Top performances, excitement, enthusiastic fans: the sixth ISTAF INDOOR in Düsseldorf once again showcased the fascination of athletics. On Saturday, the 7,600 spectators at the PSD BANK DOME celebrated the victory of German Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye, the successes of the two lightning-fast Brits Jeremiah Azu (indoor world champion) and Jonnie Peacock (two-time Paralympic champion), hurdles triumphator Enrique Llopis (Spain), Dutch pole vault high-flyer Menno Vloon, and many more…
With a beaming smile on her face, Yemisi Ogunleye (MTG Mannheim) left the shot put circle on Saturday evening at ISTAF INDOOR in Düsseldorf. The Olympic champion had thrown her shot 18.78 metres, repeating her victory from last year. Only one shot putter worldwide had performed better indoors so far this year. In an exciting final, Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jamaica), who leads the world rankings this year with 19.00 metres, and Fanny Roos (Sweden; 18.52 m) were unable to match the Olympic champion. ‘It was important to get back into the swing of competition. The atmosphere was great again, it’s really fun to compete here,’ said Yemisi Ogunleye.
Long jump victory for U23 European champion Ramona Verman – Malaika Mihambo comes third
Germany’s ‘long jump queen’ almost did it again. In her sixth attempt, Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo (LG Kurpfalz) flew far at the ISTAF INDOOR in Düsseldorf on Saturday evening. The scoreboard showed 6.56 metres in the 31-year-old’s first competition of this indoor season. The vice world champion thus missed her fifth victory in her sixth start in Düsseldorf by only three centimetres. That went to U23 European champion Ramona Verman (Romania: 6.59 m), with second place going to the experienced Swedish athlete Khaddi Sagnia, who jumped 6.56 metres, the same distance as Malaika Miahmbo. Imke Daalmann (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen) and Libby Buder (TSG Bergedorf) finished fourth and fifth with the same distance of 6.49 metres. This was a new indoor personal best for both of them.
“I haven’t been feeling quite fit over the last few days. That’s why my expectations weren’t particularly high today, so I’m reasonably satisfied. Nevertheless, it’s a shame that I made technical mistakes. I definitely could have done better today. That’s always a shame. But that’s the way it is. It’s part of sport,” said Malaika Mihambo, assessing her first competition of the year, which she had been unable to prepare for properly due to an infection.
The sprint king showed his class in the 60-metre final: indoor world and European champion Jeremiah Azu pulled away from the competition and ran to his second victory after 2023 at the ISTAF INDOOR in Düsseldorf with a season’s best time of 6.53 seconds. In his slipstream, Yannick Wolf (Munich Athletics) set his personal best with 6.60 seconds, making him the fastest German. Close behind were Fola Olaoye (Nigeria; 6.60 seconds) and Joshua Hartmann from Cologne (6.62 seconds).
Indoor world champion Jeremiah Azu sprints away from everyone over 60 metres
‘I really enjoy coming to Düsseldorf, it’s my favourite indoor meeting. When I’m healthy, I always run good times here. It feels great to be back on the track, in top form and running fast,’ said the Briton after his second victory at the PSD BANK DOME. Yannick Wolf took second place as motivation for even bigger goals: ‘The final was much better than the preliminary round. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t break the 6.60-second mark, but I think I’ll still manage it this season. The atmosphere was incredible today. When everything goes dark and the spotlights are on you, it’s just great.’
The top favourite also won the women’s race. Jonielle Smith (Jamaica) ran to victory in 7.15 seconds on her ISTAF debut. Second place was decided by one hundredth of a second. Jolina Ernst (TV Wattenscheid) secured it with a new personal best of 7.30 seconds ahead of Geraldine Di Tizio Frey (Switzerland; 7.31 seconds) and World Championship relay bronze medallist Sina Mayer (LAZ Zweibrücken; 7.35 seconds). ‘This is my first indoor season in Europe, and I think it’s great. I felt like I had an even faster time in my legs,’ said the 2019 World Championship relay champion. ‘This was my first time competing at ISTAF INDOOR. I went into the race feeling very relaxed and had set myself the goal of running a good race. But I didn’t expect to achieve a personal best; the atmosphere carried me to the finish line,’ said the Wattenscheid athlete after her fast debut.
Evonne Britton from Ghana sets national record in the 60 metres hurdles
‘Thank you, Düsseldorf!’ Evonne Britton cheered into the microphone after her victory in the 60-metre hurdles. With a time of 7.99 seconds, she became the first sprinter from Ghana to break the eight-second barrier. In an exciting final, the 34-year-old narrowly took the lead. Reetta Hurske (Finland; 8.02 seconds) and last year’s winner Rosina Schneider (TV Sulz), who improved her season’s best to 8.06 seconds, followed in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it final. Fourth and fifth places went to the Leverkusen duo Marlene Meier (8.11 seconds) and Franziska Schuster (8.14 seconds). ‘The atmosphere today was incredible! My family and friends were there too, which made me even happier. I’m very happy with third place, but I also know that I can still improve technically and that I definitely have room for improvement in the next races,’ said Rosina Schneider.
Enrique Llopis clocked a world-class time in the 60 metres hurdles. The Olympic fourth-place finisher from Spain stormed to victory in the final with a time of 7.50 seconds. He missed his own national record by just two hundredths of a second. Asier Martinez completed the ‘Spanish double’ in Düsseldorf. The 2022 European champion followed in 7.59 seconds. Tim Eikermann (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen) was the best German hurdler, finishing sixth in 8.00 seconds. The Leverkusen athlete had been slightly faster in the preliminary round with a time of 7.91 seconds.
‘This time is excellent for January. I love this meeting, it’s fantastic. I’ve run here before and hope to come back again. I want to set a new Spanish record by the end of the indoor season,’ said winner Enrique Llopis. Tim Eikermann was also satisfied. ‘The race was great fun. I’ve been struggling with foot and calf problems for two and a half weeks. Unfortunately, they became more noticeable before the final than I had hoped. But the event is great! I really enjoyed being here in the final.’
Menno Vloon wins thrilling pole vault competition
The pole vaulters once again fascinated fans in Düsseldorf with their athletic and technical skills. Menno Vloon was the best high jumper. The Dutchman catapulted himself over 5.75 metres to the sound of pulsating techno beats. Even two-time world champion Sam Kendricks (USA) couldn’t keep up. He finished second with 5.70 metres. Local heroes Torben Blech (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen; 5.55 m) and Bo Kanda Lita Baehre (Düsseldorf Athletics; 5.45 m) finished fourth and seventh.
In the T62/64 class 60-metre para sprint (lower leg amputee athletes), Britain’s Jonnie Peacock kicked into turbo mode in the second half of the race. The 2012 and 2016 Paralympic champion overtook 2024 Paralympic champion Sherman Guity-Guity (Costa Rica) shortly before the finish line of the 60-metre race and celebrated his first victory at ISTAF INDOOR in 7.15 seconds. Guity-Guity followed eight hundredths of a second behind. Third place went to 400-metre specialist Johannes Floors (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen) with a time of 7.40 seconds. ‘That was my first race at professional level in five years. The atmosphere was great and I am grateful that ISTAF invited me. The organisers are doing a fantastic job for para-sport. It would be great if I could run at ISTAF in the Olympic Stadium in the summer,’ said Jonnie Peacock after his sprint coup.
Hendrik Wüst (CDU) was among the 7,600 spectators at the PSD BANK DOME. The Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia not only honoured the best young athletes in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2025, but also promoted the ‘KölnRheinRuhr’ Olympic bid for 2036, 2040 or 2044. The spectators at the PSD BANK DOME on Saturday evening demonstrated in impressive fashion just how enthusiastic sports fans in North Rhine-Westphalia can be.
Many thanks to the 7,600 fans here in Düsseldorf. The special atmosphere at ISTAF INDOOR spread from the stands to the athletes and motivated them once again. As a result, we saw numerous great performances for this early stage of the season. It was another successful event and we are delighted to be coming back to Düsseldorf and the PSD BANK DOME with ISTAF INDOOR for at least the next three years,” said meeting director Martin Seeber, summing up the event.
There was more positive news in the run-up to ISTAF INDOOR. The athletics spectacle will continue to take place at the PSD BANK DOME for the next three years, remaining an important fixture in both Düsseldorf’s sporting calendar and the indoor season for national and international stars. ‘ISTAF INDOOR has established itself in our city. That’s why the three-year extension until 2029 is an absolutely logical and welcome step,’ said Düsseldorf’s City Director Burkhard Hintzsche.
The next ISTAF INDOOR Düsseldorf will take place on 13 February 2027.
Anyone who wants to watch the next athletics spectacle live at the PSD BANK DOME can already secure the best tickets. ISTAF INDOOR Düsseldorf will take place next year on 13 February 2027. In just under six weeks, ISTAF INDOOR will be on the programme at the UBER ARENA in Berlin. Tickets are available at www.istaf-indoor.de.
