Finally athletics with spectators again. Although only 1,500 fans were allowed to attend the 9th ISTAF Indoor in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, they gave their all to cheer on the approximately 70 athletes.
Pole vault star Armand Duplantis (22) thanked him with a meeting record. The Swedish Olympic champion won with 6.03 meters.
At the world record height of 6.19 meters, he just barely failed in his strong flight show.
Bitter, the slat stayed put and then fell down.
Duplantis: “It was so close, but it certainly won’t be the last time I jump in Berlin.”
In his shadow, Oleg Zernikel (26, 3rd place) showed the best German performance. He crossed 5.81 meters – a personal best and the norm for the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade in March.
The entourage that followed Marcell Jacobs (27) in Berlin showed that the first start after his 100m Olympic gold medal in Tokyo was something special.
Two TV crews and ten journalists traveled from Italy just for his sake. As the winner over 60 meters, Jacobs scraped past the meeting record by one hundredth in 6.51 seconds.
Long jump Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo couldn’t cope a day after her 28th birthday. Only in the last attempt did she jump 6.66 meters, in 3rd place. Winner Khaddi Sagnia (Sweden/6.68 m).
Berlin’s Gina Lückenkemper (25/SCC) was only fifth over 60 meters, the British Daryll Neita (25) won in 7.15 seconds. Lückenkemper: “That can still be improved. But okay for the first start.”
The track and field athletes are moving on, on February 20th the ISTAF Indoor will take place in Düsseldorf.