Kathrin ULLRICH-WESSEL

Long-distance runner Kathrin Ullrich-Weßel, married to non-Olympian distance runner André Michael Weßel, competed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics for East Germany, finishing fourth in the 10K, and then for reunified Germany at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, in which she was eliminated in the 10K heats. She won a bronze medal at the 1987 World Championships, and a silver medal at the 1990 Europeans, both in the 10K, her best international results. She also won the 1989 World Cup, and the 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1994 European Cups, all in the 10K. Additionally she won the 1996 European Cup 5,000 metres. Her international appearances also included the 1990 International Cross-Country, the 1991 (fourth), 1993 and 1995 Worlds at 10K, the 2001 Worlds in the marathon, and the 1994 Europeans (fourth over 10K).

Domestically Ullrich-Weßel won 12 outdoor and two indoor East German titles, and nine German titles over different distances. During the 1990s she was among the world’s best distance runners. In 1998 she was second at the Köln (Cologne) Marathon and in 2001 third at both the Hamburg and Berlin Marathons. In 2002 and 2003 she won the Regensburg Marathon and in 2004 the Mannheim Marathon, retiring soon thereafter.

Personal Best: 10000 – 31:03.62 (1991).