. “I’m going to Munich with a very positive feeling. I want to complete seven very good disciplines there, ideally with seven season bests,” said the 28-year-old, who, coming third at the 2016 European Championships, already knows what it feels like to win a medal on a large open-air stage.

Javelin thrower Victoria Hudson is once again aiming for the final. At the WM-23. the button should burst after three failed ascents in a row at major events. “I haven’t had any outliers this year, but in training and competitions it’s much more stable overall than in recent years. I’ve certainly developed further, even if I haven’t quite put it down on paper yet,” said the 26-year-old.

Pole vaulter Riccardo Klotz comes to Munich full of self-confidence after his recent best performance of 5.65 m and said: “The final would of course be a dream.” Both are about gaining experience. Lena Millonig runs the 3,000 m steeplechase, Andreas Vojta the 10,000 m.

ÖLV-EM squad

Damen:
Ivona Dadic heptathlon
Victoria Hudson javelin throw
Magdalena Lindner 100 m, 4 x 100 m
Julia Mayer 10.000 m
Lena Millonig 3,000 m steeplechase
Johanna Plank 4 x 100 m
Lena Pressler 400 m Hürden, 4 x 100 m
Susanne Wally 200 m, 400 m, 4 x 100 m
Viktoria Willhuber 4 x 100 m
Herren:
Markus Fuchs 100 m
Riccardo Klotz pole vault
Niklas Strohmayer-Dangl 400m hurdles
Andreas Vojta 10.000 m
Lukas Weisshaidinger discus throw

EM medals for Austria

Gold:
1969 Athens Liese Prokop (pentathlon)
1971 Helsinki Ilona Gusenbauer (high jump)
Silber:
1950 Brussels Herma Bauma (javelin throw)
Bronze:
1938 Paris Karl Kotraschek (triple jump) *
1969 Athens Maria Sykora (400 m)
1990 Split Hermann Fehringer (pole vault)
1998 Budapest Stephanie Graf (800 m)
2012 Helsinki Beate Schrott (100 m hurdles)
2016 Amsterdam Ivona Dadic (heptathlon)
2018 Berlin Lukas Weißhaidinger (discus throw)
2018 Berlin Lemawork Ketema, Peter Herzog, Christian Steinhammer (Marathon Team)

* Officially for Germany at the start

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