Six athletes represented Switzerland at the Masters Indoor World Championships in Gainesville (USA). Margaritha Dähler-Stettler confirmed her dominance of the W75 category with five medals, and numerous Swiss and personal records were broken.
Thomas Marder (Photo: Caroline Abney)
A small delegation represented the country on the international stage. The Florida alligators only had to confront six Swiss athletes in the highly competitive and well-organized competition.
In the W75 category, Margaritha Dähler-Stettler (GG Bern) took gold in the pentathlon (2414 pts) and 60m hurdles (15″24), and silver in the long jump (2m89), triple jump (6m29) and hammer throw (35m43). Superb results, which consolidates her domination of the category. She also finished 4th in the 60m in 11″80.
In the M65 category, Stephan Zulauf (LV Wettingen-Baden) reached the semi-finals of both the 200m in 29“26 and the 400m in 66”99.
In the M60 category, Thomas Marder (LC Zurich) also reached the semi-finals, beating the Swiss record in both the 200m in 26“98 and the 400m in 60”33. Jean-Pierre Pahud (FSG Saint-Cierges) finished 6th in the long jump with a leap of 4m88, and Matthias Kieliger (Swiss Masters Running) finished the 10km in 15th place in 52’18″07.
Finally, in the M40 category, Greg Zwygart (STB Leichtathletik) reached the semi-finals of the 60m with a new personal best of 7“48. Unfortunately he didn’t manage to make it past the heats of the 200m, despite a personal best of 7”48.
The Masters season will continue on September 20 in Bellinzona at the Swiss Championships and from October 8 to 19 in Madeira (POR) at the European Championships, to which more Swiss athletes will be traveling.