Brigid Kosgei set an Asian all-comers' record of 2:14:29 while Tadese Takele retained his title at the Tokyo Marathon &ndash; a World Athletics Platinum Label road race &ndash; on Sunday (1).
Kenya&rsquo;s Kosgei ran the seventh-fastest time in history and the second-quickest performance of her career to regain a title she claimed in 2021, improving on the course record and Asian&nbsp;all-comers' record of 2:15:55 that was set by two-time winner Sutume Asefa Kebede in 2024.
After running with Kosgei for the first 30 kilometres, Kebede finished fourth on this occasion. Bertukan Welde secured second place in 2:16:36 and Hawi Feysa outsprinted Kebede for a podium place, finishing third as both athletes clocked 2:17:39.
In a dramatic finish to the men&rsquo;s race, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Takele judged his finish to perfection to overpower Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Alexander Mutiso Munyao in the closing stages. Takele clocked 2:03:37 to become only the second back-to-back winner of the men&rsquo;s race and he was chased over the finish line by Kipchumba, who recorded the same finish time, and Munyao, who was just one second back.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69a3b72805564f6354200a25.jpg" alt="Tadese Takele sprints to Tokyo Marathon victory" />
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Tadese Takele sprints to Tokyo Marathon victory (&copy; AFP / Getty Images)
Former world record-holder Kosgei was to the fore as the leading women reached 10km in 32:14, on course record pace.
Six athletes &ndash; Kosgei, Kebede, Welde, Feysa, Aberu Ayana and Azmera Gebru &ndash; remained together, running alongside male athletes, as they passed halfway in 1:07:37.
Kebede and Kosgei broke away and had dipped under 2:15 pace by 30km, reached in 1:35:53 &ndash; 13 seconds ahead of Welde.
Kosgei then made what turned out to be a winning move, creating a 22-second advantage by 35km &ndash; 1:51:40 to 1:52:02. While Kosgei was able to maintain that pace and eventually won by more than two minutes to claim her sixth World Marathon Majors victory, Kebede was passed by her Ethiopian compatriot Welde and the 21-year-old ran a big PB of 2:16:36 in her fourth marathon.
Feysa pushed all the way to the finish line to pip her compatriot Kebede and they both posted finish times of 2:17:39. Megertu Alemu was fifth in 2:18:50 and&nbsp;Violah Cheptoo completed a top six under 2:20 in 2:19:05, while Ai Hosoda was the leading Japanese finisher in 2:23:39 for 10th place.
Japan&rsquo;s Ryuichi Hashimoto led for the first half of the men&rsquo;s race but a large chase pack caught him by 26.5km.
A group of 10 hit 30km in 1:28:01 and nine remained together at 35km, reached in 1:42:56, but the pack started to split one kilometre later.
A group of five broke away, led by Munyao and his Kenyan compatriot Daniel Mateiko, with Italy&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Iliass Aouani at the back of the pack.
Mateiko, Munyao, Toroitich and Takele remained in contention as 40km was reached in 1:57:27, but Takele was waiting for his moment to strike. First they dropped Mateiko and then Takele kicked, holding off Toroitich as they reached the finish line in the same time &ndash; 2:03:37.
Munyao was third in 2:03:38 and Mateiko was fourth in 2:03:44. Muktar Edris ran a PB of 2:04:07 to finish fifth and Aouani improved the Italian record to 2:04:26 to place sixth, back in the city where he claimed his world bronze medal last year.
China&rsquo;s Feng Peiyou also set a national record, clocking 2:05:58 to place 11th, one spot ahead of Japan&rsquo;s Suguru Osako (2:05:59).
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:29 2 Bertukan Welde (ETH) 2:16:36 3 Hawi Feysa (ETH) 2:17:39 4 Sutume Asefa Kebede (ETH) 2:17:39 5 Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:18:50 6 Violah Cheptoo (KEN) 2:19:05 7 Mestawut Fikir (ETH) 2:20:00 8 Aberu Ayana (ETH) 2:20:30 9 Pascalia Jepkogei (KEN) 2:21:39 10 Ai Hosoda (JPN) 2:23:39
Men 1 Tadese Takele (ETH) 2:03:37 2 Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba (KEN) 2:03:37 3 Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) 2:03:38 4 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:03:44 5 Muktar Edris (ETH) 2:04:07 6 Iliass Aouani (ITA) 2:04:26 7 Selemon Barega (ETH) 2:05:00 8 Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:05:02 9 Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (KEN) 2:05:21 10 Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:56
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/calendar-results/7236397/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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Brigid Kosgei set an Asian all-comers' record of 2:14:29 while Tadese Takele retained his title at the Tokyo Marathon

