Cash push Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye and pole vault dominator Armand Duplantis brought a touch of Olympics to Berlin at the IstAF indoor.
The world record did not want to fall, but Armand Duplantis bowed to the 12,100 spectators in Berlin. The pole vault dominator set a big exclamation mark at the beginning of the season. At the ISTAF Indoor, the world champion and Olympic champion won the competition on Friday in his first competition of the year with 6.10 m.
So the Swede output the previous meeting record of 6.06 m, which he had set up in the previous year. Duplantis’ world record of 6.25 m from last August continues to exist: two attempts over 6.27 m failed in the Uber Arena.
“I love jumping here. I have not yet experienced such an atmosphere in the hall. It was a good season opening. At the first competition you always have to shake off some rust,” said Duplantis.
The Greek Emmanouil Karalis (5.94 m) was second behind the superstar. Oleg Zernikel (Landau) and Bo Kanda Lita Baehre (Düsseldorf) took three and four each with 5.70 m. Torben sheet metal (Leverkusen) landed sixth with 5.55 m. The season highlight for Duplantis becomes the World Cup in Tokyo (13th to 21st September).
Ogunleye confirms strong form
Colale bump Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye also confirmed her strong early form in Berlin, she won in the capital with 19.42 m. However, the Mannheim woman remained under her season best of 19.78 m, which she had set up in Düsseldorf last weekend. “At 19.42 m I’m super happy,” said Ogunleye. It is important “that I stabilize the bumps around 19.50 m. I can do that very well. I know that it goes on.”
In the absence of long jump queen Malaika Mihambo, who was missing due to an infection, the Bulgarin Plamena Mitkova (6.85 m) won the competition of women in the “take-off zone” classification. As in Düsseldorf, a 40 centimeter long jump zone in Berlin was tested instead of the classic 20-centimeter beam. Mikaelle Assani (Baden Baden), fourth, was the only German starter to take second place with 6.80 m.
The former 100 m European champion Gina Lückenkemper had to fit over the 60 m of women because of a muscle injury in the thigh. Meanwhile, Rebekka Haase won Lisa Mayer (both Wetzlar) in 7.26 seconds before the same. Alexandra Burghardt (Burghausen) was fourth in 7.31 seconds. The trio had won on the side of Lückenkemper in Paris Olympic bronze. Heiko Gussmann (Wetzlar) won in 6.57 seconds for the men.