Sprengel leads in Jerusalem 2023 2023 European Athletics U20 Championships

Posted : 08 August 2023

Jana Koscak's departure from the heptathlon has opened the door for Sandrina Sprengel to solidify her lead as she enters the final event of the Jerusalem 2023 European Athletics U20 Championships on Tuesday morning.

The heptathlon landscape underwent a significant shift with Koscak's hamstring injury during the shot put event, providing Sprengel the opportunity to seize the overall lead. Her performance in the 200m, long jump (5.99m), and javelin (42.41m) has propelled her to a total of 5190 points and enhanced her chances for the gold medal. However, the silver and bronze medal positions remain unpredictable.

Pia Messing, Sprengel's teammate from Germany, has ascended to second place overall from her initial seventh position. Notably, Melissa Wullschleger of Switzerland has made the most significant progress, advancing from eleventh to third place by achieving a long jump of 5.91m and delivering the best javelin throw (43.68m) across both pools.

Liisa-Maria Lusti of Estonia, who held the second position overnight, lost her competitive edge after a disappointing long jump and subsequent withdrawal from the javelin event.

In the men's shot put final, Germany appears poised for a strong showing with Lasse Schulz (20.00m), Lukas Schober (19.74m), and Georg Harpf (19.41m) leading their respective pools of qualifying. However, Ali Peker from Türkiye, last year's European U18 champion, did not secure a valid mark and will not be advancing to the final.

Marek Zakrzewski of Poland aims to achieve a rare sprint double, a feat not accomplished since Darren Campbell in 1991. Zakrzewski, one of the few athletes competing in both the 100m and 200m events, progressed as a heat winner in the 200m with a time of 21.13. His focus now turns to the 100m final scheduled for the evening session.

Zakrzewski expressed his ambitious goals, aiming for medals in both distances: "My main goal is to achieve the best possible result in both events - the 100 and 200m here in Jerusalem. I want to do something that may seem impossible in theory. I want to fight for the medals in both distances."

In the women's 400m semifinals, Czech Republic's Lurdes Gloria Manuel surged in the final 50 meters to secure victory with a time of 53.31, the fastest across both semifinals. At just 18 years old, Manuel is seeking to upgrade her silver medal from the previous year's European Athletics U18 Championships to gold this year.

Young athletes also made an impression in the women's 400m hurdles heats. Ukraine's Olha Mashanienkova, 16, led the qualifiers with a time of 57.30. Romanian Alexandra Stefania Uta, aged 15, demonstrated her prowess by winning her heat in 57.87. The two previously faced off at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Maribor, where Mashanienkova secured gold and Uta took silver in the same event.

Sweden's Moa Granat celebrated her 19th birthday with a heat victory and the second-fastest qualifying time of 57.79 in the women's 400m hurdles.

Among the favorites in the men's 400m hurdles heats, Finland's Antti Sainio clocked the fastest time of 51.30, followed closely by Nikola Kostic at 51.41, showcasing Serbia's strength in the competition.

Sprengel leads in Jerusalem 2023 2023 European Athletics U20 Championships

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