Ines Bibernell

Ines Bibernell (née Obst; born 21 July 1965 in Querfurt, Bezirk Halle) is a former East German female track and field athlete who competed in middle- and long-distance track events. She was a gold medallist at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 1986.

Bibernell at the 1986 East German Indoor Championships

A member of the SC Chemie Halle athletics club, the Querfurt-born athlete came to prominence in the 1985 season. The teenager won a 1500 metres/3000 metres double at the East German Indoor Championships before going on to take a 3000 m/10,000 metres double at the East German Athletics Championships outdoors.[1][2] Her first major international appearances came that year in the 10,000 m and she was runner-up at the 1985 European Cup and placed fourth at the 1985 IAAF World Cup.[3][4]

At the start of 1986, she defended her national indoor title over 3000 m and set an under-23 indoor world best for the 2-mile run,[1] finishing in a time of 9:34.27 minutes in New York City.[5] This remains the German national record for that event.[6] The greatest feat of her career came that February, as she won the gold medal over 3000 m at the 1986 European Athletics Indoor Championships – the only East German woman ever to win that title.[7] After this victory she won a 1500/3000 m double at the national outdoor championships.[2] A third straight East German indoor 3000 m title came in 1987, but this was the last high level achievement of her briefly flourishing career.[1]