It was a weekend of surprises at the European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven on 12-13 April. Among them was Eva Dieterich of Germany who won silver in the women’s 10km.
It was the first international medal for the 26-year-old, whose previous best results had been sixth over 10,000m at the Tallinn 2021 European Athletics U23 Championships and 10th in the women’s U23 race at the Dublin 2021 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.
But in the exuberant atmosphere in Leuven on Sunday (13), the German, who plays musical instruments, hit the all the right notes and delivered the performance of her career.
As the opposition melted away behind the charging Italian Nadia Battocletti, who was heading her fourth European title on three surfaces, Dieterich maintained a solid pace.
Ninth at the 5km point and seemingly out of medal contention, she gained ground on the undulating course in the second half and finished strongly for a surprise silver with 31:25, 15 seconds behind Battocletti and one second ahead of European leader Klara Lukan of Slovenia, who took bronze.
European 10,000m Cup and Tokyo in her sights
“I didn't think I could make the podium, maybe top 10 or 15?” she admitted afterwards. “But I think I come from a very hilly area, so I'm used to hill, so I think that was good for me.
“I knew that the first half was a bit easier because we're downhill. So, the plan was to go easy in first just find your place and then push in the second half.”
As she began to catch athletes, it inspired her to up the pace. “I saw that they were getting closer and closer to me, so that gave me a push to go faster.”
The Tübingen-based runner is now looking towards defending her 10,000m title at the German Long Distance Championships in Hamburg on 3 May.
Beyond that, she is targeting the European 10,000m Cup in Pacé, France on 24 May and qualification for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. She is also considering making her marathon debut at the end of the year, possibly in Berlin.
Hitting the right notes
Dieterich has put her law degree at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen on hold for now. “I'm a law student,” she says. “I (have) postponed my academics for now, but the plan is to do the state exam in the next couple of years and then, after my running career, I want to work as a lawyer.”
The multi-talented German also has an interest in music and has played within an orchestra. “I have played violin and piano all my life,” she says.
But for now, she has found her running rhythm and will be hoping her success at the European Running Championships sets the tone for the season ahead.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics