Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe Event by Event Preview

Posted by: Watch Athletics

Saturday, 07 February 2026

Field events will take center stage at the World Indoor Tour Gold stop in Karlsruhe on Sunday, February 7, where Olympic champions, world record holders and European stars converge for one of the most prestigious indoor meetings of the season.

World record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh headlines the women’s high jump, while the long jump runway will feature a blockbuster duel between Malaika Mihambo and Larissa Iapichino. On the track, fans can expect fireworks from Eliott Crestan in the 800m, Laura Muir in the 3000m, and rising global talents across the 1500m and sprint events.

Women’s High Jump

Mahuchikh leads the field after opening her season with a world-leading 2.03m in Lviv — her best jump since soaring over a historic 2.10m world record outdoors. The Ukrainian returns to Karlsruhe for the first time since 2020, when she set a world U20 indoor record of 2.02m as an 18-year-old.

Now a complete championship performer, she owns a full set of World Indoor medals and Olympic, world and European outdoor titles, making her the clear favorite.

She will be challenged by compatriot Yuliya Levchenko, back near 2.00m form, Germany’s improving Christina Honsel, and a competitive European cast including Engla Nilsson, Michaela Hruba, Solene Giquel and Bianca Stichling.

Women’s Long Jump

Few rivalries in women’s field events promise as much drama as Mihambo versus Iapichino.

Olympic champion Mihambo returns to her home meeting chasing another big performance after winning here last year with 7.07m to equal Heike Drechsler’s long-standing meeting record. She described Karlsruhe as “a bit like home,” feeding off the energy of the local crowd.

Iapichino, European indoor champion and already beyond seven metres outdoors, brings momentum and confidence. Their head-to-head is one of the night’s most anticipated battles. France’s Hillary Kpatcha (7.02m PB), Serbia’s Milica Gardašević and Dutch record holder Pauline Hondema add further depth.

Men’s 800 Metres

Fresh off a meeting record 1:43.83 in Ostrava, Crestan arrives in blistering shape after climbing to fourth on the world indoor all-time list. The Belgian has turned consistency into an art form, stringing together five consecutive sub-1:45 indoor races.

He faces a stacked field that includes world bronze medallist Ben Pattison, two-time Commonwealth champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, and Sweden’s championship specialist Andreas Kramer. Expect honest pacing and a fast clock.

Sprints & Hurdles

The women’s 60m hurdles pits US standouts Grace Stark and Alaysha Johnson against European champion Reetta Hurske and Ireland’s Sarah Lavin.

In the men’s 60m, world indoor bronze medallist Ronnie Baker leads a powerful field that includes Ali Anwar Al Balushi, Emmanuel Eseme, Owen Ansah, and local favorite Robin Ganter.

Men’s Pole Vault

A high-quality vault competition features five Olympic finalists. Germany’s Bo Kanda Lita Baehre and Oleg Zernikel compete in front of home fans against European indoor champion Menno Vloon and world medallist Ernest John Obiena, the Asian record holder at 6.00m. Big heights are likely if the runway clicks.

Middle-Distance Highlights

The women’s 1500m brings together Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell and Ethiopia’s world U20 champion Birke Haylom, already in world-leading form this season.

Muir makes her long-awaited seasonal debut in the 3000m at the venue where she set the European indoor record years ago, while Dutch talent Stefan Nillessen defends his men’s 3000m title against Kenyan medal contender Jacob Krop.

Women’s 400 Metres

Egyptian record holder Bassant Hemida renews her tight rivalry with Austria’s Susanne Gogl-Walli, after their photo-finish duel in Ostrava. Another sub-52 battle looks on the cards.