Vitor Ortiz Rivera (Puerto Rico), second place 2.000 meters steeple, 5:26,42 minutes
I love it. The national record stood for 20 years. So this shows a new generation is coming. The meeting here has a different atmosphere. You really feel the excitement and the people make you feel like at home. Now I want to build momentum for the summer and try to qualify for the world championships. Next year, I will be back to attack the meet record.
Laura Taborda (Portugal), winner 2000 meters steeple, 6:16,56 minutes
I am very happy about this great time. It's my first time here at the meeting in Pliezhausen and I find the meeting, especially the atmosphere, really impressive. This season I want to compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the World Championships in Tokyo - that's my big goal.
Eveline Saalberg (Netherlands), winner 600 meters, 1:26.46 minutes
I really enjoyed it. There were so many people there cheering us on, it was a really nice atmosphere here in this small town.
I ran 600 meters last week, but there was a lot of wind. That's why I had hoped that it would be under 1:27 minutes and I'm glad that it worked out that way.
Maximilian Thorwirth (SFD 75 Düsseldorf), winner and second place meeting TOP6 3,000 meters, 7:50,88 minutes
I wanted the meeting record - it's a shame that it didn't quite work out. That really annoys me! Unfortunately, I didn't feel quite so good and the start was a bit too slow. But the last 600m went well. I'm now deciding together with my coach Isabelle Baumann whether I'll start next week in Brussels in the 5,000m or whether I'll do another training block. My next start on German soil will be in Rehlingen in the 1,500m.
I find the meeting totally familiar, I enjoy being here with my whole training group from Tübingen. Meetings like this are also important for young athletes to promote athletics.
Sina Mayer (LAZ Zweibrücken), double winner at 80 meters (9.39 seconds) and 150 meters (17.21 seconds)
I'm very happy with both of my runs. The last 20m of the 150m were difficult, but I started well and was very, very happy with my times. I always think it's great to run here, it's always well organized and I always enjoy coming here.
Rosina Schneider (TV Sulz), third 150 meters, 17.63 seconds
Beautiful weather, great people - but it was really exhausting with the two training runs. I can feel the lactate everywhere right now.
I used to run here as a teenager and always enjoy coming back. When I started here, I always had a great season. So that's a good omen. Next week I'll be starting over the hurdles and my goals are the U23 European Championships and the Universiade.
Pernille Karlsen Antonsen (Norway), second 600 meters women, 1:26:53 sec (national record)
I'm very happy about the new national record. The first race of the season is always a bit difficult, but the track here is very fast. I really like the meeting and everything is very professionally organized.
Tim Holzapfel (LV Pliezhausen), second 600m, 1:17.56 minutes
My tactics worked well: We said we wouldn't go right at the front, the field was too fast for that and my run times were great. With 200m to go, I didn't think I would be able to run so far to the front, but I wanted to prove it to myself and am now really happy about second place. The home meeting is of course something very special: running in front of all the people and groups of children and young people is incredibly motivating. I'm really looking forward to the season.
Ramon Wipfli (Switzerland), winner 600m, 1:16.45 minutes
The race was a bit too slow for me at first, but it was great that I was able to mobilize again in the last 200m and then win the race. I've been to Pliezhausen several times before, but this was my first win. I like this meeting, it's ideal for the start of the season.
Hayley McLean (Great Britain), winner 400 meters hurdles women, 56.56 seconds (meeting record)
It was my first time at this competition and it was fantastic. The stadium is beautiful, there was no wind. Apart from the last minute lane change, you couldn't have asked for a better start. Everyone here is so friendly, you feel relaxed and it's perfectly organized. It's probably the best thing I've done in the 15 years I've been competing.
Alex Seeger, national coach 4x100 meter relay U20 (both with fulfilled Junior European Championship standard)
That was a great start. We haven't run this fast for a long time at this early stage (editor's note: male U20: 40.13 sec, female U20: 44.16 sec). Our conclusion is very positive, and not just because we met the standards for the U20 European Championships. We had a lot of young athletes with little experience who all did really well. We managed to integrate everyone into the team during the training course in Pliezhausen. There is currently an incredible level across the board and at the top, considering that we still had to do without some athletes today due to injury. We want to improve further before the European Championships and then go for gold in Tampere.
Vanessa Mikitenko (SSC Hanau-Rodenbach), winner 3,000 meters women, 8:58.42 minutes
The first time under 9:00 minutes - that feels great. We (Vanessa Mikitenko and Lisa Merkel) worked really well together. So it's possible to run fast without a pacemaker. The great atmosphere gave me a huge boost. Next up is the 5,000 meters in Karlsruhe. I hope it will be fast!
Lisa Merkel (LAV Tübingen), second 3,000 meters women, 8:58.63 minutes
We took good turns. The fast last kilometer surprised me myself. I've never heard it as loud as the atmosphere on the home straight. Next, I'm hoping for a good 5,000 meter race in Karlsruhe, where I want to run the standard for the U23 European Championships in Bergen.