Kosgei runs Asian all-comers' record, Takele retains title in Tokyo

Carlos Lopes: the living legend who inspired Homer Simpson to get off his couch, lay down his can of Duff Beer and run in the Springfield Marathon.
That ultimate accolade came to pass in 2001, in season 12 of The Simpsons&hellip; Homer watches an Olympic Games documentary and is motivated by the story of Lopes winning marathon gold at the age of 38.
In fact, Lopes was only 37 when he won the Olympic marathon in Los Angeles in August 1984. He was 38 when he broke the marathon world best, and the 2:08 barrier, in Rotterdam in April of the following year.
Looking back on the career of the diminutive Portuguese distance running phenomenon, it is similarly striking to consider that Carlos Alberto de Sousa Lopes was 29 when he first made a name for himself on the international scene.
As Ron Marshall of The Herald noted in his report of the 1976 World Cross Country Championships: &ldquo;The individual winner of the senior men&rsquo;s race came with no reputation worth repeating but surely left smothered with respect.&rdquo;
The 12km race was held on 28 February at Chepstow Racecourse, a prestigious venue for thoroughbred horse racing on the Welsh border with England. Just 10 days past his 29th birthday, Lopes lined up with a racing pedigree that could best be described as modest.
He had been a bit-part player in the epic 10,000m final at the 1971 European Championships, trailing in 30th. He also failed to make it past the heats of the 5000m and 10,000m at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and failed to finish the European 10,000m final in Rome in 1974, where fast-finishing Briton Tony Simmons closed to within 0.04 of the victorious East German Manfred Kuschmann.
Simmons was widely fancied for the world cross-country crown at Chepstow. Born in Wales but a member of the strong England team, he was coached by Harry Wilson, the guru behind Steve Ovett&rsquo;s success.
According to Marshall&rsquo;s account, &ldquo;Simmons got himself into knots trying to break Lopes in the first 10 minutes but the Portuguese assumed command with his graceful, flowing stride.&rdquo;
With one kilometre to go, the relentless Lopes had a lead approaching 200 metres. The scrap for silver and bronze reduced the gap in the closing stages but the Lisbon bank clerk still finished 16 seconds clear, crossing the line in 34:48, with Simmons in second and Bernie Ford of England pipping Belgian Karel Lismont for bronze.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/9cec7389-071e-4fee-adc5-a62cf149543f.jpg" alt="Portugal's 1984 Olympic marathon champion Carlos Lopes" />
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Portugal's 1984 Olympic marathon champion Carlos Lopes (&copy; Getty Images)
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&ldquo;I was surprised to win,&rdquo; Lopes said. &ldquo;I thought I would finish no higher than fifth. My previous highest position at the World Cross Country Championships was 24th [in 1973].&rdquo;
Lismont, runner-up to Frank Shorter of the USA in the 1972 Olympic marathon, went on to claim marathon bronze at the 1976 Olympic Games five months later. Lopes, having catapulted from obscurity to the top of the world cross country podium in Chepstow, maintained his progress with a brilliant run in the 10,000m final in Montreal, running the legs off all of his rivals bar Finland&rsquo;s Lasse Viren for a hard-won silver medal.
Born the eldest in a family of eight children in Viseu in central Portugal, Lopes left school at 13 and worked as a stonemason&rsquo;s assistant and metal worker before moving to Lisbon and joining the celebrated Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Coached throughout his career by Mario Moniz Pereira, one-time holder of the national triple jump record who became a leading Portuguese songwriter in later life, he made his big 1976 breakthrough after securing part-time terms in his job as a bank clerk and stepping up his training to twice daily.
His major triumphs came almost a decade later, after upping his training again in pursuit of success at the marathon &ndash; an event that had assumed a historical air of trepidation in Portuguese athletics, following the collapse and subsequent death of Francisco Lazaro in the 1912 Olympic race in Stockholm.
Lopes did not enjoy the happiest of debuts, dropping out of the 1982 New York Marathon at 21 miles after crashing into a spectator. He then suffered a collision with a Mercedes-Benz while out training for the 1984 Olympic marathon.
&ldquo;As I watched my elbow go through the windshield, I thought, &lsquo;There goes the Olympics&rsquo;,&rdquo; he told Track &amp; Field News. &ldquo;I was lucky not to be seriously injured.&rdquo;
Just 15 days later, the &lsquo;lucky&rsquo; Lopes ran away from Ireland&rsquo;s John Treacy and Britain&rsquo;s Charlie Spedding to take gold in Los Angeles in 2:09:21, an Olympic record.
In The Simpsons episode, Lopes is so old the weight of the gold medal around his neck sends him plummeting off the podium to his death.
Happily, in real life, he scaled two more major peaks as a veteran of 38 in the spring of 1985.
On home ground in Lisbon in March, Lopes won the world cross-country title for a third time, having followed his Chepstow success in 1976 with victory in New York in 1984.
Then, in Rotterdam in April, he took 53 seconds off Steve Jones&rsquo; world best with a time of 2:07:12. Smashing through the 2:08 barrier, the pride of the Portuguese nation had secured his status as a Homeric hero of the marathon.
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage
<div><a href="https://tinyurl.com/visitMOWA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6885f79e982e117f1338cb26.jpg" alt="MOWA banner" /></a></div>

Carlos Lopes: the living legend who inspired Homer Simpson to get off his couch, lay down his can of Duff Beer and run in the Springfield Marathon.

Lopes: from surprise world cross winner to marathon legend

Only two men and two women in history have won the Tokyo Marathon more than once. Defending champions Sutume Asefa Kebede and Tadese Takele will attempt to join that select group when they return to the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (1).
Following their victories in the Japanese capital last year, they returned to Tokyo later in 2025 for the World Championships marathon, where neither produced the performances they had hoped for. Now back on familiar roads, the Ethiopian pair will aim to make amends against fields packed with major marathon winners, global medallists and a former world record-holder.
The women&rsquo;s field assembles the winners of the past four editions, and between them they hold the four fastest winning performances in race history. Four athletes sit inside the top seven in the current world rankings, while five members of the field feature among the top 15 performers on the world all-time list.
Defending champion Kebede has dominated recent editions of the race, winning in both 2024 and 2025. She set a course record of 2:15:55 in 2024 and followed it with 2:16:31 the following year. Currently ranked fifth in the world, Kebede returns for her first marathon since finishing 27th at the World Championships in Tokyo and will be eager to return to winning ways.
Former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei returns seeking a second Tokyo title. The 2021 Olympic silver medallist still ranks fifth on the world all-time list thanks to her 2:14:04 performance &ndash; a world record at the time &ndash; from 2019. She showed strong form last year by winning in Shanghai in 2:16:36 &ndash; her fastest marathon since her Tokyo victory in 2022 &ndash; and now bids to become just the third woman to win the race twice.
World No.4 Hawi Feysa arrives in outstanding form following victory at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, where she set a PB of 2:14:57. Despite contesting only five marathons so far, she already sits seventh on the world all-time list and ranks as the second-fastest Ethiopian woman in history. She finished third in Tokyo last year so will be hoping to go at least one better.
Rosemary Wanjiru, the 2023 Tokyo champion, finished runner-up in 2024 in a PB of 2:16:14 before placing fifth last year and later claiming victory at the Berlin Marathon.
Another strong contender is Megertu Alemu, a multiple podium finisher at both the London and Chicago Marathons. She set her PB of 2:16:34 when finishing fourth in London in 2024 before winning the Valencia Marathon later that year. After finishing second in Chicago in October 2025, she recorded DNFs in Shenzhen and Xiamen, so she&rsquo;ll be hoping for better fortunes when making her Tokyo debut this weekend.
Rising Ethiopian Bertukan Welde aims to continue an impressive upward trajectory. After winning the Prague Marathon in 2:20:55, she improved to 2:17:56 when finishing second in Amsterdam and opened her 2026 season with victory at the Montferland Half Marathon. Tokyo will be just the fourth marathon of her career.
Other notable entrants include Ethiopian duo Mestawut Fikir and Mekides Shimeles, Japan&rsquo;s Ai Hosoda, marathon debutante Grace Loibach Nawowuna of Kenya, and USA&rsquo;s Sara Hall.
Defending champion Tadese Takele headlines a men&rsquo;s field loaded with depth and experience. The former steeplechase specialist, who earned African silver in that event in 2022, has made a seamless transition to the marathon in recent years. He clocked 2:03:24 on his debut at the distance to finish third in Berlin in 2023 before improving to 2:03:23 in his Tokyo victory last year.
