Hagen Melzer
Encyclopedia
Hagen Melzer is a former (East) German middle and long distance runner who specialized in the 3000 m steeplechase.
He won the gold medal at the 1986 European Championships
in Stuttgart. A year later he won the silver medal at the 1987 World Championships
in Rome, where he set a national record at 8:10.32 minutes. This remained his career best time, and places him second on the German all-time performers list behind Damian Kallabis
, who ran in 8:09.48 minutes in 1999. At the Olympic Games he finished tenth in 1988 and did not reach the final in 1992.
Melzer won seven East German national titles, in 1980, 1983 and the years 1985-1989. He represented the sports clubs SC Einheit Dresden and, after the German reunification
, Dresdner SC
. He won the German title in 1991 for his new club.
He won the gold medal at the 1986 European Championships
1986 European Championships in Athletics
The 14th European Athletics Championships were held from 26 to 31 August 1986 at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart, a city in West Germany.-Track:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Field:1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994-Track:...
in Stuttgart. A year later he won the silver medal at the 1987 World Championships
1987 World Championships in Athletics
The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
in Rome, where he set a national record at 8:10.32 minutes. This remained his career best time, and places him second on the German all-time performers list behind Damian Kallabis
Damian Kallabis
Damian Kallabis is a retired German runner who specialized in the 3000 metres steeplechase.In 1997 his personal best time was 8:37.35 minutes. The next year he sensationally won the European Championships, lowering his personal best time to 8:13.10 minutes...
, who ran in 8:09.48 minutes in 1999. At the Olympic Games he finished tenth in 1988 and did not reach the final in 1992.
Melzer won seven East German national titles, in 1980, 1983 and the years 1985-1989. He represented the sports clubs SC Einheit Dresden and, after the German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
, Dresdner SC
Dresdner SC
Dresdner SC is a German multisport club playing in Dresden, Saxony. Founded on 30 April 1898, the club was a founding member of the German Football Association in 1900...
. He won the German title in 1991 for his new club.