An exciting Olympic Season 2016 has ended – well, almost. It has been particularly successful for Swiss Athletics. Five medals at the European Championships in Amsterdam. Time to look back. Who is “the best” Swiss athlete? Which discipline is the strongest? Who is the most under-rated athlete?

In this blog, I’ll take a look at the IAAF 2016 World Ranking. By using this ranking, I am not saying rank X in discipline A is worth more than rank Y in discipline B. Rather, I use the world ranking to define an order that deviates from the usual “first the Men’s sprint / last the Women’s heptathlon” lists.

Rank 8: Nicole Büchler.

The first Swiss athlete on my list is Nicole Büchler with a season best of 4.78m in the pole vault. She could overcome her former inconsistencies after she built a very successful team around her coach and husband Mitch Greeley. Sadly, a hamstring injury stopped her shortly before the Europeans. She did the right thing: she disappeared immediately and went to her favorite place in Ticino. With a lack of training, but with a fresh mind, she re-appeared at the Olympics and took a very remarkable 6th place!

Rank 13: Lea Sprunger.

Number two on my list is Lea Sprunger. Two years ago, Lea switched from the 200m distance to 400m Hurdles, but her 13th rank in the world was over 200m! In the final of the Swiss championships at Geneva, she clocked 22.38 secs. A true world class performance in a fun competition only one week after her bronze medal at the Europeans over 400mH. The medal already indicates that Lea’s 400m hurdles rank is only marginally lower. With 54.92 secs she is number 19 in the world. Will 2017 bring a further improvement?

Rank 14: Selina Büchel.

Selina Büchel

Number three among the Swiss athletes is 800m runner Selina Büchel. She ran her season best late in the season: 1:58:77 at the Athletissima. This is rank 14 in the world. Selina might be viewed as the tragic figure of the season. 4th place at the Europeans, and a closely missed final qualification at the Olympics.

Rank 19: Kariem Hussein.

Kariem Hussein

Kariem Hussein had two goals for 2016. Defending his Euro title, and reaching the final at the Olympics. By the end of the season it was bronze in Amsterdam and a missed final. An injury made it impossible to achieve more. Nevertheless, he reached 48.87secs in Amsterdam. Given the difficulties, he didn’t lose Gold, he won bronze.

Rank 27: Angelica Moser.

18 years old and a PB of 4.57m in the pole vault! Angelica is currently the most visible of the many youngsters that make Swiss Athletics’ officials smile about the future. Angelica seems to be there when it matters most. She started into the season with a long streak of jumps between 4.40 and 4.45m, but at her self-declared season highlight, the Junior World Championships, she delivered a new PB (4.55m) and took the Gold medal.

Rank 32: Fabienne Schlumpf.

Most of the attention during the season was on others, but Fabienne was there when it mattered most. 9:30.54 at Rio meant not only a new Swiss record, but also the qualification for the Olympic final. Unfortunately she fell in the final and finished on rank 18. Apart from the Olympics, Fabienne finished 5th at the Europeans and celebrated a victory at Lucerne. Regarding media attention, she might have been the most under-rated world class athlete of Switzerland.

Rank 33: Benjamin Gföhler

UPDATE: Of course, I knew that Benjamin was missing on my list. In 2016 he eventually broke the 8m barrier. However, his 8.13m jump became victim of a bug on the IAAF site. Now that it has been fixed, it’s visible to the world that he’s number 33! After this terrific performance, Benjamin’s obvious aim for the next season will be consistency. Just suppose he’d be able to repeat this jump on the day of an international championship… Hell, what a hype would this trigger…

Rank 40: Mujinga Kambundji.

Mujinga’s season began with a bang. In a Facebook post she declared that she would not run in the 4×100 this year. So all eyes were on her individual performance. The season did not start as desired. During this period, her season best of 11.14 secs appeared like an outlier. Only late in the season Mujinga stabilized her form. Then she proved all sceptics wrong. Again, she was in her best shape, when it matters most. Bronze at the Europeans and a strong semifinal performance at the Olympics. Moreover, she ran a season best 200m in Rio (22.78secs; rank 52 in the world).

Rank 40 Clélia Rard-Reuse.

2016 would be Clélia Rard-Reuse’s last season. Eventually fully recovered from a broken leg (2014), the 100m hurdler started strong into the season and qualified for the Europeans. She took the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics at one of the few rain-free races in Thun where she ran 12.87 secs. She took a strong fourth place at the Europeans and showed a very strong performance at Rio where she finished 16th in the semifinal. A touching farewell at her home meeting, the Athletissima, closed her season and her career.

Rank 42: Ellen Sprunger.

Ellen Sprunger

After two major surgeries in 2015, Ellen’s aim for 2016 was clear. A new PB and the Olympic Standard in the heptathlon. At Götzis she started strongly into the competition. Brilliant over the hurdles and the 200m, solid in the high jump and the shot put. However, on day two her operated elbow was not ready for the javelin. 6’024 points weren’t enough. Another attempt in Ratingen failed too. After long discussions, Coach Meuwly accepted his strongest remaining sprinter for the 4x100m relay and she could participate at her second Olympics. Moreover, she ran a strong 200m race at the Swiss Nationals. Her 22.89 meant another rank 76 in the world. Finally some good news. Ellen will continue her career in 2017. “Ratingen shouldn’t be the end of my heptathlon career”, she told me.

Rank 47: Michelle Zeltner

After an accident the doctors told Michelle that she would be unable to ever do sports again. In 2016 she not only qualified for the Europeans, but also set up a new PB, the first time over the “magic” 6000 pts barrier.

Rank 50: Jonas Fringeli.

Jonas Fringeli

Jonas Fringeli established himself as the best decathlete in Switzerland. 7862 point in Götzis mean exactly rank 50 in the world. The competition in Götzis was very solid, without any weaknesses. Jonas is definitely on the watch list for 2017.

Other Swiss athletes in the World Ranking

#58: Maja Neuenschwander (Marathon) 2:27:36
#65: Dominik Alberto (Pole Vault) 5.55
#73: Salome Lang (High Jump) 1.86
#80: Petra Fontanive (400mH) 56.48
#80: Loïc Gasch (High Jump) 2.23
#111: Valérie Reggel (Heptathlon) 5667 pts
#113: Nicole Zihlmann (Hammer Throw) 64.83
#123 Irene Pusterla (Long Jump) 6.42
#145 Alain-Hervé Mfomkpa (400mH) 50.42
#146 Tobias Furer (110mH) 13.76
#147 Alex Wilson (200m) 20.57
#157: Martina Strähl (1/2 Marathon) 1:11.50
#157 Nadja-Marie Pasternack (Javelin) 53.52
#162 Géraldine Ruckstuhl (Javelin) 53.38
#164 Jan Hochstrasser (1500m) 3:39.71
#167 Robine Schürmann (400mH) 57.94
#201 Sara Atcho (200m) 23.30

As a coincidence, I was test reading Stephan Wiesner’s forthcoming book on landscape photography while on vacation in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

The key message of the book is “get off the couch”! So what should I do? Just the theory? No way! We invested in bear bells & bear spray and went out. The earlier in the morning, the better.

By the way: the investment paid off as we almost stumbled across a bear family during one of our hikes. However, one cub ran up a tree, curious because of our bells. So we saw it early, and had time to retreat before mom got nervous. Better no picture.

Back to the book. No kidding, this is the best photography book that I ever read. Beginners will profit as much as more advanced photographers, because the book not only explains the roles of shutter speed and aperture, but also tells tons of little tricks – a few of which were new to me.

The book will be soon available on Amazon. Just visit Stephan’s Amazon Profile from time to time. Meanwhile, you may want to enjoy my pictures.

