Over 400 m in Zurich

Strong! Gogl-Walli breaks 47 (!) year old record

Susanne Gogl-Walli

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

What a historic feat: Susanne Gogl-Walli has reached the goal of her dreams! In the famous Letzigrund in Zurich, she broke the oldest Austrian athletics record. In the preliminary program of the Diamond League meeting, the 28-year-old improved Karoline Käfer's 400 m record (50.62), which has stood since 1977 (!), by two hundredths to 50.60 seconds.

"I've dreamed of breaking this record for so long! I've been chasing this record for so long! And now it's done," cheered the Upper Austrian, who ran into the history books. "Was that really the oldest women's record?" she asked. After answering in the affirmative, she laughed from ear to ear: "And now it's the youngest record!"

Susanne Gogl-Walli

(Bild: Olaf Brockmann)

What's more, the conditions in Zurich that evening were anything but ideal. It had been raining cats and dogs before the meeting. "That's why we warmed up in the stadium's catacombs. But that was okay!" It was still raining during the race, but fortunately not as heavily, as it was still 17.18 degrees. "And at least I didn't feel any headwind, because the wind is well shielded in the Letzigrund."

"Fought to the end!"
Gogl-Walli, who has been one of the most consistent Austrian track and field athletes for years, fought her way to the finish line in 50.60 seconds in the only women's 400 m race of the evening, second behind Norway's Henriette Jäger (50.49) - and to the record. "I fought with all my might until the end, the victory was no longer possible, but of course that didn't matter today."

Of course, she still had her sights set on the record at the end of the long season. But whether she still had enough strength was of course questionable. After all, she had reached the final at the European Championships in the outdoor season and the semi-final at the Games in Paris. She had already beaten Karoline Käfer's age-old record in 50.67 seconds, just five hundredths off the mark. But now the time had finally come: the record had been broken!

(Bild: Olaf Brockmann)

Isabel Posch is also jubilant
"This is so cool, I'm mega-happy," cheered Isabel Posch, who (as in the previous year) won the B-run over 100 m in the preliminary program of the Diamond League. In a slight headwind (-0.5 m/sec), drizzle and rather cool temperatures, she won in 11.56 seconds - a very strong time in these adverse conditions. "I was very excited last year, I just didn't want to finish last!" This year, the student world champion in the heptathlon was calmer and more experienced. "It's so great to run in front of a backdrop like this!" Spurred on by the fans, she ran to another victory in the B heat. Leni Lindner finished third behind Minke Bisschops (NED/11.62) in 11.70 seconds.

Development of the ÖLV record over the 400 meters:

• 53.0 - Maria Sykora - Athens - 18.09.1969
• 52.8 - Maria Sykora - Turin - 04.09.1970
• 52.7 - Maria Sykora - Budapest - 10.06.1972
• 52.82 - Karoline Käfer - Munich - 03.09.1972
• 52.1 - Karoline Käfer - Innsbruck - 29.07.1973
• 52.20 - Karoline Käfer - Rome - 02.09.1974
• 52.14 - Karoline Käfer - Rome - 03.09.1974
• 51.77 - Karoline Käfer - Rome - 04.09.1974
• 51.4 - Karoline Käfer - Budapest - 12.07.1975
• 50.62 - Karoline Käfer - Klagenfurt - 18.06.1977
• 50.60 - Susanne Gogl-Walli - Zurich - 05.09.2024

Women's relay team sixth
Red-White-Red was also represented in Zurich at the end. In the women's 4 x 100 m relay won by Switzerland in 42.55 seconds, Austria finished sixth in 44.88 with Patricia Brunninger, Leni Lindner, Isabel Posch and Viktoria Willhuber.

Ingebrigtsen second
As always, it was one highlight after another in the Letzigrund from an international perspective. World class non-stop. In the eagerly awaited "smash hit" of "World Class" 2024, Jakob Ingebrigtsen was unable to (completely) successfully take revenge for his 1500m defeat in Paris.

The Norwegian, who only came fourth over this distance at the Games, had to settle for second place in Zurich. Behind Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse (USA/3:29.21), he finished in 3:29.52, but ahead of Olympic champion Cole Hocker (USA/3:30.46) - which was of course at least a satisfaction for him, despite his second place in Zurich ...