The all-around athlete from Ulm, Manuel Eitel, is in third place after four of seven disciplines. Malaika Mihambo confidently reached the long jump final.
In the high jump at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul on Saturday (March 4th, 2023), Eitel jumped 25 centimeters over his height of 1.76 meters. The Norwegian Sander Skotheim is surprisingly in the lead after day one ahead of the decathlon world record holder Kevin Mayer.
The Swiss top favorite Simon Ehammer is no longer in the medal race. The decision will be made in the all-around on Sunday.
Wittmann seventh in the long jump
Kira Wittmann achieved the best result from the point of view of the German Athletics Association with seventh place in the triple jump. Turkey’s Tugba Danismaz won.
Over 800 meters, Majtie Kolberg (23) qualified fifth for the final with another personal best time of 2:01.49 minutes. There were favorites over 400 meters on Saturday in the Ataköy Athletics Arena. Olympic hurdles champion Karsten Warholm (Norway) was the fastest in 45.35 seconds, three-time Munich European champion Femke Bol (Netherlands) won in 49.85.
Olympic champion Jacobs beaten in sprint
100m Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs had to settle for the silver medal. The Italian title holder was defeated by his compatriot Samuele Cecccarelli in the 60m final on Saturday, the two Italians achieved a double in 6.48 and 6.50 seconds. Bronze went to Sweden’s Henrik Larsson (6.53).
Mihambo with best performance of the season in the long jump final
Malaika Mihambo landed in the long jump qualification at 6.87 meters. That meant second place behind outdoor European champion Ivana Vuleta from Serbia. The three-time European indoor champion jumped 6.98 meters. The long jump medals will be awarded in the Turkish metropolis on Sunday evening. Mihambo, who has won every title in outdoor competitions, is aiming for her first indoor gold.
The 20-year-old Mikaelle Assani was 13th in the long jump with 6.38 meters and tasted the atmosphere of a title fight. But it wasn’t enough for the final. Maryse Luzolo (27) had to forego a start due to muscular problems.
Pole vaulter sovereign in the final
After one gold medal by Hanna Klein over 3,000 meters and a total of four medals on Friday evening, Mihambo & Co. raised hopes of further top placings. The Leverkusen pole vaulter Torben Blech reached the final with 5.75 meters as second in the qualification, as did his teammate Bo Kanda Lita Baehre with 5.65 meters.
In a choppy competition with many stoppages, he received a yellow card after throwing the crossbar on the mat after an invalid try. The fight for the title will be exciting as the Swedish world record holder Mondo Duplantis does not compete.
Sam Parsons strong over 3,000 meters
Sam Parsons, who competes for SCC Berlin, qualified safely for the final over 3,000 meters in the shadow of 1,500 meter winner Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway.