Four world champions were crowned on an exciting opening day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 in Toruń, Poland, on Friday (20), with world-leading performances, personal bests and a national record underscoring the quality of competition on show in the historic Polish city.
WORLD ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS — DAY ONE REPORT
Mahuchikh reclaims high jump crown amid three-way silver split
Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine reasserted her dominance in the women’s high jump, reclaiming the world indoor title she won two years ago with a first-time clearance at 2.01m. The performance was enough to stand alone at the top of the podium, though the competition behind her produced one of the most unusual outcomes in recent championship history.
Read more: Day 1: USA Leads World Indoor Championships Medal Table
Three athletes finished locked together on 1.99m — Australia’s defending champion and world outdoor gold medalist Nicola Olyslagers, recording a season best; Serbia’s 20-year-old world bronze medalist Angelina Topić; and Mahuchikh’s Ukrainian team-mate Yuliia Levchenko, 28 — all sharing the silver medal. No bronze was awarded.
Anthony storms to world-leading 6.41 in men’s 60m
American sprinter Jordan Anthony announced himself on the global stage in emphatic fashion, clocking a world-leading 6.41 seconds to take gold in the men’s 60m dash. Anthony’s winning time left no room for doubt as he crossed clear of a high-class field that featured two of the sport’s biggest names.
Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson — Olympic and world 100m silver medalist — ran a lifetime best of 6.45 seconds to claim silver, while fellow American Trayvon Bromell matched that time to secure bronze.
Read Also: Day 2: Watch World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26, schedule and live results
Díaz Hernández defends triple jump title in world-leading style
Italy’s Andy Díaz Hernández retained his world indoor triple jump title with a commanding world-leading early round leap of 17.47m. The Cuban-born athlete defeated Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, who took silver with 17.33m — a season best — and Algeria’s Yasser Mohammed Triki claimed bronze with 17.30m.
Jackson opens American shot put account
In the women’s shot put, American Chase Jackson won gold with a throw of 20.14m to complete the global championship medal set. Canada’s Sarah Mitton took silver with 19.78m, while Sweden’s Axelina Johansson rounded out the podium with 19.75m — a national record.
— Reporting from Toruń, Poland
List of Day 1 World Indoor Championships Medal Winners
