Frankfurt am Main, August 17-19, 1923
The main events of the German Athletics Championships took place in 1923 in Frankfurt am Main. The previous year had shown signs of improvement in performances, but in 1923, results once again plummeted. The reason was clear: the event days were plagued by heavy rain and wind, while Sunday, the final day, was cold. Economic conditions were dire as well; some of the best athletes couldn't attend because the cost of train tickets had risen by 900 percent due to hyperinflation.
Several double winners emerged. Hubert Houben won the 100 and 200 metres for the third consecutive time, though his times of 11.1 and 22.8 weren’t particularly impressive.
The era of independent thinker Otto Peltzer began. He claimed easy victories in the 800 and 1500 metres, though his winning times are hardly worth mentioning.
Heinrich Trossbach, meanwhile, took care of both hurdle events.
The Frankfurt sports equipement retailer Emil Bedarff really picked up speed. He had already set a German record in the 10,000 metres at the championships the previous year. This time, he broke the 5000 metres record with a time of 15:14.2. He also claimed the trophy in the 10,000 metres, racing through thick, muddy clay.
Representing Berlin’s Charlottenburg VfL, Arthur Holz scooped the top prize in the pentathlon. By 1923, both he and Bedarff had managed to bag German championships for five consecutive years apiece – a streak that propelled them to the very top of the record books. Holz secured his titles in the long jump, triathlon, and decathlon, while Bedarff pocketed the silverware in the 5000, 10,000, and the steeplechase.
The championships saw yet another German record. Fritz Wenninger from Stuttgart, a master in all throwing events, heaved the brass ball to a distance of 14.06 metres (46-1).
Medalists (Wikipedia)
Idrottsbladet, 27 August 1923 (in Swedish)