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Gesa Krause at the competition in Leipzig
Photo: Sebastian Willnow / dpa
The two-time European obstacle champion Gesa Krause won the 3000 meter title for the second time at the German indoor championships after her maternity leave. The 31-year-old prevailed in a tactical race in Leipzig after an energetic final lap in 9:06.90 minutes.
Elena Burkard – like Krause, an obstacle specialist – came second in 9:08.39 minutes, ahead of Eva Dieterich from Tübingen in 9:10.21 minutes.
»I always used to have a good last lap. It wasn't that easy at the beginning after the pregnancy, it's good that it's still there. The title means a lot to me,” said Krause. The track and field athlete became the mother of a daughter for the first time at the end of April 2023. She made her competitive comeback just a few weeks ago at the New Year's Eve run in Trier.
For Krause, the title fights after her maternity break are a step towards her desired return to the top international level in the 3000 meter steeplechase. This year, Krause also wants to set his sights directly on the highlights of the season. »If I do it again, I'll do it right. Then I would like to take part in the Olympics again, and anyone who knows me knows that I want to be in the final there too.
The athletics competitions at the Paris Games will take place in early August. In her previous three Olympic participations in 2012, 2016 and 2021, Krause took seventh, sixth and fifth place. She won bronze at the World Championships in 2015 and 2019.
A good nine months after the birth of her daughter, the athlete from the Silvesterlauf Trier club still has to get back to international level. A first big goal is the European Championships in Rome at the beginning of June. “If I stay healthy, if everything goes so well that I can run to my norm, then I would very, very much like to compete in Rome,” emphasized Krause.
This Sunday, the two-time European champion has another chance for the title over 1500 meters at the indoor championships.
ara/dpa