Berlin becomes the athletics capital. After a European Championships in Munich rich in atmosphere, an array of stars from those championships as well as outstanding performers from around the world will come together to compete this Sunday, September 4. Among them are German stars such as Malaika Mihambo, Kristin Pudenz, Julian Weber, Niklas Kaul and Niko Kappel as well an international contingent including Valarie Allman, Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, Tobi Amusan, Noah Lyles, Karsten Warholm and Grant Holloway. ARD’s Channel One will broadcast live from 15:30 to 17:00. The Sportschau Livestream (sportschau.de) will already be on air from 14:20. Television coverage of the ISTAF meeting will go to more than 100 countries.
“In this very special year of athletics, ISTAF is like a spectacular encore with the greatest hits,” said the European Javelin champion Julian Weber, who lives in Berlin and whose opponents on Sunday include the European Decathlon champion Niklas Kaul, his team-mate in the Mainz club in Germany. “To compete at ISTAF as a European champion and enter the stadium together with Niklas and all the other stars and feel the buzz – that’ll give me goosebumps all over again.”
Martin Seeber: “We want to have a wild party of track and field athletics”
The ISTAF organisers expect to welcome over 30,000 fans. “The demand has been huge thanks to the great success of the European Championships,” said meeting director Martin Seeber. “We want to have a wild party of track and field with many outstanding performers and the fans all fired-up. We’re delighted that so many stars of the highest calibre want to compete. Berlin, ISTAF, the Olympic Stadium – that combination is a big draw.”
15 events in a tight, action-packed schedule are in keeping with ISTAF tradition. (See below for details). Fans will have a double treat in the sprint hurdles with the addition of Nigeria’s world record holder Tobi Amusan in the women’s event and the double World champion Grant Holloway of the USA in the men’s. The ISTAF organisers have added a men’s 400m hurdles to the programme which means another athlete with lightning speed in the shape of the Norwegian superstar and Berlin fan Karsten Warholm will be in action for the first time since his triumph at the European Championships.
World Class Long Jump
On the back straight of the stadium the fans will be giving their full support to one of their favourites, Malaika Mihambo. The Olympic and World long jump champion faces world-class opposition such as Ese Brume of Nigeria, second in the World Championships, Jazmin Sawyers, bronze medallist at the European Championships and last year’s event winner at ISTAF as well as the European triple jump champion Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of Ukraine, who can be certain of strong support. Thanks to ISTAF’s main sponsor, SPIELBANK BERLIN, supporter of Germany’s biggest athletics meeting for the past ten years and in honour of this anniversary, 500 refugees, including many from Ukraine, will be guests at ISTAF this year.
Nadine Müller: “It was my greatest Wish to finish my Career at ISTAF”
It will also be an emotional occasion in the discus circle when the European silver medallist Kristin Pudenz from nearby Potsdam along with the Olympic champion Valarie Allman from the USA, the European bronze medallist Claudine Vita and other rivals bid farewell to a longtime rival among the German discus community. Nadine Müller from the SV Halle club will bring to an end her successful career in sport at the age of 36. Her achievements include a World Championship silver and bronze, two European bronze medals and all of six national titles. “It was my greatest wish to finish my career at ISTAF,” said Nadine Müller. “I have so many wonderful memories associated with Berlin. Ninth place at the World Championships here in 2009 was my breakthrough into the world elite. Now I’m going to be rounding the circle in this stadium, in front of these fans. I couldn’t ask for more before I take my first steps into retirement.” The police officer will in future be working at Leipzig airport and she added: “Instead of taking off for my next competition, I’ll just be wishing my former team-mates, “Have a happy flight.”
Alica Schmidt: “ISTAF is a fantastic Conclusion to this very special year of Athletics”
Alica Schmidt from the SCC Berlin club is still in the early stages of her career. The 23-year-old 400m runner will be making her ISTAF debut after a successful season at World and European Championships. “ISTAF is a fantastic conclusion to this very special year of athletics. I’m looking forward so much to Sunday,” said Alica Schmidt, who has a personal best of 52.21, set in 2020 and a season’s best of 52.32. “My aim is to get under 52 seconds for the first time on Sunday – so I’ll going all out for it at ISTAF. It would be fantastic to achieve this in a meeting on my home track.
Gina Lückenkemper targets an ISTAF Record
Alica Schmidt will have plenty of support from the many fans among her friends and family – and also from Gina Lückenkemper. Her clubmate at SCC Berlin, who sensationally won two gold medals at the European Championships in Munich, will not be able to run at ISTAF because of injury. “I wanted so much to compete here but we’ve tried everything and sprinting is out of the question,” said Gina Lückenkemper. The double European champion was never going to give her favourite meeting a miss. “I’ll be among the first into the stadium at 12 o’clock and shall be available to the fans 100% right to the end. I’ve definitely got my eyes on breaking the ISTAF record for signing autographs! Gina Lückenkemper will also be strengthening the meeting’s Social Media Team and will be one of those working on the Instagram channel @istaf_berlin.
15 Events in action-packed Sunday Afternoon
The ISTAF programme this Sunday offers an action-packed schedule of 15 events in one afternoon: Women: 100m, 400m, 5000m, 100m Hurdles, Long Jump, Discus; Men: 100m, 400m, 1500m, 110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, High Jump, Pole Vault, Javelin, Para-Olympic Shot Put. (See also Event Check List).
Timetable: Para-Olympic Shot Put gets Action underway at 13:10
The stadium gates will open at 12 o’ clock. At 12:30 school students will compete for the ISTAF SCHOOLS- CUP. From 13:10 the Para-Olympic shot putters, including Niko Kappel, will be setting their sights on records. The meeting ends at 1700. (See below for a detailed schedule)
Television: ISTAF will be live on ARD’s Channel One, Livestream on the Sportschau and in over 100 Countries
ARD’s Channel One will broadcast ISTAF live on Sunday from 15:30 until 17:00. Prior that, athletics fans can enjoy the drama by watching the Livestream on sportschau.de. ISTAF is also internationally in demand and the meeting will be viewed in more than 100 countries.
Tickets: Seats on the Bends sold out / Stadium Box Office opens at 11:30 on Sunday
The ISTAF organisers expect more than 30,000 spectators. Seats on the East and West bends in the lower tier are almost sold out. Tickets are still available from the Online-Ticketshop at www.tickets.istaf.de and by telephone from the ISTAF Tickethotlne on 030 30 111 86-30.The box office at the Olympic Stadium will open at 11:30.