The 23-year-old, who has only completed three marathons so far, returns to Tokyo seeking redemption after recording a DNF at the World Championships last year.
Timothy Kiplagat is the fastest entrant on paper with a PB of 2:02:55, set when finishing second in Tokyo in 2024 in the race that produced the course record of 2:02:16. His most recent outing was a 12th-place finish at the Chicago Marathon last October, while his most recent marathon victory came in Dubai in 2022.
The field also includes Kenya&rsquo;s Alexander Mutiso Munyao, winner of the 2024 London Marathon and third in London in 2025. He set his PB of 2:03:11 when finishing second in Valencia in 2023 and late last year he narrowly missed out on victory at the 2025 New York City Marathon.
Milkesa Mengesha, winner of the 2024 Berlin Marathon in a PB of 2:03:17, also lines up after claiming victory at the Shanghai Marathon late last year. The Ethiopian is currently fourth in the world rankings, making him the highest-ranked contender of the entries.
Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, third in Tokyo for the past two years, owns a PB of 2:03:13 set when finishing runner-up in Berlin in 2023. Fellow Kenyan Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba finished sixth in Tokyo last year in his first completed marathon before going on to win in Amsterdam in a PB of 2:03:30.
Other Ethiopian contenders include two athletes who are transitioning to the roads having previously won global titles on the track.
Selemon Barega, who&rsquo;ll be returning to the city where he won the 2021 Olympic 10,000m title, won the Seville Marathon in 2:05:15 on his debut at the distance in 2025, while two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris ran 2:05:59 to finish fifth in Boston last year in his marathon debut.
Former Chicago Marathon winner Seifu Tura brings a PB of 2:04:29, while Chalu Deso Gelmisa, the 2023 Tokyo champion, returns following victory at the Hangzhou Marathon last November.
Other entrants include Canadian record-holder Cam Levins, fifth in Tokyo in 2023 and fourth at the World Championships in 2022, and Italy&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Iliass Aouani. Japanese hopes, meanwhile, will rest on national record-holder Suguru Osako and former national record-holder Kengo Suzuki.
<h3>Leading entries</h3>
Women Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:04 Hawi Feysa (ETH) 2:14:57 Sutume Asefa Kebede (ETH) 2:15:55 Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:16:14 Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:16:34 Bertukan Welde (ETH) 2:17:56 Mestawut Fikir (ETH) 2:18:48 Mekides Shimeles (ETH) 2:19:56 Aberu Ayana (ETH) 2:20:20 Waganesh Mekasha (ETH) 2:20:26 Ai Hosoda (JPN) 2:20:31 Azmera Gebru (ETH) 2:20:48 Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32 Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:21:40 Pascalia Jepkogei (KEN) 2:22:47 Yumi Yoshikawa (JPN) 2:25:20 Grace Loibach Nawowuna (KEN) debut
Men Timothy Kiplagat (KEN) 2:02:55 Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) 2:03:11 Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich (KEN) 2:03:13 Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:03:17 Tadese Takele (ETH) 2:03:23 Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba (KEN) 2:03:30 Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:03:48 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:04:24 Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04:29 Chalu Deso Gelmisa (ETH) 2:04:53 Suguru Osako (JPN) 2:04:55 Kengo Suzuki (JPN) 2:04:56 Selemon Barega (ETH) 2:05:15 Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:18 Cam Levins (CAN) 2:05:36 Ryota Kondo (JPN) 2:05:39 Suldan Hassan (SWE) 2:05:57 Muktar Edris (ETH) 2:05:59 Tsubasa Ichiyama (JPN) 2:06:00 Iliass Aouani (ITA) 2:06:06 Simon Kariuki (KEN) 2:06:29

