Germany

Suspect sprinting results

Germany also began to catch on to the athletics plot after a ten-year suspension. Most of the credit for that went to coach Josef Waitzer, whom the German Athletics Federation hired in 1925. 

Düsseldorfer Sportclub's Richard Corts sprinted the straight distance in 10.4, experienced Hubert Houben of Bochum came second (10.5) surprisingly, and Georg Lammers third (10.5). Additionally, Ernst Geerling from Frankfurt dashed 10.4 in other competitions in July. However, the results were doubted from the beginning and were never officially accepted as records.

Forthcoming Amsterdam bronze medallist Helmut Körnig of SCC Berlin surged to victory in the 200 with 21.6. Like his transatlantic colleague, Charley Paddock, Körnig also had some peculiar habits. He never competed in a new jersey because he believed he would surely lose with such gear. 

Another Amsterdam bronze medallist Hermann Engelhard of  SC Teutonia 99 Berlin unleashed a lightning burst down the back straight and won the 800 with a relatively strong time of 1:52.4. Stettin's Otto Peltzer didn't impress. He missed out on medals in both the 800 and 1500. He was selected for the Olympics based on past performances.

The German Platter Takes Wing 

SV Hindenburg Allenstein's Emil Hirschfeld propelled the shot to a world record of 15.79 (51-9¾) in Breslau earlier this spring. At the German championships, the Sergeant contentedly settled for a put of 15.46 (50-8½)—a performance more than ample to secure a comfortable victory.

Germany fielded a world-class pair in the discus circle. Wetzlar's Ernst Paulus sent the platter to victory in Düsseldorf with 47.35 (155-4), the sixth longest arc of the 1928 season. More than a metre behind followed Münster's Hans Hoffmeister, who nevertheless settled the score a few days later by flinging the implement 48.77 (160-0) at Gelsenkirchen; this feat, however, failed to gain official recognition as a world record. For reasons unknown, the German pair suffered a dismal collapse at Amsterdam. “Superb physical attributes, excellent style, but shattered nerves,” observed the Finnish throwers when weighing up Paulus’s qualities in a Finnish sports journal earlier this spring.

Results

• Medallists (Wikipedia)  

Newspaper Stories

• Helsingin Sanomat, July 17, 1928 (in Finnish)

• Hufvudstadsbladet, July 18, 1928  (in Swedish)

Radio

• Langenberg, July 15, at 1700-2100