Germany welcomes 5 new champions, Menz wins the triple

Katharina Menz won her third consecutive national title today U48kg. The German lightweight from TSG Backnang defeated Mira Ulrich today in the final in Hamburg and won her third title in a row. Also Carolin Weiss prolonged her title in the heavyweight class. The heavyweight of Berlin overcame Kristin Buessow as last year’s finalist Franziska Konitz fights in Cuba on Sunday.

The German Championships are much weaker this edition due to the early Grand Prix in Havana where 18 of the top athletes are present and Mareen Kraeh won the gold U52kg. It gives space though for the second generation where Dino Pfeiffer won his fourth title U100kg after his silver last year. Now Domenik Schönefeldt was his opponent today.

Outside those three five new champions were crowned in the Northern harbor city. Sven Heinle was clearly the favourite O100kg and the judoka from SV Fellbach took the title.

Joerg Onufriev captured the title in the lightweight division for the first time. U66kg it was Steffen Hoffmann who took the first national title, both athletes are 22, the same age as Carolin Weiss and Maike Ziech who won the title in the women’s division U78kg. Ziech defeated Barbara Bandel.

The youngest winner on Saturday was Ines Beischmidt who collected her first senior title, the 20-year old defeated Nieke Nordmeyer. Recently Beischmidt also won the German Cup.