Rock Lake Provincial Park, AB, Canada

Columbia River near Golden, BC, Canada

Wetlands, near Golden, BC, Canada

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, BC, Canada

Canmore, AB, Canada

Three Sisters, Canmore, AB, Canada

Canmore, AB, Canada

Rock Lake Provicial Park, AB, Canada

Laughing Falls, Yoho National Park, Canada

Duchesnay Lake, Yoho National Park, Canada

Yoho National Park, Canada

So the European Championships are on the finish straight. Day 5. Let us quickly look back on the Swiss performers in today’s finals. Again 4.45, PB, and a very good 7th rank for Angelica Moser in the pole vault final. Heptathlete Michelle Zeltner delivered another PB in the long jump (6.10), but lost many points in the javelin throw. Nevertheless, 6010 point are a new PB and first time above the magic 6000 barrier. Rank 11 at the Europeans. Finally, Selina Büchel ran a very good race. A very good fourth rank, but as always, rank four is bitter-sweet.

And now to the preview. What will happen tomorrow?

Half Marathon Women. Four Swiss will be at the start. Martina Strähl the mountain running world champion, Martina Tresch, Maja Neuenschwander, and Laura Hrebec will be the Swiss starters.

Laura Hrebec. Zweite bei den SM 2016 über 10km in St-Maurice.

Half Marathon Men. A group of 6 runners will represent Switzerland. Marcel Berni, Adrian Lehmann, Julien Lyon, Abraham Tadesse, Christian Kreienbühl, and Andreas Kempf. (I apologise: I don’t shoot street races that often, some runners are missing in my personal photo “collection”.

Julien Lyon wird Dritter beim Zürich Marathon 2016

400m Hurdles Women. Lea Sprunger won her semifinal today. She ran 15 strides until the 8th hurdle and then switched to 16 strides. All under control. Her potential makes her a natural podium candidate. Same situation as for Kariem Hussein: Everything between gold and wood is possible. Her main opponents are: Sara Slott Petersen (DEN) and Joanna Linkiewicz (POL).

Lea Sprunger

3000m Steeplechase Women. Fabienne Schlumpf made it to the final and now it counts. She won in Luzern, but the European Championships will be a more difficult task. On paper, the field is quite homogenous, except for Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause who is the gold candidate number one.

4x100m Women. New Swiss record (42.87secs) for Ajla Del Ponte, Sarah Atcho, Ellen Sprunger, and Salome Kora in the semifinal. As second they qualified directly for the final. This is a big success for the three U23 runners and Ellen. More tomorrow.

Salomé Kora, Sarah Atcho

Ajla del Ponte

Sarah Atcho

232 Ellen Sprunger

4x100m Men. The Swiss men’s relay made it to the final. 38.88secs are really good. This is a big success after a lot of trouble in the last year. Pascal Mancini, Amaru Schenkel, Sugi Somasundaram, and Alex Wilson will have more than a super fast honorary lap because they want to improve their time.

Pascal Mancini

394 Suganthan Somasundaram

Alex Wilson

Well, and when everything is over, we might want to have a look at the other Euro in France.

Today was a great day for Kariem Hussein, Alex Wilson and Mujinga Kambundji! Bronze medal for Kariem over the 400m hurdles – a great performance. This medal confirms his exceptional position in Europe. And Bronze for Mujinga too! She had such a difficult season. Today she performed best when the pressure was highest. Moreover, Alex made it to the 200m final (7th). He had a similarly difficult season so far, but always emphasised that his form is good.

But let’s turn to the topic of the blog – what will happen on day 4?

Heptathlon Day 2. So far, everything went extremely well for Michelle Zeltner. PB over the hurdles (13.93), SB in the high jump (1.77), PB in the shot put (14.49), and very good 24.80 over 200m. With 3661 points she is fifth after day 1. Tomorrow, the last three disciplines will follow. Long jump and javelin are two difficult disciplines for her. Tomorrow might be the most important morning of her career.

Michelle Zeltner

Linda Züblin (3341 points) and Valérie Reggel (3365 points) had difficulties in the high jump, but will try to perform well on day 2.

Three out of the four athletes ahead of Michelle are the top candidates for the podium: Dutch hopes are with Anouk Vetter who leads after day 1 with 3882 points and is a very good javelin thrower. Antoinette Nana Djimou (FRA, 3786 pts) is second. Hanna Kasyanova (UKR) who is fourth after day 1 (3701 pts) has a very strong second day.