Defending champions Sutume Asefa Kebede and Tadese Takele return to the World Athletics Platinum Label road race

Takele and Kebede return to defend titles at Tokyo Marathon

<a href="#FR">Fran&ccedil;ais</a>
<h3>Transparency and widespread stakeholder engagement key to campaign process&nbsp;</h3>
 The nomination process for the 2027 World Athletics Council elections has been launched ahead of the World Athletics Elective Congress in Beijing, China.&nbsp;
This Elective Congress, which is due to be held immediately before the World Athletics Championships in September 2027, will elect the World Athletics President, four Vice Presidents and 13 individual Council Members for the next term (2027-2031), in accordance with the World Athletics Constitution and Rules &amp; Regulations.&nbsp;
The campaign period begins on 1 March 2026 with all nominations received by 1 June 2027. All candidates must first apply to the Vetting Panel by 31 March 2027 and be declared eligible in order to be nominated by their Member Federation&rsquo;s Board.
As part of the term limits for Council members, World Athletics Presidents are elected for a maximum of three four-year terms - a central component of the sweeping governance reforms Sebastian Coe himself introduced in 2016 after he was elected to lead the organisation.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Reflecting on his presidency so far, and what lies ahead for the sport, Coe said: &ldquo;Leading World Athletics over the last decade has been an immense honour and privilege and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Running for President, Vice President, or Council member comes with a huge amount of responsibility and accountability. The decisions World Athletics needs to make over the next decade are as crucial as those we have made in the last decade, albeit on a much sounder and more stable foundation.&nbsp;
&ldquo;As elected members to govern athletics, we are caretakers doing all we can to improve and grow our sport so that we can hand it over to others in the best shape possible so they too can improve and grow athletics around the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The 2027 election is a competency-based process under the oversight of the independent Election Oversight Panel (EOP), with the support of the independent Vetting Panel. All candidates and Member Federations are bound by <a href="https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics&rsquo; Integrity Code of Conduct</a>.
The EOP ensures that the organisation, running, and supervision of the elections are of the highest integrity, and that candidates conduct their candidacy with honesty, fairness and respect for others. The Vetting Panel ensures only candidates who meet World Athletics&rsquo; high integrity standards are eligible to stand for election.&nbsp;&nbsp;
With the objective of carrying out the most transparent election process possible and in order to help ensure the most qualified candidates are elected, all participants will be provided with multiple opportunities to engage in presentations and discussions with the membership of World Athletics.&nbsp;
More information on the elections is available in the Candidate Pack, which can be downloaded from the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/elections-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Library</a>.&nbsp;
<a name="FR"></a>&nbsp;
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<h2>Ouverture du processus de candidature pour les &eacute;lections au Conseil de World Athletics 2027</h2>
<h3>La transparence et une large mobilisation des parties prenantes au c&oelig;ur du processus de campagne</h3>
 Le processus de candidature pour les &eacute;lections 2027 au Conseil de World Athletics a &eacute;t&eacute; lanc&eacute;, en amont du Congr&egrave;s &eacute;lectoral de World Athletics qui se tiendra &agrave; P&eacute;kin (Chine).
Ce Congr&egrave;s &eacute;lectoral, pr&eacute;vu imm&eacute;diatement avant les Championnats du monde de World Athletics en septembre 2027, &eacute;lira le pr&eacute;sident de World Athletics, quatre vice-pr&eacute;sidents et 13 membres du Conseil &agrave; titre individuel pour le prochain mandat (2027-2031), conform&eacute;ment aux Statuts ainsi qu&rsquo;aux r&egrave;gles et r&egrave;glements de World Athletics.
