The excitement of the Madrid match indoors (February 6, 2026)

The excitement of the Madrid match

In early February, this writer spent a week in Spain in the beautiful city of Madrid. He did a few things that week. It gave me a week to spend with my girlfriend in a new country, a break from covering the Dubai Marathon and an opportunity to cover #MeetingMadridIndoor.

On Wednesday we drove to Segovia and Toledo. After some scary driving through the ancient streets, we enjoyed Segovia Cathedral and tapas in the central square. On the way home, driving in our rented BMW SUV, a thrilling experience driving mountain roads at an altitude of 1800 meters (5905 feet) with slightly higher snow and excellent technical roads. It was just a necessary attitude adjustment. The twisty roads in Spain reminded us of the roads between Saratoga and Santa Cruz, California. The snow reminded us of Wisconsin, where we now live.

On Thursday, I was present at the closed press conference in Madrid. I hadn’t been to Madrid since 2019 for Inside Madrid, which was a great experience. In 2026, this writer was given a new experience, a new path and six interesting interviews. I interviewed Uziel Munoz, Liek Claver, Nadia Battocleti, world stars of our sport, and Mohammed Atawi, Paula Sevilla and Marta García, three current stars of Spanish athletics. This writer was charged with their enthusiasm and energy.

The Madrid match took place on Friday. Enrique Llopis wowed 2,500 fans with a NR of 7.45 seconds in the 60m hurdles, hinting at his mastery of the sprint hurdles, and his enthusiasm was infectious. Nadia Battocletti battled it out in the 1500m with world leader Birke Hylom (4:02.37) holding off Battocletti (4:03.59) who equaled the Italian’s NR and earned a PB. Marta Garcia, (4:07.18) Spanish 5000m NR holder, scored a PB in sixth.

In the men’s shot put, Jordan Geist, the American thrower, equaled the lead in the shot put, 22.04 meters, earlier in the week in Ostrava. In the men’s shot, the crowd erupted as big men like Mexico’s Uziel Munoz, Rajindra Campbell, JAM (second 21.94m), Roger Steen, USA (third 21.88m) chased down Jordan Geist.

Holland’s Liek Claver, who told this writer he really enjoys the runs, won the 400m in 51.26, just off his WL, with Biana Hervas, ESP, second in 51.50, with Paula Sevilla, ESP, fourth in 52.26.

The meet ended beautifully as Mohammed Ataoui, 5th in both the Paris Olympic 800m and the Tokyo World 800m, set a new 1000m ER in 2:14.52. Following Philip Ostrovsky’s brave move, POL, 800m, (splits: 26.65 200m, 53.30/26.65 400m, 1:20.45 600m/27.15 split, 1:47.58, 1:47.58, 1,200m, 1:47.58, 400 m, 1:20.45). Moho flew in pursuit of Anyale Suliman’s WR (2:14.20) and, short of that peak, took Wilson Kipeter, the Danish librarian who rocked the middle distances in the 1990s and 2000s, to Attawi’s 2:14.52. Mohammed ran the final 200 meters in 26.94 minutes to the delight of the crowd.

It was a fitting way to end “Meeting Madrid”. a celebration of Spanish athletics, European athletics and global athletics in an intimate indoor setting.

I left the meeting, taking my Uber back to the Hampton Inn Alcobendas, planning my next visit to Madrid.

Closed meeting in Madrid (February 6, 2026)

MEN 60 m. 1. Ali Al Balushi, OMA, 6.53; 2. Jens Reynold Fernandez, 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. 1000 m. 1. Mohamed Atawi, ESP, 2:14.52 (AR); 2. Mariano Garcia, ESP, 2:16.40; 3. Adrian Benn, 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. 3000 m. 1. Tshepo Tshite, RSA, 7:39.11; 2. Valentin Soka, URU, 7:39.91; 3. Getnet Wale, ETH, 7:39.98; 4. Jose Carlos Pinto, POR, 7:40.47; 5. John Heymans, BELL, 7:42.27.

60 m hurdles.1. Enrique Llopis, ESP, 7.45 (NR); 2. Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli, ATA, 7.50; 3. Jamal Britt, USA, 7.51; 4. Wilhem Belotsyan, FRA, 7.54; 5. Asier Martinez, ESP, 7.66; 6. Louis Rollins, USA, 7.67; 7. Angel Diaz, ESP, 7.84.

Shooting. 1. Jordan Geist, USA, 22.04m; 2. Rajindra Campbell, JAM, 21.94m; 3. Roger Steen, USA, 21.88 m; 4. Victor Peterson, SWE, 20.46m; 5. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, NGR, 20.38 m; 6. Konrad Bukovetsky, POL, 20.28 m; 7. Uziel Munoz, MEX, 19.85 m.

WOMEN 400 m. 1. As Klaver, NED, 51.26; 2. Blanca Hervas, ESP, 51.59; 3. Mercy Adongo Oketch, KEN, 52.25; 4. Paula Sevilla, ESP, 52.26.

WOMEN’S 800m Final 1. 1. Audrey Verreau, SUI, 2:00.68; 2. Nigist Getachu, ETH, 2:00.76; 3. Clara Lieberman, FRA, 2:01.54; 4. Eloisa Coiro, ATA, 2:02.09; 5. Catriona Bisset, USA, 2:02.90; 6. Noeli Yarrigo, BEN, 2:03.27; 7. Anita Horvath, SLO, 2:03.87. Final 2. 1. Rocio Arroyo, ESP, 1:59.97; 2. Lore Hoffman, SUI, 2:00.69; 3. Maeliss Trapeau, CAN, 2:01.68; 4. Lorea Ibarzabal, ESP, 2:01.79; 5. Marta Mityans, ESP, 2:02.44; 6. Daniela Garcia, ESP, 2:02.64.

1500 m. 1. Birke Hylom, ETH, 4:02.37; 2. Nadia Battocletti, ATA, 4:03.59; 3. Sharon Berhe, ETH, 4:04.39; 4. Ludovica Cavali, ATA, 4:06.38; 5. Haregewayni Kalayu, ETH, 4:06.74; 6. Marta Garcia, ESP, 4:07.18. 60 m hurdles. 1. Laeticia Bapté, FRA, 7.90; 2. Alaysha Johnson, USA, 7.90; 3. Kreete Verlin, EST, 7.96; 4. Harala Fight, FIN, 7.99; 5. Giada Carmassi, ITA, 8.00; 6. Elisa Maria Di Lazaro, ATA, 8.10.

High jump. 1. Charitable HufnagelUSA, 1.96m; 2. Maria ZodzikPOL, 1.94m; 3. Solen GiquelOFF, 1.88m; 4. Maria VukovichMNE, 1.88m; 5. Has StanchevESP, 1.84m; 6. Aytana AlonsoESP, 1.75m; 7. Britt WermanINTERIOR, 1.75 m.

Long jump. 1. Agate De SouzaPOR, 6.97 m (WL); 2. Irati MitxelenaESP, 6.70m; 3. Khadi SagnaSWE, 6.67m; 4. Fatima DiamESP, 6.51m; 5. Ezra OvisONE, 6.44m; 6. Plamena MitkovaBULL, 6.40m; 7. Carmen RosalesESP, 6.26m; 8. Hayla GonzalezCUB, 6.07 m.

Full details can be found here World athletics.

Photos: World athletics

The results are processed in the form of agate by Gemini artificial intelligence

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