An impressive quartet: the 4x100m relay team celebrates winning the STAWAG Top Sports Award.

Balancing competitive sports with studies and leisure time is a challenge that not everyone can meet. For the four athletes of the 4x100-meter relay team, however, this balancing act is part of everyday life – driven by their passion for the sport. Queuing up in the cold in front of the university library in the morning to study, giving it their all during training in the hall in the evening: for Marlene, this is exactly what her routine looks like. Sport offers the 21-year-old student an important balance to her everyday student life and has been a part of her life since childhood. She competes for Alemannia Aachen in the 400-meter hurdles at competitions throughout Germany.

Luzie Kunter also trains in the same training group and focuses on the 400-meter hurdles. The business administration student regularly participates in championships and also brought valuable experience to the relay team. She showed fighting spirit on the home stretch and moved up two places on the day of the competition.

Nela, on the other hand, focuses on short distances. Having specialized in the 100 meters for years, she has already gained a wealth of competitive experience with her club. The relay team holds a special appeal for her: in an otherwise highly individualized sport, teamwork is what counts most here.

The quartet is completed by Finja Stupp. The 19-year-old trains at SC Krefeld and is also dedicated to sprinting. She values her club as an important balance to her studies – and as a place where friendships are formed. Although she was only able to rehearse the relay changeovers with the team on the day of the competition, she mastered her task with confidence.

The competition day itself was quite a challenge: first, the individual disciplines were on the agenda, followed by the joint relay start in the evening. With quick transitions, high speed, and great team spirit, the four athletes sprinted to victory and secured the title of German University Champions.

On the evening of the University Sports Show, the four athletes were finally able to accept the Top Sports Award with beaming smiles. The award was presented by STAWAG, a long-standing partner and sponsor of the University Sports Center, which awards the top sports prize every year.

This success was not only recognized with a prize, but will also remain in their memories for a long time as one of the highlights of their athletic careers.