Max Heß is crowned indoor champion - Chemnitz University of Technology celebrates the victory!

Max Heß is crowned indoor champion - Chemnitz University of Technology celebrates the victory!

Students from Chemnitz University of Technology successfully took part in the German Indoor Athletics Championships from February 21st to 23rd, 2025 in Dortmund. Max Heß stood out among the athletes, taking 1st place in the triple jump and becoming the 9th German indoor champion. With a distance of 17.00 meters, Heß exceeded the 17-meter mark for the third time this season, proof of his outstanding form and performance.

Max Heß, born on July 13, 1996 in Chemnitz, is considered one of the top favorites for the upcoming European Athletics Championships in the Netherlands at the beginning of March. He is not only active in the triple jump, but also shows impressive performances in the 60-meter run and long jump. With his best performances of 17.52 meters indoors and 17.38 meters outdoors, Heß is one of the best German track and field athletes in this discipline.

Achievements of the TU Chemnitz athletes

Heß' training partner, Steven Freund, secured the silver medal in the triple jump with a personal best of 15.85 meters. Another industrial engineering student, Maximilian Starke, achieved 7th place in the triple jump with a performance of 15.09 meters. Lea-Sophie Klik was also successful and took 7th place in the long jump with a distance of 6.14 meters. Benedikt Thomas Wallstein, a bachelor's student in prevention, rehabilitation and fitness sports, was eliminated in the 60-meter sprint in the first semi-final and reached 7th place.

The Chemnitz University of Technology shows itself to be a strong supporter of its top athletes. Through flexible study plans and individual examination regulations, the university enables athletes to combine their sporting ambitions with their studies. Chemnitz University of Technology is recognized as a “partner university for top-class sports” and attaches great importance to supporting talented athletes.

The history of the German Indoor Championships

The German Indoor Athletics Championships have a long tradition and have taken place annually since 1954, organized by the German Athletics Association (DLV). The track length used to vary before standardized lengths of 60 meters for sprints and 200 meters for circuits became established in the 1970s. The Championships are an important platform for athletes who must achieve a set qualification standard in order to compete. Exceptions are permitted for top athletes who were unable to meet this standard.

The events have also undergone many rule changes over the years. Since 2017, foreigners without German citizenship have been excluded from the German Championships to ensure that the competitions serve to determine the best German national. This set of rules has further strengthened the level and integrity of the championships.