4x400m Men Quali. The Swiss relay qualified in Luzern in an exciting race. The team around the Swiss semifinalist Joel Burgunder will run full gas in the qualification and has a slight chance to make it to the final.

4x100m Men. The Swiss men’s relay had a difficult year. Two important members are injured (Bastien Mouton and Rolf Fongue). So the team had to be re-built around the 200m finalist Alex Wilson.

Pascal Mancini

4 x 100m Women. Maybe the Swiss 4x100m relay was the most frequently discussed topic this year. Early in the year, Mujinga Kambundji declared that she will not run for the relay this year. The differences between her plan to prepare for the season and national coach Laurent Meuwly‘s were incompatible. Heptathlete Ellen Sprunger had a similar problem. She waived her last chance to qualify for the Olympics in the heptathlon. Her abilities in the curve will be important to help her three young teammates Ajla Del Ponte, Sarah Atcho, and Salome Kora.

Ajla del Ponte

Pole Vault Women. 18 year old Angelica Moser qualified with 4.45m in her first attempt for the final. This is an outdoor PB (indoor 4.50). Her aim is to master the 4.50 outdoor. Conditions might be difficult, though. This will make the competition a lottery. The top jumpers should be warned by Renaud Lavillenie’s mishap (3 faults at 5.75) yesterday. Otherwise, a big surprise might happen. Who could profit?

800m Women Final. For the first time in her career Selina Büchel has qualified for a final at a major outdoor championship. Like in the previous years, there are no doubts about her potential in the final. In theory, Renelle Lamote (FRA) will be ahead of the pack. Behind her, everything is possible.

Selina Büchel

So two days of the championships are over. Each nation has its own highlights and so do I. The 4th place by Clélia Rard-Reuse of the 100m Hurdles belongs to it, but I was also happy for Cindy Roleder who snatched gold. My favourite picture of Clélia is from last year – let me re-post it.

From an international point of view, the miracles didn’t happen. After Russian whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova had to give up her qualification race yesterday, today Susana Kallur‘s hurdle comeback came to a halt today in the semifinal.

Heptathlon Women: Last second qualifier Michelle Zeltner, Valérie Reggel, and Linda Züblin will be the three Swiss starters, after Ellen Sprunger decided to waive the last opportunity to qualify for the Olympics in the heptathlon. She will concentrate on the 4x100m relay.

Valerie Reggel

The road to the championships were different. Michelle did two heptathlons in Götzis and Ratingen. She missed the Standard by 29 points, but was invited by European Athletics, because less than 30 athletes made it. Valérie had a slower start into the season after a knee surgery. Linda did only a few local competitions, then did a heptathlon attempt in Ratingen where she didn’t  finish.

Austra Skujyte

Antoinette Nana Djimou

The favourites for the title are from the Netherlands. Nadine Broersen and Anouk Vetter both want to be on the podium before their home crowd. Antoinette Nana Djimou (FRA), Karolina Tyminska (POL), Hanna Kasyanova (UKR), Austra Skuyte (LTU) have PBs over 6500 points, but the two Dutch have better performances in 2016.

110m Hurdles Men: The two best Swiss hurdlers are Tobias Furer (13.66secs) and Brahian Peña (13.86secs). Tobias, the best of the 2015 season has now been challenged by Brahian. Competition is good, so both qualified for the Euros.

Both will be happy with performances that improve their PBs. Gold candidates on paper are Dimitri Bascou (FRA, 13.16), Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (FRA, 12.95), or William Sharman (GBR 13.16).

3000m Steeple Women: Fabienne Schlumpf (9:37.81) will be the Swiss starter in the steeple race. She had a nice victory at the international meeting in Luzern earlier this year. The best on paper in this race is Germany’s Gesa Feliciatas Krause (9:19).

400m Hurdles Women: Lea Sprunger made a big leap forward in her second season over the hurdles. In Geneva she ran her first sub 55 race and suddenly is one of the top European runners. Will she challenge the favourites Zuzana Hejnova (CZE), Denisa Roslova (CZE), and  Sara Slott Petersen (DEN)?

