Medallists in the women's high jump at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 (© Getty Images)
- Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh wins her fourth global high jump title
- Heptathlon leader Simon Ehammer on PB pace
- Big favourites advance on busy first session at WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26
Four years after winning gold in Belgrade – which was also her first senior global title – Yaroslava Mahuchikh regained the women's high jump title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 on Friday (20) to earn the first title of the championships.
Four women had perfect records up to and including 1.99m as Mahuchikh shared the lead with world champion Nicola Olyslagers, world bronze medallist Angelina Topic and Ukraine's Yuliia Levchenko.
The bar then went up to 2.01m and world record-holder Mahuchikh went clear on her first try. She was the only athlete to succeed at that height as her three remaining opponents bowed out to take a three-way share of the silver medal.
With the title secured, Mahuchikh went on to try 2.06m, albeit unsuccessfully. The Olympic champion had achieved her main goal of the championships, though, by claiming her fourth global title.
Result: 1 Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) 2.01m, 2 Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) 1.99m, 2 Angelina Topic (SRB) 1.99m, 2 Yuliia Levchenko (UKR) 1.99m.
In the rounds
Men’s 60m: Ten years after taking world indoor gold in this discipline, Trayvon Bromell got his campaign off to a strong start by posting the fastest time in the first round of the men’s 60m. The US sprinter clocked 6.52 to safely advance to this evening’s semifinals, alongside compatriot and world leader Jordan Anthony (6.54), defending champion Jeremiah Azu (6.55) and Jamaican duo Bryan Levell (6.53) and Kishane Thompson (6.56).
Men’s heptathlon: Simon Ehammer, the 2024 world indoor champion, got off to a strong start, speeding to 6.69 in the 60m and leaping 8.15m in the long jump – just one centimetre shy of the championship best. USA’s Kyle Garland made up some ground in the shot put, throwing 16.21m, but Ehammer still holds the overall lead with 2876 – 14 points ahead of his PB pace.
Women’s 400m: Czechia’s Lurdes Gloria Manuel led the first round with her 51.08 heat victory. Home favourite Natalia Bukowiecka (51.60), 2025 silver medallist Henriette Jaeger (52.18) and Lieke Klaver (51.48) also won their respective heats. US indoor champion Rosey Effiong and British indoor champion Yemi Mary John did not advance.
Men’s 400m: Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams, the fastest indoor performer in history, was quickest in the opening round of the men’s 400m, winning his heat in 45.51. US champion Khaleb McRae was another heat winner (46.09), while European indoor champion Attila Molnar and 2022 world indoor champion Jereem Richards both finished second in their heats, doing enough to progress to the next round.
Women’s 800m: Olympic champion and world short track record-holder Keely Hodgkinson made easy work of her 800m heat, winning it in 2:00.32. Audrey Werro and Nigist Getachew were among the other heat winners in a round where all the main contenders advanced safely.
Men’s 800m: Most of the favourites also advanced from the first round of the men’s 800m, topped by Eliott Crestan’s 1:45.51 heat win. Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui, Kenya’s Noah Kibet, US youngster Cooper Lutkenhaus and Australia’s Peter Bol also progressed. But Algerian indoor record-holder Mohamed Ali Gouaned finished outside of a qualifying spot in his heat and won’t advance to the semifinals.
