In the catacombs of Hayward Field Stadium, Gesa Krause was overwhelmed by a fit of crying when her narrow entry into the World Cup final over 3000 meters steeplechase was certain.

"I had to worry for a long time that it would be enough.

Sometimes you have to be lucky," said the 29-year-old, third in the 2019 World Cup, struggling to keep her composure.

"It was really sharp".

After her lead time of 9:21.02 minutes, she had to tremble, but still moved up to 15th and last starting place for the medal race at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene on Thursday night (4.45 a.m. on ZDF).

She was only a blink of an eye ahead of eight-hundredths of a second to the next-placed runner.

"I fought back"

Reaching the sixth World Cup final in a row was a great success for Gesa Krause on Saturday after a year that was "not easy" due to injuries and illnesses.

She left the 2021 Olympics with Achilles tendon pain and had to cope with an intestinal operation and several colds.

"I fought my way back - after ups and downs in the training process," said the fifth-placed Olympic athlete from Tokyo.

The way back was very rocky and difficult.

"When you're out for ten months, there's a lack of routine and consistency," she said.

After all, she only competed once before the World Cup this year: two weeks ago at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.

Eighth place and the poor time of 9:44.44 minutes fueled doubts about fitness.

The World Cup pre-run was more of a burden than a pleasure.

"It lacked the pace, but it was good training," said Krause.

"It was shown again that obstacle course also means pain."

"A Huge Win"

In view of the medical history and the personal obstacle course, reaching the World Cup finals is already "a huge win", but the prospect of a medal place is rather small.

"Of course you ask yourself, if you're not one of those fighting for first, second and third place, whether you have to put up with something like that," said the two-time European champion from the Trier Silvesterlauf club.

Not coming to the World Championships would not have been an option for the ambitious athlete, nor would not have missed the final due to a lack of chances of success.

The essence of competitive sport would be lost, "if you are so spoiled by success and only look at medals," said Krause, who wants to be a role model.

"Giving up would be a bad signal to young people who want to get excited about the sport," she emphasized.

"For me it would have been pinching if I hadn't gone to the World Cup to get the best out of myself."

Munich as a big goal

After the period of suffering, the World Championships in Eugene is above all an endurance test on the way to the home European Championships from August 15th to 21st in Munich, where the title triple would be possible.

"I need the races and am trying to learn to minimize my mistakes here," explained Krause.

"I have the big goal that I want to be in top form in Munich," she said.

"It will not happen again that I can contest another European Championship or World Cup in my own country."

Lea Meyer's appearance in the World Cup heat was spectacular.

After just 400 meters, the 24-year-old from Cologne got stuck on an obstacle with her spikes and fell headfirst into the moat.

She got back up and finished eighth in 9:30.81 minutes, but did not qualify for the final.

"That was stupid, that was annoying, that happens," said Meyer.