European Athletics (EAA) – News – Uliczka aiming to put German distance running back on the map

German steeplechaser Steffen Uliczka has come of age on the track this year, with him making the final of the European Athletics Championships 3000m steeplechase and finishing seventh in a personal best of 8:25.29.

Now the 26-year-old from Preetz wants to make big strides forward at cross country.

He has competed five times before at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, but has never finished higher than last year’s finish in 19th place but at this year’s event – in Albufeira, Portugal, on 12 December – could see him do better than before.

In an interview with the German athletics federation website www.leichtathletik.de Uliczka talks about his hopes for this winter and beyond.

Q: You won the Darmstädt cross country race on Sunday (by over 40 seconds), how did you feel?

A: I thought it would be a bit more testing and that the field would stay together longer. However, I was running my own race and I was not watching what the others were doing. For me, everything was perfect. I was in good shape. The pace was okay, I could run steadily and did not have to go to my limits. I'm looking at ahead at other races so I could save a bit of strength. However, winning this competition also helps build my self-confidence.

Q: What are your plans for the rest of the season?

A: I will run next weekend in the Dutch city of Tilburg (the European Athletics Cross Country Permit Race on Sunday), that's another qualifier for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. As that is an international competition, this will be a different race, then I know where I stand. However, in training and in the Darmstädt race, everything went according to the plan, I am satisfied.

Q: Are you planning to run indoors this winter?

A: There will be one or two indoor races, but my focus is on cross. My goal this winter is the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Albufeira.

Q: What’s your goal there?

A: I will definitely do as well as my result from 2009. (when Uliczka was 19th). I'm certainly no worse than I was a year ago. I want to continue being in the top 20, it'll be a good argument for me to compete at the World Cross Country Championships.

Q: The 2011 World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, are also a target?

A: Absolutely. The two world championships (cross country and on the track) match better, as the championships in the track events take place later in the year. Therefore, the timing for the World Cross Country Championships on March 20 is OK. I finally want to do them.

Q: How do you assess the state of German men’s long distance running at the moment?

A: It was very sad that I had no competition in Därmstadt. It was unfortunate that the field was not stronger. To have Arne (Gabius) would have been better. The lack of long-distance runners was quickly obvious. Of course, there some that are injured or sick but now it remains to be seen how the athletes who are currently in the under 23 category develop and what will happen from there.

(The full interview in German can be read here:

https://www.leichtathletik.de/index.php?NavID=1&SiteID=28&NewsID=30353)

European Athletics (EAA) – News