by Larry Eder
The excitement of the Meeting Madrid
Early in February, this writer spent a week in lovely Madrid, Spain. That week accomplished several things. It gave me a week to spend with my girlfriend in a new country, a break after covering the Dubai Marathon, and the opportunity to cover the #MeetingMadridIndoor.
Foto propiedad Sportmedia para la Real Federación Española de atletismo. Licencia de uso libre editorial. Para uso comercial contactar con [email protected]
We spent Wednesday driving to Segovia and Toledo. After some harrowing drives down ancient streets, we enjoyed a cathedral in Segovia and tapas in the central plaza. On the way home, driving in our rental BMW SUV, an exciting experience driving up and down mountain roads, just over 1,800 meters in elevation ( 5,905 feet) with snow and wonderfully technical roadways. It was just the attitude adjustment needed. The circuitous roads in Spain reminded us of the roads between Saratoga and Santa Cruz, in California. The snow reminded us of Wisconsin, where we currently live.
Foto propiedad Sportmedia para la Real Federación Española de atletismo. Licencia de uso libre editorial. Para uso comercial contactar con [email protected]
On Thursday, I attended the Madrid Indoor press conference. I had not been to Madrid since 2019, for the Madrid Indoor, which was a wonderful experience. In 2026, this writer was treated to a new experience, a new track, and six exciting interviews. I interviewed Uziel Munoz, Lieke Klaver, Nadia Battocletti, global stars of our sport, and Mohammed Attaoui, Paula Sevilla, and Marta Garcia, three of the current stars of Spanish Athletics. This writer was energized with their enthusiasm and energy.
The Meeting Madrid delivered on Friday! Enrique Llopis mesmerized the 2,500 fans with an NR of 7.45 seconds over the 60-meter hurdles, hinting at his prowess over the sprint hurdles, and his enthusiasm was infectious! Nadia Battocletti battled the World Leader in the 1,500 meters, Birke Haylom, (4:02.37) who held off Battocletti (4:03.59), who equalled the Italian NR and scored a PB! Marta Garcia, (4:07.18) the Spanish NR holder at 5,000 meters, scored a PB in sixth!
The Men’s shot put, with Jordan Geist, US thrower, equalling the lead in the shot that he had established, 22.04 meters, in Ostrava earlier in the week! The Men’s shot had the crowd erupting as the big men, such as Uziel Munoz of Mexico, Rajindra Campbell, JAM (second in 21.94m0, Roger Steen, US (third, 21.88m) chasing Jordan Geist!
Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands, who told this writer that she enjoys a lot of races, won the 400 meters in 51.26, just off her WL, with Biana Hervas, ESP, in second in 51.50, with Paula Sevilla, ESP, taking fourth., in 52.26.
The meet ended superbly, as Mohammed Attaoui, 5th in both the Paris Olympic 800m and Tokyo World 800, set a new ER at the 1,000 meters in 2:14.52, . Following the brave pacing of Filip Ostrowski , POL, through the 800 meters, (splits were 26.65 for 200m, 53.30/26.65 for 400m, 1:20.45 for 600m /27.15 split, 1:47.58, a 27.13 split with Ostrowski), ‘Moho’ took off, chasing the WR of Anyaleh Souliman (2:14.20), and while not reaching that pinnacle, took Wilson Kipeter, the Danish Librarian who shook up the middle distances in the 1990s and 2000s, with Attaoui’s 2:14.52. Mohammed ran the last 200 meters in 26.94, to the delight of the crowd!
It was a fitting way to end the Meeting Madrid: a celebration of Spanish athletics, European Athletics, and global Athletics, in an intimate indoor setting.
I left the meet, taking my Uber back to the Hampton Inn Alcobendas, planning my next visit to Madrid.
