Covered athletics festival on Friday: The top track and field athletes meet in the Uber Arena. In addition to German Olympic champions, there are also some Berlin talents there. Eight disciplines, strong duels – the most important information at a glance.
- ISTAF Indoor on March 6th with eight athletics disciplines in Berlin
- Among those taking part are long jumper Malaika Mihambo and Olympic shot put champion Yemisi Ogunleye
- Uber Arena not sold out yet
The best Germans from athletics against the top athletes in the world, that is the motto and self-image of the International Stadium Festival, or ISTAF for short, which is celebrating its 13th indoor edition on Friday. The most important questions and answers about the athletics meeting.
Which disciplines can be seen?
The track and field athletes compete in eight disciplines: 60 meters (women/men), 60 meters para (men), 60 meter hurdles (women/men), long jump (women), shot put (women) and pole vault (men).
Which stars are there?
Malaika Mihambo is aiming for her sixth victory in her seventh appearance at the Berlin Indoor ISTAF. In 2022 she was trumped by the Swede Khaddi Sagna, who will also be there on Friday. The German 2020 Olympic champion will also duel with the multiple French indoor and outdoor champion Hilary Kpatcha.
German shot put champion: Yemisi Ogunleye (Imago)
Shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye is another German Olympic champion: the Palatinate woman won gold in Paris in 2024. Just at the weekend she won the German championship in Dortmund with the longest throw of her career (20.37m). In Berlin she will compete, among others, with the reigning world champion Jessica Schilder (Netherlands).
Jeremiah Azu is currently the measure of all things over the distance of 60 meters. The Welshman won gold at the World and European Indoor Championships, both with a time of 6.49 seconds.
The reigning 100 meter hurdles world champion Ditaji Kambundji (Switzerland) and the two-time European champion Nadine Visser (Netherlands) will be competing in the 60 meter hurdles.
Which local heroine is the focus on?
Philina Schwartz, who is only 19 years old, is currently the fastest German 60-meter sprinter in the Uber Arena. With a time of 7.17 seconds, the short-distance specialist from the Berlin Athletics has already mastered the standard for the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, as the only German to date. In Berlin she will meet the American Maia McCoy, who won the ISTAF in the Olympic Stadium last year ahead of Gina Lückekemper.
In addition to Schwartz, other athletes from Berlin will be competing in the 60 meters: Lisa Marie Kwayie (Neuköllner Sportfreunde) and Delisha Benelisa Domingos (TuS Lichterfelde).
What is the schedule?
The arena opens its doors at 4 p.m. First, students compete in sprints, and there is also the wheelchair speed race competition. The professionals start the competitions at 5:35 p.m. (60m hurdles women’s preliminary heat 1), and the last competition takes place at 9:10 p.m. (women’s shot put). The winners of the day will be honored at 10:20 p.m.
Are there still tickets?
Tickets are still available in almost all ticket categories. The cheapest tickets in price category five in the upper tier cost 24.60 euros (reduced 19.80 euros). ZDF will broadcast the athletics meeting on Friday evening from 6:15 p.m. in a live stream on zdf.de.
Broadcast: rbb|24, March 3, 2026, 6:00 a.m
