Worldrecord and five wins by German athletes at the ISTAF 2010

Clear blue skies, five wins by German athletes and a new World Record in the 800 metres: 46.512 spectators at the Olympiastadion Berlin witnessed a wholly successful 69th International Stadium Festival ISTAF on Sunday.

The man of the day was Kenyan David Rusdisha, who set a new World Record on the blue track in the 800m. He improved the old record previously held by Wilson Kipketer (Denmark) by two hundredths of a second to 1:41,09 minutes. After Usain Bolt set his World Records in the 100m and 200m, the blue track at the Olympiastadion Berlin now has helped three athletes to World Records within less than 12 months.

The positive atmosphere in the stands was further fuelled by the good performances of the German athletes. Berlin’s own Robert Harting (68,24m) from SSC Berlin won the discus throw while Ariane Friedrich defended her high jump title with a height of 1,97m.

Christina Obergföll made herself the best birthday present by winning the javelin throw with a length of 67,57m, finishing second was European Champion Linda Stahl (61,82m). The other wins by German athletes were by long jump European Champion Christian Reif (8,06m) and hammer throw European Champion Betty Heidler (75,35m).

Verena Sailer, Europe’s fastest woman in the 100m finished third, only letting Jamaican Sherone Simpson and Kelly-Ann Baptiste from Trinidad and Tobago get past her. German shot put ace Ralf Barthels also finished third.

Further highlights included the world leading time in the men’s 3.000 m by Ethiopian Tariku Bekele (7:28,99 min) and World Champion Caster Semenya’s comeback win in the women’s 800 m.

Fans of track and field can look forward to 2011 when international and local top class athletes return to the ISTAF at the Olympiastadion Berlin.