German athletes Mihambo and Ogunleye claim national titles
German Championships: Athletes Shine in Berlin
The German Championships saw a host of impressive performances from some of the country's top athletes, with several securing titles and breaking records. Here's a round-up of the standout moments:
Malaika Mihambo
Despite a sore thigh, long jump sensation Malaika Mihambo claimed her 15th German championship title with a jump of 6.82m at the ISTAF Berlin. Mihambo, an Olympic, World, and European champion, initially had two invalid attempts before securing the title. The victory further confirms her dominance at German championships and positions her as a leading contender for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.
Robert Farken
In the middle-distance events, Robert Farken broke his own German record in the mile at ISTAF Berlin, setting a new time of 3:48.83. This was his sixth national record in 2025, demonstrating remarkable progress in his running career. Farken also secured the 1500-meter title at the German championships, reinforcing his national dominance. His performances suggest he is a key athlete for future international competitions like the World Championships.
Discus Throw
In the discus throw, Steven Richter finished second with a throw of 68.27 meters, narrowly missing out on the title to Henrik Janssen. Janssen won the discus throw with a throw of 68.41 meters, securing his place in the Tokyo World Championships. Clemens Prüfer, the defending champion, finished fifth with a throw of 63.17 meters but has met the Tokyo WM norm. Mika Sosna finished third with a throw of 67.24 meters.
Other Notable Performances
In the shot put, Yemisi Ogunleye won the title with a distance of 19.29 meters, while Alina Kenzel finished second with a distance of 18.56 meters and Katharina Maisch finished third with a distance of 18.31 meters. Ogunleye, who is also a hammer throw athlete, struggled with technical issues a week ago and failed to reach 19 meters at the Berlin ISTAF. However, she was satisfied with her performance at the German championships, and she is among Germany's big hopes for the World Championships in Tokyo.
Mohamed Abdilaahi finished third in the 1500-meter race and is the new German record holder over 5000 meters. There are only three starting places for the discus throw in Tokyo, which are likely to go to Janssen and Richter.
Yemisi Ogunleye won the Olympic gold in shot put last year with a distance of exactly 20 meters, and she is expected to be a strong contender in Tokyo. The German Championships provided a glimpse into the country's prospects for the upcoming World Championships, with several athletes demonstrating their readiness to compete on the global stage.
Malaika Mihambo, the long jump sensation and multiple championship winner, continued her dominance in Berlin, securing her 15th German championship title in the face of injury.
Robert Farken demonstrated an impressive progression in his running career, breaking his own German record in the mile and securing the 1500-meter title, highlighting his potential as a top contender for future international sports events like the World Championships.
