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Malaika Mihambo qualifying in Eugene
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
Germany's great hope for gold, Malaika Mihambo, started her World Cup weekend in Eugene with a commanding performance.
In the long jump qualification, the Olympic champion and defending champion jumped 6.84 meters in the first attempt on Saturday and easily surpassed the 6.75 meters required for the final on Sunday (5:50 p.m. OT/2:50 a.m. CEST on Monday morning).
“That was the goal.
Everything worked out the way we had imagined," said Mihambo: "I felt very good, it was a good competition.
Everything is as it should be.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
The 28-year-old from LG Kurpfalz indicated her potential on Saturday afternoon and dropped a proud 17 centimeters when she took off.
"My coach gave me a very generous start," said Mihambo.
Three years ago she secured the title in Doha with her personal best of 7.30 meters, in 2021 she jumped 7.00 meters to gold in the last attempt at the Olympics.
The German medal hopes rest on Mihambo
With 7.09 meters scored in May, Mihambo traveled to the World Cup as number two in the world.
Shortly before the start of the title fights, the Australian Brooke Buschkuehl had taken the lead in the year's best list with 7.13 meters.
Buschkuehl also qualified for the final on Saturday with 6.76 meters in the first attempt.
The best of the qualification was the American Quanesha Burks, who jumped 6.86 meters.
However, she only managed to do this on her third attempt.
From a German point of view, Mihambo is the great hope for a medal in a world championship that has so far been completely disappointing.