Two top newcomers to the Muñoz running group

With Samuel Blake and Tim Englbrecht, two strong middle-distance runners switch to the LAG Mittlere Isar.

Both study in Freising.

Freising

- Changes in winter are usually an exciting topic, especially in professional football.

But there is also a lot going on with the athletes: With Samuel Blake and Tim Englbrecht, two outstanding middle-distance runners join the running group of the LAG Mittlere Isar run by successful coach Francisco Muñoz.

Born in Australia, Samuel Blake came to Germany in the summer of 2018 to learn the language on the one hand and to study life science economics and policy on the other.

In his first two years he started in the jersey of LG Stadtwerke München.

However, since his place of study is Freising and he has been regularly and happily with the Muñoz group for a long time, it made sense to join the LC Freising.

"Sam", as he is usually called, brings with him very strong best times in the middle distance.

In particular, his 1500 meter performance of 3: 44.68 minutes, which he achieved in Pfungstadt in Hesse last September, is remarkable.

Just for comparison: The leader of the German best list, Marc Tortell, was only about six seconds faster with 3: 38.04 minutes.

Coach Francisco Muñoz trusts Samuel Blake even more

And his coach has even more confidence in Samuel Blake: “We know what we have to work on.

It should increase the feeder times over the 800 and 5000 meters, ”says Muñoz, indicating the direction for 2021.

If he can increase the training intensity a little and implement the form optimally in the competition, the coach does not want to rule out a jump in performance towards 3:40 minutes.

However, the current training conditions are a disadvantage.

Since the 25-year-old does not belong to a squad and the halls and the stadium in the Savoyer Au are closed due to the corona pandemic and the recently extended lockdown, currently only training units remain at home or on the often very slippery paths in the district at this time of the year.

Endurance sport is tough on this "pavement".

In addition, there is the very manageable range of competitions due to the corona.

"Because of his level of performance, Sam is invited to some top meetings in the coming weeks," reports LAG coach Muñoz about the indoor season.

As things stand, Samuel Blake is supposed to take part in two professional sports events that have been planned on February 2nd in Erfurt and on February 7th in Dortmund and - at least so far - have not yet been canceled.

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Willing to attack again: Tim Englbrecht was one of the most hopeful DLV talents in the youth class.

© private

The second LAG newcomer, Tim Englbrecht, also came to the cathedral city because of his studies in nutritional science.

In the youth class he was one of the most promising young talents of the German Athletics Association (DLV).

His outstanding best performance of 1: 51.13 minutes over the 800 meters also comes from this time, more precisely from 2016.

However, after two difficult years in 2017 and 2018, he ended his competitive sports career.

The comeback should now be successful under the successful Freising coach.

“He has great potential and has made significant progress in the last few weeks.

Nevertheless, he still has to improve his stamina considerably and reach a new level in training, ”says Muñoz about his new protégé.

In this case, the expectations of the supervisor for the coming season are initially low: "He himself has extremely ambitious goals - it would be strong if he could achieve them."

"If all three stay healthy, they can really achieve something in the 3x1000 meter relay."

Johannes Ehrhardt in particular could benefit from the new training partners or the reinforcement in his own team: The 23-year-old Neufahrner has developed splendidly in recent years under the guidance of Francisco Muñoz.

In 2020 he broke the four-minute mark over the 1500 meters for the first time and won bronze twice in the Bavarian and South German indoor championships for men over 800 meters.

“If all three stay healthy, they can really achieve something in the 3x1000 meter relay”, the coach is looking forward to the upcoming outdoor season and adds: “Relay assignments have always been the greatest for me - and I always enjoyed running in a team .

I gave 120 percent there. "

Muñoz also hopes for such a dynamic for his middle-distance trio.

An important prerequisite for such success is first of all that appropriate competitions are offered.

Relay competitions remained the absolute exception in Corona summer 2020.

In the German championships, however, the three are not allowed to participate in the described constellation anyway.

Because Samuel Blake is not allowed to get involved in the DM because of his passport.

But that doesn’t detract from the Australian’s motivation: He’s happy that he can prepare for state championships and other meetings together with his new Freising training partners.

Michael Wilms

Athlete in profile

Samuel Blake

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Born: 1995.

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Previous association: LG Stadtwerke München.

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Best

times  

:

800 meters: 1: 50.45 minutes (2019).

1500 meters: 3: 44.68 minutes (2020).

3000 meters: 8: 14.40 minutes (2018).

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Greatest successes: Bavarian indoor champion over 800 and 1500 meters (2020).

Tim Englbrecht

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Born: 1997.

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Previous association: LG Telis Finanz Regensburg.

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Best

times  

:

400 meters: 49.57 seconds (2017).

800 meters: 1: 51.13 minutes (2016).

1500 meters: 3: 55.73 minutes (2015).

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Greatest successes: 3rd place in the German U20 championship with the 3x1000 meter relay (2016) and South German champion over the 800 meter distance (2014).

Also interesting: Maximilian Thalhammer: From the Savoy Au to professional football