This question will be answered on Sunday. In tomorrows qualifying rounds, the top starters will still rest and enter the competition only in the semifinal. In the qualifying round pressure will be on the other two Swiss starters are Petra Fontanive, and Robine Schürmann. Whereas Petra has already clocked under 57 in 2016, Petra was constantly struggling to get to the level of 2015. However, after the last test race in ugly conditions she will be optimistic.

200m Men Semifinals: Alex Wilson ran 20.80 and made it into the semifinal, like over the 100m. With two semifinals, the Europeans are are a big success for him. Now the favourites, Christophe Lemaitre (FRA), Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (GBR), and Jaisuma Naidi Ndure (NOR), and Churandy Martina (NED) have to play their cards.

400m Hurdles Men Final: In the semifinal, the defending champion Kariem Hussein improved his season best to 48.87 secs. However, he will have strong opponents in the final. Yasmani Copello Escobar (TUR) leads the result list with 48.42. Norway’s Karsten Warholm (48.84) and Jack Green (GBR, 48.98) also clocked under 49 secs. It will be an exciting race. Everything between Gold and Wood is possible.

100m Women Final: The out in the semifinal over 200m was very disappointing for Mujinga Kambundji. Tomorrow, she will be under pressure in the semifinal over 100m. For the second Swiss, Salome Kora, the semifinal should be fun. She ran a new PB in the qualifying round and advanced one round. Expectations more than met.

Mujinga Kambundji

Ivet Lalova

Ivet Lalova, Mujinga Kambundji, Vitoria Cristina Silva Rosa

The hosts are waiting for the first race of the superstar, Dafne Schippers. Will she make a Gold medal in the last race of the day?

Who will start on day 2?

Decathlon Men: OK, as I wrote before, I “sucessfully ” ignored some favourites. After day one, Oleksiy Kasyanov (URK) is in the lead with 4234 points with Mihail Dudaš (SRB) and Jorge Ureña (ESP) second and third. Dominik Disteberger had to give up due to an injury.

Jonas Fringeli had a mixed first day. 11.20 over the 100, only 6.80 in the long jump, 12.81m in the shot put, 1.98m in the high jump, and 49.95secs over 400m mean that he lost points in every discipline relative to Götzis.

Jonas Fringeli

Jorge Urena

Pole Vault Women: Unfortunately one of the hottest Swiss medal candidates, Nicole Büchler won’t start. An injury in the thigh didn’t heal. The remaining Swiss competitor is Angelica Moser. Angelica’s focus will be on the qualification. 4.55m are required to enter the final. This seems possible – during the season she jumped many times between 4.40 and 4.42m and had equally many very close fails over 4.50 (her indoor PB) or higher. It’s time that she get to a new level. Tomorrow would be the perfect day for that.

After Nicole’s dropping out, the main favourites for the victory are the two Greeks, Nikoléta Kiriakopoúlou and Ekateríni Stefanídi, but some more vaulters are capable jumping over 4.70 and snatch a medal.

200m Men: After Alex Wilson‘s 100m qualifying performance in 10.30secs the focus will be on the 200m. The Olympic Standard is 20.50 – this is possible for Alex. The situation is similar to 100m. If Alex makes it he will make it to the final most likely. If not, then not.

Bastien Mouthon, Silvan Wicki

Alex Wilson

For the second Swiss, Silvan Wicki, ambitions are different. Happy with his qualification for the Euros, his aim will be to run close to his PB – or even set up a new one.

The favourites have other concerns. Christophe Lemaitre (FRA), Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (GBR), and Jaisuma Naidi Ndure (NOR) have all run under 20secs before. The same is true for Churandy Martina (NED) who will try everything before his home crowd.

100m Women: After she dropped out of the semifinal over 200m today, Swiss attention will be again on Mujinga Kambundji. With her season best of 11.14secs, she is directly qualified for the semifinal. In a recent interview, she declared she depends on her adrenaline level. Will it be sufficiently high to make it to the final?

