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≡ WORLD INDOOR CHAMPS ≡
The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun (POL) got going on Friday, with the men’s 60 m the featured event.
There were no surprises in the heats, and in the semis, Jamaica’s Bryan Levell won semi one in 6.53, with an amazing tie for second – to the 1000ths – for Simon Verherstraeten (BEL) and Taymir Burnet (NED) in 6.56 (6.553!).
American Trayvon Bromell, who won this meet in 2016, was fastest in the heats at 6.52, and lined up against Paris 100 m silver winner Kishane Thompson (JAM). Bromell was off perfectly and led after a step and rolled through the finish in a world-leading 6.42 (!), with Thompson a clear second in 6.47. Bromell equaled his lifetime best, equal-sixth all-time.
Ex-world leader Jordan Anthony, the U.S. champ, was in semi three, and was smooth and quick, winning over defending champion Jeremiah Azu (GBR), equaling his lifetime best at 6.43, to 6.45.
The final had Anthony in four, Azu in five, Bromell in six and Thompson in seven. Anthony had a good start and no one could head him. Azu stayed close, but Bromell was not in contention early and did not move up to challenge.
Anthony ran 6.41, now the world lead in 2026 and now equal-fourth on the all-time list and the equal-eighth performance all-time! A long review of the photo showed Thompson moving up to get second over Bromell, both in 6.45 (6.447 to 6.448). Azu closed well for fourth in 6.46.
Anthony won the NCAA Indoors for Arkansas in 2025, turned pro later in the year and now is the U.S. Indoor and World Champion in the 60. At 21, he is one to watch, for sure.
● Men/Triple Jump: Defending champion Andy Diaz (ITA) got to the lead in round one with a world-leading 17.47 m (57-3 3/4) and stayed there through the first three rounds, ahead of Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, at 17.33 m (56-10 1/4). Algeria’s Yassir Triki, the 2024 runner-up, solidified his hold on third in the fourth round at 17.30 m (56-9 1/4).
None of the top three could improve and Diaz won back-to-back golds, and Scott won his first international championship medal. American Russell Robinson reached 16.53 m (54-2 3/4) and finished 10th.
● Women/High Jump: Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) and World Champion and defending indoor champ Nicola Olyslagers (POL) were the headliners and those two were both perfect through 1.99 m (6-6 1/4), as was Angelina Topic (SRB), the 2025 Worlds bronzer and Ukraine’s Yuliia Levchenko.
The bar went to 2.01 m (6-7) and Mahuchikh upped the ante immediately and cleared … and no one else could! She tried 2.06 m (6-9), but missed all three, but collected her second World Indoor gold, previously in 2022.
The other three had the same cards – no misses through 1.99 – and shared a three-way silver! American Charity Hufnagel was ninth at 1.89 m (6-2 1/4).
● Women/Shot Put: Two-time World Champion Chase Jackson of the U.S. has a silver and two bronzes in this meet, but no golds. But she got after it early and took the lead at 19.96 m (65-6) in round two.
She then extended to 20.14 m (66-1) in round four, as two-time defending champion Sarah Mitton (CAN) moved into second position in the fourth at 19.78 m (64-10 3/4). Neither could improve and they finished 1-2 and Jackson got her first World Indoor gold! Swede Axeline Johansson got a national record at 19.75 m (64-9 3/4) in third.
Abria Smith of the U.S. reached 18.66 m (61-2 3/4) in round one, then improved to 18.86 m (61-10 1/2) in round four, to finish seventh.
Lots of qualifying on day one, of course:
● Men/400 m: Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams, the fastest ever in this event at 44.49 (but not the world record holder due to an equipment technicality), led all qualifiers at 45.51, with the U.S. advancing both entries to the semis: official world-record man Khaleb McRae won heat six in 46.09 and Chris Robinson won heat two in 46.34.
In the semis, Robinson trailed Brazil’s Matheus Lima coming into the final turn, but Robinson turned on the jets to win in 45.46 and qualify for the final; Lima was second in 45.71. Morales Williams sprinted into the lead off the final turn in semi two and won in 45.35, with Brian Tinega (KEN: 45.75) in second.
Hungary’s Attila Molnar was semi three in 45.81 and McRae led from the start in semi four and won in 45.39, the second-fastest of the day.
● Men/800 m: Belgium’s Elliott Crestan, second last year, led the qualifying from heat three in 1:45.51. Sean Dolan of the U.S. qualified on time in 1:46.17 as third in heat six and teen Cooper Lutkenhaus advanced as second in heat two in 1:46.24.
● Men/1,500 m: Heat three produced the best times, with Spain’s Mariano Garcia winning in 3:38.19. U.S. champion Nathan Green was third in heat one in 3:40.97 and advanced, but Luke Houser was fourth in heat two (3:43.87) and did not advance to the final.
● Women/400 m: Lurdes Manuel (CZE) led with a 51.08 to win heat six; the U.S. qualified Bailey Lear (51.87) in third in heat four to the semifinals. Rosey Effiong (52.13), third in heat two, did not advance.
In the semis, Manuel got a lifetime best to win easily in 50.96; Lear was third in 52.07 and did not advance to the final. Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka was a clear winner in semi two in 51.41, then Dutch star Lieke Klaver, the 2024 World Indoor silver winner, won semi three in 51.23. Norway’s Henriette Jaeger won heat four in 50.95 and ex-American Wadeline Venlogh (HAI) got into the final with a second-place 52.04.
● Women/800 m: Eloisa Corso (ITA) had the fastest qualifier, from heat six, in 1:59.07. Addy Wiley of the U.S. won heat three in 2:00.85; Valery Tobias was disqualified in heat four for a lane infringement (stepping on the line). World record holder Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) won heat one in 2:00.32.
● Women/1,500 m: Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom won heat two in 4:10.66 and was the fastest on the day. American Gracie Morris was third in heat three in 4:12.57 and was a time qualifier. U.S. champ Nikki Hiltz was second in heat one (4:16.32) and advanced easily.
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The men’s heptathlon started on Friday, with Swiss star Simon Ehammer, the 2024 winner, taking the 60 m (6.69) and the long jump (8.15 m/26-9) and scored 3,698 points. American Kyle Garland, the 2025 Worlds decathlon bronzer, won the high jump at 2.14 m (7-0 1/4) and has 3,660.
Third is American Heath Baldwin, at 3,510, who was second in the high jump. The 60 m hurdles, vault and 1,000 m are on Saturday.
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