Swiss champion over 200 metres

Géraldine Frey, Silke Lemmens and William Reais provided the Central Switzerland highlights at the national championships in Zurich,.

It’s actually superfluous to describe her feelings: Géraldine Frey radiates pure happiness. The 25-year-old from Zug has just become Swiss champion over 200 metres. And, with the time of 23.12 seconds, she has catapulted herself into a new league. Her time has improved by no less than six-tenths of a second, and she is "mega happy". The triumph has come as a bit of a surprise – as well as her first outdoor elite title. The well-established runners Leonie Pointet (23.25) and Sarah Atcho (23.34) were left behind her.

It was not this performance in the fifth race within 24 hours that provided the "indescribable feeling", however. It was the one from the previous evening over 100 metres. In that race, she finished 3rd behind Mujinga Kambundji – who ran a Swiss record with 10.89 seconds– and Ajla Del Ponte, the fifth at the Olympics. With 11.31 seconds, Géraldine Frey was only beaten very narrowly by Ajla Del Ponte (11.26 seconds). But this performance also didn’t provide completely satisfy Géraldine Frey either: "I didn’t make a good start, and the possible second place thereby didn’t become reality." The semi-final race made a significant contribution to her good feelings, however. Frey’s winning run was timed at 11.23 seconds: a personal best, an improvement of another six-hundredths, and was achieved in an area that opens up new possibilities. As a clue: 8 years ago, this would still have been a Swiss record – Mujinga Kambundji only began her storming career at that time. And Géraldine Frey now occupies position 13 in the European annual leaderboard. "In view of my international highlights, this is a great starting point," she says.

Before the start of the season, Géraldine Frey had a best time of 11.47 seconds over 100 metres (2019). She explains that this was due to a winter preparation without any injuries, inputs on technique received while training under Rita Schönenberger, speed and sprint endurance, and the balance between studying pharmacy at ETH Zurich and her sport. She still sees potential with regard to the World Cup and European Championships,. Above all, however, "maintaining the tension over the two days of competition after the best time was difficult".

Stunned: Géraldine Frey after her 200-metre race           Photo: Claudio Thoma / Freshfocus, Zurich
Silke Lemmens from Baar wins the 400 metres race
Julia Niederberger from LA Nidwalden makes people sit up and take notice with a personal best  Photos: Hanspeter Roos

As expected, Silke Lemmens from Baar won the 400 m title in a strong 52.22 seconds. The 22-year-old thereby improved her season record by 38 hundredths. However, she missed her target of a personal best by 13 hundredths. "The form is coming, it does not have to be top now, but at the World Cup and European Championships," she clarified. However, she has not yet met the limit for the European Championships as an individual starter (51.70). But she is certainly there in the 4x400 m relay, both at the World Championships and European Championships. The explanation for the delayed increase in form is given: An inflammation of the patellar tendon led to knee pain and during a good two weeks of adapted training on the bike and in the water.

Also over 400 m Julia Niederberger from LA Nidwalden provided an exclamation point with a personal best of 52.76. The 22-year-old from Nidwalden said: "I can hardly believe it, just wonderful." Combined with the performance: the bronze medal behind Lemmens and last year's champion Sarah King. The fact that the World Cup with the relay is now practically safe for her, she describes as "mega motivating". The European Championships garnish the highly attractive programme for the next two months.

Silke Lemmen's form curve rises
As expected, Silke Lemmens from Baar won the title over 400 metres in a strong 52.22 seconds. The 22-year-old thereby improved her season best by 38-hundredths, although she missed her target of a personal best by 13-hundredths. "The form is coming, but it doesn't have to be at the top now, but at the World Cup and European Championship," she said. She has not yet met the limit for the European Championships as a single starter (51.70 seconds), however. But she is sure to be in the 4x400 m relay at both the World Championships and at the European Championships. The reason for the delayed increase in known: an inflammation of the patella tendon has led to knee pain, and has thereby affected her training on the bike and in the water for a good two weeks.

Julia Niederberger from LA Nidwalden also provided an exclamation mark over 400 metres, with a personal best of 52.76 seconds.: "I can hardly believe it, it’s just wonderful," said the 22-year-old from Nidwalden. The result of her performance: the bronze medal behind Lemmens and last year's champion Sarah King. She described the fact that the relay in the World Cup is practically certain for her as "mega motivating". The EM garnishes the highly attractive program for the next two months.

William Reais has been accompanied by pain since March of this yea
William Reais from Graubünden, who lives in Emmen, also sprinted to the expected title over 200 metres. The time of 20.73 didn’t meet the requirements of the U23 European Champion, but this can be explained: "I have experienced pain in my right thigh muscle since March, so the situation is extremely difficult." The performance didn’t satisfy him, but at least he can classify it. Optimism is back: "Things are looking up."

The following athletes also won medals for Central Switzerland:
Géraldine Ruckstuhl (Altbüron / Javelin / 53.06 m / Gold)
Silas Zurfluh (Oberarth / 1500 m / 3:47.47 / Silver)
Priska Auf der Maur (Altdorf / 5000 m / 16:34.91 / Silver)
Lars Wolfisberg (LC Luzern / Hammer / 58.34 m / Bronze)
Livia Odermatt (LC Luzern / High jump / 1.76 m / Bronze)