Ivet Lalova, Mujinga Kambundji, Vitoria Cristina Silva Rosa

Very early in the season, Salomé Kora ran 11.49 and qualified for the Euros too. In more recent races, she competed strongly so hope are that she might confirm or improve her PB.

Salomé Kora

The top favourite for the title is of course Dafne Schippers. The Dutch superstar is the only sprinter who ran under 11 this year. Who might challenge her? Ivet Lalova-Collio (BUL) might have a tiny chance. It’s going to be interesting.

400m Hurdles Men: I wrote everything about this competition yesterday, expet that the favourites were directly qualified for the semifinals. So Swiss fans will see Kariem Hussein tomorrow.

Kariem Hussein

400m Men: Day 2 will be the day of the semifinals and Joel Burgunder will be part of them. He qualified as the fastest of the lucky losers. In a windy race the time wasn’t that fast. Hence, his hopes will be to run faster under hopefully better conditions.

Joël Burgunder

100m Hurdles Women: Like for the 400mH, Clélia Rard-Reuse will start only on day 2 because she was directly qulified for the semfinal. 17:10 will be the time to cross fingers.

The same holds for the other fast Europeans like Worlds Silver medalist Cindy Roleder (GER).

Clélia Rard-Reuse

Clélia Rard-Reuse

Long Jump Men. Swiss Benjamin Gföhler jumped 7.72m under windy conditions in the qualification round. It was close, but eventually wasn’t enough to make it to the final.

Sweden’s Michel Tornéus was best of the qualification (8.19), followed by Radek Juska (CZE, 8.11) and Germany’s Fabian Heinle (8.11). However, other jumpers might take the lead like Britains defending champion Greg Rutherford.

100m Men Semifinal. In the second round the favourites will start. The list of the best is led by Jimmy Vicaut (FRA) who equalled the European Record recently (9.86secs). However, others are there, too like Jak Ali Harvey (TUR, 9.92) or Germany’s Julian Reus (10.03).

Alex Wilson (SUI) will be in the third heat. On paper, his opponents are too strong, but in sports a lot of things are possible.

800m Semifinal Women. Selina Büchel celebrated a victory in the qualifying round. Now it will be tough. The first two and the two fastest will advance to the final. Selina lines up against Renelle Lamote (FRA). However, five out of the other 6 starters appear capable of making it to the final. It will be a close race.

Selina Büchel

The season is shortly before its first peak: the European Championships in Amsterdam. So far, athletes’ main interest was to consolidate the form, do preparation races and qualify for the Europeans and/or the Olympics. This period is over. Time for a preview.

(Disclaimer: this is my very, very personal view. I sometimes lack insider knowledge and might be wrong… we’ll see. I’ll put a bias on those athletes that I personally know (most of them Swiss) and take the freedom to ignore others, even if they are the favourites.)

Day 1

Decathlon Men: Swiss hopes are resting on Jonas Fringeli who qualified earlier this year in Götzis. Back then he showed no major weaknesses and made 7862 points – a new PB. Will he deliver even more in Amsterdam? This seems quite possible. With less than 140 points missing to the magic 8000 points margin he hopefully won’t put himself under too much pressure, though.

Kevin Mayer, Jonas Fringeli, Damian Warner, Tim Nowak

Jonas Fringeli

Who are the favourites? The best of the season, Abele (GER), Mayer (FRA), Kazmirek (GER), Uibo (EST), and Auzeil (FRA) are missing. At face value (the SB list), it’s the Austrian Dominik Diestelberger. However, the strong Dutch starters Pieter Braun and Eelco Sintnicolaas will also aim at the title, as do Hans van Alphen from Belgium and Oleksey Kasyanov from the Ukraine.

Dominik Diestelberger

Pieter Braun

100mH Women: Two years ago, Clélia Rard-Reuse (then Reuse), broke her leg in the semifinal of the Swiss Championships. A long way back began. The 2012 Olympian tried everything to regain form. Things started to look good in early 2016, and after many races in the low 13s she eventually ran 12.87 in Thun. Before Rio, the Europeans in Amsterdam will be more than just a test for her.*

Of course all eyes will be on the comeback of the 2006 European Champion Susanna Kallur (SWE) who was injured since 2008 and seems to return to competitive strength very recently.

