by Alfonz Juck
Marcell Jacobs, 2021 European Indoor 60m champ, 2021 Tokyo 100m gold, 4x100m gold, photo by European Athletics
Mondo Duplantis, Pole vault superstar, 2018 European champion, 2019 WC silver, 2021 European Indoor Champion, 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, photo by British Athletics
Marcell Jacobs and Mondo Duplantis are European superstars. Mondo is a global superstar and Marcell could become one. On the World Indoor Tour, they draw fans, TV and media. Both performed well at the ISTAF Indoor Berlin!
Mondo Duplantis 603 WL, Marcel Jacobs 6.51 EL
BERLIN (GER, Feb 4): Mondo Duplantis highlighted ISTAF Indoor (1500 spectators, WIT Silver) with second attempt clearance at 603 WL. Then he offered two very good attempts at World record height of 619. But also had a scary moment after two failures at 592 followed with an succesful attempt. “These attempts felt good and I realized that it is possible,” said Duplantis about his WR attempts. “I am now at a point of my career where I make small improvements. One week I change my run-up, in the next week I am jumping a bit more aggressive. That way I can improve step by step. I know what to do and that I am in a position to jump higher.” KC Lightfoot was second with 592 and German Oleg Zernikel third with big PB 581. Another top mark of the evening was the first competition of 100 m Olympic winner Marcell Jacobs since his Tokyo appearances. First in heats he clocked 6.57 and then in finals his second best ever and EL 6.51. Clearly beaten Arthur Cisse 6.60 and Jimmy Vicaut 6.61. British sprinter Darryl Neita clocked PB 7.18 in women 60 m heats and in finals another 7.15 PB, this one also an European lead 2022. Khaddi Sagnia leaped to 668 long jump over Merle Homeier 666 indoor PB and Olympic winner Malaika Mihambo also 666 in last round (with 7.48 in 60 m heats). Reetta Hurske won for Finland women hurdles in 7.99 with Olympic medalist Megan Tapper fourth 8.14 (8.06 in heats). French Aurel Manga topped men hurdles in 7.62 ahead Koen Smets 7.676 and Brazilian Rafael Pereira 7.679 (but South American indoor record 7.58 in heats).
