Germany to send young team of 12 to Portland

The German Athletics Federation (DLV) has named a young team of 12 athletes for the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016.

Five of the 12 athletes – including world long jump leader Alexandra Wester – will be making their senior global championships debut when they compete in Portland on 17-20 March.

Pole vaulter Silke Spiegelburg is the most experienced member of the team. The 29-year-old will be competing at her fourth World Indoor Championships, having made the final in 2006, 2012 and 2014.

Sprinter Chantal Butzek is the youngest team member. Along with triple jumper Max Hess, Butzek is one of two 19-year-olds on the team.

Raphael Holzdeppe, the 2013 world pole vault champion, had intended on competing in Portland, but he twisted his ankle at last weekend’s German Indoor Championships and will now be out of action for several weeks.

World heptathlon leader Kai Kazmirek was also hoping to compete in Portland before he broke his hand. Germany will now be represented in that event by Mathias Brugger, who is currently fourth on the 2016 world list.

DLV 

German team for Portland

MEN
60m hurdles: Martin Vogel
Pole vault: Carlo Paech
Triple jump: Max Hess
Shot put: Tobias Dahm
Heptathlon: Mathias Brugger

WOMEN
60m: Tatjana Pinto, Chantal Butzek
800m: Christina Hering
Pole vault: Silke Spiegelburg
Long jump: Alexandra Wester
Triple jump: Kristin Gierisch
Shot put: Lena Urbaniak