Julia Rath: Bronze after the fall drama shortly before the finish line

Julia Rath from Penzberg won bronze at the youth championship in Rostock over the 1500 meters.

On the home stretch she seemed defeated, but then a fall drama occurred.

Rostock - A few meters before the finish line, it seemed as if Julia Rath should remain without a medal. The athlete from Penzberg had led from the start, but when it came to the home straight in the 1500 meter race of the U18 at the youth championship, three competitors passed. But then the unexpected: Nina Waltert (VfL Sindelfingen) fell on the rain-soaked track and came to a rest just before the finish line. Rath passed and secured the bronze medal with a time of 4: 31.05 minutes. Gold and silver went to Carolin Hinrichs (VfL Löhningen / 4: 30.11) and Ida Lefering (LG Olympia Dortmund / 4: 30.44). Waltert (4: 32,58) remained the ungrateful fourth place.

Julia Rath, who starts for LAC Quelle Fürth, recently had to struggle with injuries. At the beginning of July she ran the 1500 meters in 4: 30.89 minutes at the junior gala in Mannheim - in the international U20 race that meant ninth place. Rath was only a few tenths above her personal best. In 2020 she won gold over the 1500 meters at the youth championship in Heilbronn. On Saturday in Rostock, the woman from Penzberg ran right from the start. She managed the first 400 meters in 1: 13.76 minutes, and the 800 meter mark was reached after 2: 29.89 minutes. In the last round, a quartet battled it out for the medals.