byStuart Weir
Cisse takes Men’s 60m in ISTAF Dűsseldorf, photo via TV by Stuart Weir
Visser takes Women’s 60m H in ISTAF Dűsseldorf, photo via TV by Stuart Weir
In his 3/3 on the 2021 ISTAF Dűsseldorf, Stuart Weir, our European correspondent, tells us about how the sprints made the 2021 ISTAF Dűsseldorf meeting. Next 2021 ISTAF meeting is the 2021 ISTAF Berlin meeting, to be held on Friday, Feb. 5!
ISTAF Dűsseldorf – the sprints
With no track round the arena the only races in the ISTAF Dűsseldorf Indoor Meeting were over 60m. Dina-Asher Smith took the women’s 60m. Six of the nine runners in men’s 60 were German – along with an African , an American and a Dutchman. Ivory Coast’s Arthur Cissé, who was just 0.01 off his PR, won with 6.54. Germany’s Kevin Kranz was second with 6.61 with 4 other Germans behind him. Elijah Hall, the solitary American, did not reach the final.
Cisse takes Men’s 60m in ISTAF Dűsseldorf, photo via TV by Stuart Weir
Cissé commented: “I am delighted. That was a great start to the season. The race wasn’t perfect but I’m sure I can improve. I would like to thank the organizers for all their efforts to give the athletes a chance to run. I think I’m strongest indoors and I have races in Berlin and Lievin to come. I will be targeting the 6.40s”.
Visser takes Women’s 60m H in ISTAF Dűsseldorf, photo via TV by Stuart Weir
Netherlands’ Nadine Visser won the women’s 60m hurdles in 8.00 from Alina Talay of Belarus with 8.01 in an all European field. Visser, the 2019 European Indoor Champion and the 2018 World Bronze medallist, said afterwards: “It’s always good to win races so this victory has a big significance for me but I am not happy about the race or the time because two days ago I ran 7.96. I have been training in Arnhem (Dutch Olympic center) and Stellenbosch in South Africa. My main focus is to get better and better for the European Indoor Championships”.
Damian Czykier, at the moment he had won the 60m h! photo via TV by Stuart Weir
Poland’s Damian Czykier and the USA’s Aaron Mallett both ran 7.64 in the men’s final, with Czykier, after a long wait, getting confirmation of the win, Czykier said: “it is so great that I ran such a fast time. While it was a photo-finish I was almost sure about my victory. Having the athletes enter to lights and fire created a really good atmosphere, even without spectators. My time needs to improve as it was a race with a lot of mistakes. I know I am in good shape. The European Indoor Championships in Torun, on home soil, would have been the most important competition of the year for me had spectators being able to attend. But that is not possible”.
It was a great effort by the organizers, involving some 800 Covid tests. Part two of the ISTAF takes place on Friday in Berlin.