200m women. Three Swiss starters are in Amsterdam. The fastest on paper is Mujinga Kambundji. So far, her season was good, but a little weaker than 2014/15. What does this mean for her prospects? She is a superbe competitor who is fastest when it counts. Well, hic Rhodos – hic salta. She must play her cards now.

Mujinga Kambundji

Mujinga Kambundji

Mujinga Kambundji

Swiss eyes will also be on Ellen Sprunger who is a superbe runner in the curve and who is just above the Olympic Standard. No secret, she wants to run a new PB of 23.20 in the heat.  Fingers crossed for her!!

Anouk Vetter, Ellen Sprunger

232 Ellen Sprunger

Much earlier in the season Cornelia Halbheer was one of the few Swiss sprinters who dared to compete in the cold and rainy weather. Back then, I posted she might run much faster and be one of the surprises of the season. In Thun she ran 23.46 and qualified for the Championships. Participating in Amsterdam will be the biggest moment of her young career.

Alexanderplatz Berlin Fernsehturm Mond

Cornelia Halbheer

Cornelia Halbheer

The top favourite is Dina Asher Smith (GBR), but we will have to see if she can approach her tremendous PB (22.07) of the earlier years. The World Champion from Bejing, Dafne Schippers (NL) is not on the start list.

100m Men. It’s been a weird season vor Alex Wilson, the fastest Suisse. Last year he missed the Olympic Standard (10.16) only closely. This year he started into the season with 10.14! Alas, there was 0.1m/sec too much wind. Alex wouldn’t be Alex if he lost his mood. ‘I don’t mind’, he told me. ‘I’m injury free and it’s just a mater of time’. …

Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson

Bastien Mouthon, Silvan Wicki

Amaru Schenkel

Well, so far it didn’t happen. Rainy conditions, and a pulled hamstring in Luzern. At the Europeans he and Amaru Schenkel will start over the 100m.

Outlook: It’s very simple. If Alex runs the desired Olympic Standard, he will make it into the final. If not, then not. Sad that rocketing Bastien Mouton had to waive the season because of a pulled hamstring.

Long jump Men. Benjamin Gföhler was one of the big surprises of the season. In June the 22-year old jumped 8.13m on a meeting in Germany.

400m Men. Joel Burgunder delivered some of the biggest entertainment in the early season. ‘I want to qualify for the Europeans’, that was his early announcement. And his form was good. The weather was not! So he missed his goal at the first serious race, but ran a huge 46.11 in his home stadium in Langenthal. The home crowd cheered and celebrated. So nice to document this in pictures.

Even better, shortly before the deadline Luca Flück joined Joel later when he ran 46.63 in Thun. So two Swiss will challenge the European Elite.

Outlook: Question mark. Two years ago, the two Swiss would have had no chance. It’s just uncertain who of the international competitors will or will not start this year. For them, a serious set of races in Amsterdam might be in conflict with a proper preparation for Rio.

400m Hurdles Men. The defending champion will start on day one of the championships. Obviously, Kariem Hussein‘s aim is to defend the title. In Bellinzona he ran his first sub 49secs of the season. Of course, he is hoping to be faster in Amsterdam. On paper, Yasmani Copello Escobar (TUR) will be his strongest opponent.

Kariem Hussein

Kariem Hussein

Kariem Hussein

Kariem Hussein

Recently, Dany Brand qualified as the second Swiss starter. With a PB of 51.32 his aims will be to run properly and, hopefully, improve his PB again.

800m Women: In 2015, Selina Büchel had a remarkable winning streak and improved her PB to 1:57.95. The problem was that she was over the peak of her form in the later season. This year, her start into the season was a little slower. However, not it will count. Will she do her first very fast race when it’s most important?

Selina Büchel

Selina Büchel

The pressure will be on others this year. Renal Lamote (FRA) is the fastest of the starting grid. And eyes will be on whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova who will run under a neutral flag.

*Clélia is qualified directly for the semifinal. So she won’t run in the morning.