Meeting Indoor Madrid (February 6, 2026)
MEN 60m: 1. Ali Al Balushi, OMA, 6.53; 2. Jenns Reynold Fernández, CUB, 6.56; 3. Eugene Amo-Dadzie, GBR, 6.59; 4. Marcellus Moore, USA, 6.63; 5. Yoshiki Kinashi, JPN, 6.64; 6. Shuhei Tada, JPN, 6.65; 7. Guillem Crespi, ESP, 6.65; 8. Adrian Martin, ESP, 6.69. 1000m: 1. Mohamed Attaoui, ESP, 2:14.52 (AR); 2. Mariano García, ESP, 2:16.40; 3. Adrián Ben, ESP, 2:16.80; 4. Alex Botterill, GBR, 2:17.69; 5. John Rivera, PUR, 2:17.92; 6. Mateusz Borkowski, POL, 2:18.19. 3000m: 1. Tshepo Tshite, RSA, 7:39.11; 2. Valentin Soca, URU, 7:39.91; 3. Getnet Wale, ETH, 7:39.98; 4. José Carlos Pinto, POR, 7:40.47; 5. John Heymans, BEL, 7:42.27.
60m Hurdles:1. Enrique Llopis, ESP, 7.45 (NR); 2. Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli, ITA, 7.50; 3. Jamal Britt, USA, 7.51; 4. Wilhem Belocian, FRA, 7.54; 5. Asier Martínez, ESP, 7.66; 6. Louis Rollins, USA, 7.67; 7. Angel Díaz, ESP, 7.84.
Shot Put: 1. Jordan Geist, USA, 22.04m; 2. Rajindra Campbell, JAM, 21.94m; 3. Roger Steen, USA, 21.88m; 4. Wictor Petersson, SWE, 20.46m; 5. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, NGR, 20.38m; 6. Konrad Bukowiecki, POL, 20.28m; 7. Uziel Muñoz, MEX, 19.85m.
WOMEN 400m: 1. Lieke Klaver, NED, 51.26; 2. Blanca Hervas, ESP, 51.59; 3. Mercy Adongo Oketch, KEN, 52.25; 4. Paula Sevilla, ESP, 52.26.
WOMEN 800m Final 1: 1. Audrey Werro, SUI, 2:00.68; 2. Nigist Getachew, ETH, 2:00.76; 3. Clara Liberman, FRA, 2:01.54; 4. Eloisa Coiro, ITA, 2:02.09; 5. Catriona Bisset, AUS, 2:02.90; 6. Noélie Yarigo, BEN, 2:03.27; 7. Anita Horvat, SLO, 2:03.87. Final 2: 1. Rocio Arroyo, ESP, 1:59.97; 2. Lore Hoffmann, SUI, 2:00.69; 3. Maeliss Trapeau, CAN, 2:01.68; 4. Lorea Ibarzabal, ESP, 2:01.79; 5. Marta Mitjans, ESP, 2:02.44; 6. Daniela García, ESP, 2:02.64.
1500m: 1. Birke Haylom, ETH, 4:02.37; 2. Nadia Battocletti, ITA, 4:03.59; 3. Saron Berhe, ETH, 4:04.39; 4. Ludovica Cavalli, ITA, 4:06.38; 5. Haregeweyni Kalayu, ETH, 4:06.74; 6. Marta García, ESP, 4:07.18. 60m Hurdles: 1. Laeticia Bapté, FRA, 7.90; 2. Alaysha Johnson, USA, 7.90; 3. Kreete Verlin, EST, 7.96; 4. Lotta Harala, FIN, 7.99; 5. Giada Carmassi, ITA, 8.00; 6. Elisa Maria Di Lazzaro, ITA, 8.10.
High Jump: 1. Charity Hufnagel, USA, 1.96m; 2. Maria Żodzik, POL, 1.94m; 3. Solène Gicquel, FRA, 1.88m; 4. Marija Vuković, MNE, 1.88m; 5. Una Stancev, ESP, 1.84m; 6. Aitana Alonso, ESP, 1.75m; 7. Britt Weerman, NED, 1.75m.
Long Jump: 1. Agate De Sousa, POR, 6.97m (WL); 2. Irati Mitxelena, ESP, 6.70m; 3. Khaddi Sagnia, SWE, 6.67m; 4. Fátima Diame, ESP, 6.51m; 5. Esraa Owis, EGY, 6.44m; 6. Plamena Mitkova, BUL, 6.40m; 7. Carmen Rosales, ESP, 6.26m; 8. Hayla González, CUB, 6.07m.
Full details can be found at World Athletics.
Photos: World Athletics
Results developed in agate form with Gemini Artificial Intelligence
#WorldIndoorTour, #MeetingMadrid, #Larrysmostexcellentadventures, #RunBlogRun
