Stefan Eberhardt and Carsten Schlangen go sub 3:35 in ISTAF-1500m

June 16, 2009

Two 1500m-runners were the positive German surprise in the running events of last weekends Golden league meeting (ISTAF) in Berlin. Both Stefan Eberhardt and Carsten Schlangen set new personal bests in a race that was won with a world leading 3:29,47min by Augustine Kiprono Choge.

Stefan Eberhardt came into the race with a PB of 3:37,51 and improved to a great time of 3:33,92min (5th place in the race). With this time he went straight to 8th place in the German 1500m All-time list. At the same time it was the best performance since the era of Dieter Baumann some 12 years ago. “Right from the gun just everything was perfect” he commented the race.

For Carsten Schlangen the ISTAF was again a good place. After improving to 3:34,99min in last years race he could now cut off another 0,39 seconds to come home in 3:34,60 for 10th place overall. “The training went well and I just needed the right race to run the PB” he stated afterwards.

Both have now ran faster than the required world championship qualification mark of 3:36,20 min and are almost qualified. Wolfram Müller will for sure be motivated as well by the times of his two compatriots but still it remains to be seen if he can match those performances and qualify for the home world championships.