Istaf Indoor 2023: A Star-Studded Event with New Additions and Notable Absences
The prestigious Istaf Indoor track and field event has added women’s shot put to its program for the first time, following the Olympic triumph of Yemisi Ogunleye. The 26-year-old Paris gold medalist aims to approach the 20-meter mark in the sold-out Berlin Über Arena, which will host approximately 12,000 spectators on Friday.
"Performing in front of such a large audience brings sheer joy and provides immense motivation for us athletes," remarked Ogunleye, who hails from Mannheim. Eight disciplines await participants in this year’s event.
Duplantis Targets New Heights
Pole vault Olympic champion Armand Duplantis sets his sights on a new meeting record. The Swedish athlete currently holds the record at 6.06 meters.
"The atmosphere in the arena is electrifying, and it fuels our energy," expressed Duplantis. "A meeting record is my goal. I’m feeling confident and eager to showcase an exceptional performance." For the 25-year-old world champion and world record holder, Istaf marks his first competition of the year.
Injuries and Absences
Two notable stars, Gina Lückenkemper and Malaika Mihambo, will be absent from this year’s event due to injuries and illness, respectively. Lückenkemper, a former European 100-meter champion, has prematurely ended her indoor season owing to a muscle injury in her right thigh.
Mihambo, the two-time world champion in long jump, has withdrawn at short notice because of an infection. She recently triumphed at the meetings in Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Karlsruhe, where she set a world-leading mark of 7.07 meters.
Technical Innovations
Following its debut in Düsseldorf, athletes will once again jump from a designated take-off zone rather than the traditional jumping bar at the Berlin event.
Other Highlights
The Istaf Indoor program boasts an impressive lineup, including:
- Women’s 60-meter dash: featuring European indoor champion Ajla Del Ponte and Olympic medalist Mujinga Kambundji
- Men’s 60-meter hurdles: headlined by world silver medalist Grant Holloway and European champion Andrew Pozzi
- Women’s 800-meter run: featuring Olympic medalist Kate Grace and European champion Keely Hodgkinson
- Men’s triple jump: featuring Olympic medalist Hugues Fabrice Zango and world champion Lázaro Martínez
The Istaf Indoor 2023 promises a thrilling spectacle for track and field enthusiasts, showcasing the talents of world-renowned athletes and the passion that drives them.
