by Deji Ogeyingbo
Crestan, Molnar, and Klaver lead a record-breaking night in Ostrava
The World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Ostrava delivered a night that felt both familiar and freshly historic, as returning champions, rising European stars, and established global leaders rewrote meeting records and shifted the indoor landscape with performances that carried meaning well beyond one arena.
Here are the Top 5 performances from Ostrava.
Eliot Crestan turns the 800m into history
For all the records broken on the night, the performance that truly defined Ostrava came from Eliot Crestan, whose command of the men’s 800m produced one of the greatest indoor races ever witnessed. The contest unfolded with unusual calm as the pacemaker guided the field through halfway in 51.04, and the runners settled into a single file, allowing the quality of the field to breathe rather than collide. When Poland’s Maciej Wyderka surged to the front entering the final lap, Crestan waited, measured, and ready, before gliding past with the confidence of an athlete at the peak of his powers. His 1:43.83 not only shattered his own meeting record but carried him to fourth on the world short track all-time list, with the depth of the race underscored by multiple national records and best-ever marks for finishing position in what became the fastest indoor 800m in history.
Attila Molnar rewrites the European 400m standard
The men’s 400m belonged to Attila Molnar, who delivered a performance built on rhythm, control, and absolute clarity of purpose. From the opening strides, Molnar established himself at the front, passing halfway in 21.45 and maintaining his composure as Jonas Phijffers kept the pressure on throughout. There was no panic in the closing metres, as Molnar crossed the line in 45.01 to set a new European short track record and improve his own meeting mark. The run felt like the natural next step for an athlete who has grown into his status as Europe’s indoor benchmark, and it reinforced that his ceiling continues to rise with each season.
Birke Haylom sets the tone in the women’s 1500m
In the women’s 1500m, Birke Haylom produced a race that blended authority with restraint, leading from the front and refusing to relinquish control even as the pace and pressure increased. Haylom committed to the tempo early and carried it with composure, responding smoothly when compatriot Saron Berhe began to close in the final stages. Her winning time of 4:00.62 delivered both a world lead and a meeting record, while Berhe’s close second hinted at historic potential of her own.
Mattia Furlani wins a Long Jump duel of champions
The men’s long jump became one of the most engaging field contests of the meeting, and Mattia Furlani emerged as its central figure through timing and resilience. Early momentum swung between Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Saraboyukov and Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou, with each round reshaping the competition’s narrative. Furlani remained consistently in contention, matching Saraboyukov’s 8.21m before responding decisively in the fifth round with a leap of 8.30m that set a meeting record and secured victory.
Lieke Klaver keeps her Ostrava love affair alive
The women’s 400m offered another reminder of Lieke Klaver’s affinity with Ostrava, as she delivered a world-leading performance that felt both efficient and assertive. Klaver controlled the race from the start, running with fluency through the bends and strength down the home straight to stop the clock at 51.00. The quality behind her, including personal bests and national records, elevated the race further and reinforced the sense that Klaver’s consistency indoors remains one of her defining strengths.
