Record-breaking meeting even without “real” records
34. International KOST Runners' Meeting in Pliezhausen, May 18th 2025
(ft) The athletics season can begin. At the 34th International KOST Runners' Meeting in Pliezhausen, the athletes presented themselves in strong form for the upcoming season with the World Championships in Tokyo (Japan; September 13 to 21, 2025) as the highlight. Perfect running conditions and the great atmosphere in the well-filled Schönbuch stadium contributed to numerous top results in the eternal meeting top 6 and a meeting record in the rarely run 400 meter hurdles. With 822 participants, the organizers from LV Pliezhausen were delighted with a record turnout.
Maximilian Thorwirth scratches the oldest meeting record
He had announced an attack on the oldest record in the history of the meeting (7:49.50 min), which has been in existence since 1994, and he did just that. Maximilian Thorwirth (SFD 75 Düsseldorf) ran a courageous 3,000-meter race from the lead for long stretches, which was not rewarded with the record despite a fast final kilometer in 7:50.88 minutes. “I wanted the record,” he said in his initial reaction, expressing disappointment, only to later qualify that he could be quite satisfied with his start to the season in front of the many fans. And rightly so: with his time, the man from Tübingen moved into second place on the record list in the middle of the phalanx of Kenya's top runners.
Records shake in the sprint - one falls over the long hurdles
From the World Relay Championships in China to Pliezhausen: Sina Mayer (LAZ Zweibrücken) was in a class of her own over 80 meters. In 9.37 seconds, the sprinter took third place in the all-time meeting best list behind record holder Lisa Nippgen (9.32 sec) and Malaika Mihambo (9.35 sec) in prominent company. She followed this up with another top result over 150 meters (17.21 sec) and completed the double victory. The Nigerian Olaoye Folawiyo (SCC Berlin, 8.55 sec) catapulted himself into second place as the 80 meter winner. Only Eric Nkansah was faster in 1999 (8.37 sec). The sprinter, who studies in Berlin and also won the 150 meters (15.51 sec), has set his sights on qualifying for the World Championships this summer.
Hayley McLean set a new record in the rarely held 400-meter hurdles competition (56.56 sec). In doing so, the Brit replaced none other than multiple German champion Carolina Krafzik (VfL Sindelfingen, 57.69 sec). In the “crooked” 300 meter hurdles, Joshua Abuaku (LG Eintracht Frankfurt, 35.88 sec) took revenge on last year's winner Dany Brand (Switzerland, 36.32 sec) in third place.
German junior sprinters in impressive early form - U20 European Championship standards tumble
The DLV's 4x100-meter U20 national relay teams clocked excellent times in both the men's (40.13 sec) and women's (44.16 sec) events. The teams were thus well below the respective standards (40.75 and 45.70 sec) for the U20 European Championships in Tampere (Finland; August 7-10, 2025). For context: both times would have been good for medals at the last European Junior Championships in 2023 - which national coach Alex Seeger's team is aiming for again this year. “We want to improve further before the European Championships and then go for gold in Tampere,” is the motto. The national coach was also very satisfied because he had succeeded in integrating the many younger athletes into the team during the multi-day training course in Pliezhausen.
In the women's 3,000 meters, the winner Vanessa Mikitenko (SSC Hanau-Rodenbach, 8:58.42 min) and runner-up Lisa Merkel (LAV Tübingen, 8:58.63 min) took it in turns to set fast times. “I've never heard it as loud as on the last 100 meters,” said the Tübingen native, praising the atmosphere. Irina Mikitenko, mother of the winner and German marathon record holder, could also be heard loudly on the sidelines. In the wake of the two, Lera Miller (VfL Löningen, 9:02.99 min) and Lisa Ehrle (LG farbtex Nordschwarzwald, 9:05.39 min), who still belong to the youth category, scratched the 9:00 minute barrier and clearly beat the standard for the U20 European Championships (9:30 min). A total of five standards for the continental junior championships were set on Sunday.
Exciting duels and international podiums on the middle distances
The middle distances were in international hands. In the women's 600 meters, Eveline Saalberg from the Netherlands (1:26.46 min) fought a thrilling duel to the finish line with Pernille Karlsen Antonsen (Norway, 1:26.53 min), who set a new national record. In the men's race, victory went to Ramon Wipfli from Switzerland (1:16.45 min). Local hero Tim Holzapfel (LV Pliezhausen) was delighted with a strong second place (1:17.56 min). Over 1,000 meters, three men stayed under 2:20 minutes: Salih Teksöz (Turkey, 2:19.24 min), Flavien Szot (France, 2:19.67 min) and Abdelatif Sadiki (Morocco, 2:19.74 min). In the women's race, steeplechase specialist Elena Burkard impressed in second place (2:40.35 min) behind Poland's Julia Jaguscik (2:40.35 min).