Bad Langensalza 2007

My second competition for the international circuit was in Bad Langensalza, Germany. After jumping 6.88m at this meet in 2006 and setting a new meet record there was no way I was going to miss this great competition in 2007. Due to my knee surgery in May, I was going to make Bad Langensalza my first competition off the plane but I know my first competition is always below par and I didn’t want to sacrifice this meet.

The conditions were great - the sun was out (it is the first day since I’ve been in Europe that it hasn’t rained except for my first day in Ostrava) and we had great tailwinds. Just like last year, the atmosphere was electric. The stands line the runway, the crowd is very enthusiastic clapping every jumper on every jump and they play your song of choice - LOUD!!

I jumped 6.72m (+1.6) on my first attempt to put me in the lead after round one. I slipped to 3rd place by the end of the third round. The competition stepped up a gear during the final round. I slipped from 3rd to 4th as Keila da Silva Costa (BRA) jumped 6.76m which I was unable to match with my sixth-round foul. Karen Mey (RSA) jumped a new national record of 6.93m followed by a personal best produced by the final jumper of the competition, Bianca Kappler (GER) with 6.90m, both surpassing my meet record of 6.88m set last year.

Although pleased with my improvement since Ostrava on my road back from surgery, the competitor in me was jealous of the other girls’ jumps.

I’ll return to Bad Langensalza next year to try and reclaim the meet record.

Next jump Cuxhaven on 14th of July.