La p&eacute;riode de campagne d&eacute;bute le 1er mars 2026, toutes les candidatures devant &ecirc;tre re&ccedil;ues au plus tard le 1er juin 2027. Tous les candidats doivent d&rsquo;abord soumettre une demande au Panel de v&eacute;rification d&rsquo;&eacute;ligibilit&eacute; avant le 31 mars 2027 et &ecirc;tre d&eacute;clar&eacute;s &eacute;ligibles afin de pouvoir &ecirc;tre recommand&eacute;s par l&rsquo;organe ex&eacute;cutif de leur f&eacute;d&eacute;ration membre. Le pr&eacute;sident de World Athletics est &eacute;lu pour un maximum de trois mandats de quatre ans, disposition centrale des vastes r&eacute;formes de gouvernance introduites par Sebastian Coe en 2016, apr&egrave;s son &eacute;lection &agrave; la t&ecirc;te de l&rsquo;organisation.
Revenant sur son mandat &agrave; ce jour et sur les perspectives de notre sport, Coe a d&eacute;clar&eacute; : &laquo;&thinsp;Diriger World Athletics au cours de la derni&egrave;re d&eacute;cennie a constitu&eacute; un immense honneur et privil&egrave;ge, une responsabilit&eacute; que j&rsquo;ai eu le plus grand plaisir &agrave; exercer.
&laquo;&thinsp;Se porter candidat &agrave; la pr&eacute;sidence, &agrave; la vice-pr&eacute;sidence ou au poste de membre du Conseil implique un degr&eacute; tr&egrave;s &eacute;lev&eacute; de responsabilit&eacute; et d&rsquo;obligation de rendre compte. Les d&eacute;cisions que World Athletics devra prendre au cours de la prochaine d&eacute;cennie seront tout aussi d&eacute;terminantes que celles adopt&eacute;es au cours de la pr&eacute;c&eacute;dente, bien que reposant d&eacute;sormais sur des bases bien plus solides et stables.
&laquo;&thinsp;En tant que membres &eacute;lus charg&eacute;s de gouverner l&rsquo;athl&eacute;tisme, nous sommes des d&eacute;positaires, &oelig;uvrant sans rel&acirc;che &agrave; l&rsquo;am&eacute;lioration et au d&eacute;veloppement de notre sport afin de le transmettre dans les meilleures conditions possibles &agrave; celles et ceux qui nous succ&eacute;deront, pour qu&rsquo;&agrave; leur tour elles et ils puissent faire progresser l&rsquo;athl&eacute;tisme dans le monde entier.&thinsp;&raquo;
Les &eacute;lections de 2027 reposent sur un processus fond&eacute; sur les comp&eacute;tences, plac&eacute; sous la supervision du Panel ind&eacute;pendant de supervision des &eacute;lections (EOP), avec le soutien du Panel ind&eacute;pendant de v&eacute;rification d&rsquo;&eacute;ligibilit&eacute;. Tous les candidats et les f&eacute;d&eacute;rations membres sont li&eacute;s par le Code de conduite en mati&egrave;re d&rsquo;int&eacute;grit&eacute; de World Athletics.
L&rsquo;EOP veille &agrave; ce que l&rsquo;organisation, le d&eacute;roulement et la supervision des &eacute;lections r&eacute;pondent aux exigences les plus &eacute;lev&eacute;es en mati&egrave;re d&rsquo;int&eacute;grit&eacute; et &agrave; ce que les candidats m&egrave;nent leur campagne avec honn&ecirc;tet&eacute;, &eacute;quit&eacute; et respect d&rsquo;autrui. Le Panel de v&eacute;rification d&rsquo;&eacute;ligibilit&eacute; garantit que seuls les candidats r&eacute;pondant aux exigences &eacute;lev&eacute;es d&rsquo;int&eacute;grit&eacute; de World Athletics peuvent &ecirc;tre d&eacute;clar&eacute;s &eacute;ligibles &agrave; l&rsquo;&eacute;lection.
Afin de mener le processus &eacute;lectoral le plus transparent possible et de contribuer &agrave; l&rsquo;&eacute;lection des candidates et candidats les plus qualifi&eacute;s, tous les participants disposeront de plusieurs occasions de pr&eacute;senter leur candidature et d&rsquo;&eacute;changer avec les membres de World Athletics.
De plus amples informations sur les &eacute;lections figurent dans le dossier de candidature, disponible en t&eacute;l&eacute;chargement dans la biblioth&egrave;que num&eacute;rique de World Athletics.
World Athletics&nbsp;

Transparency and widespread stakeholder engagement key to campaign process 

Nomination process opens for 2027 World Athletics Council elections 

Eleven athletes have secured wild card places for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 as winners of the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Tour following the final Gold level meeting of the series in Toruń on Sunday (22).
That meeting &ndash; the Orlen Copernicus Cup &ndash; was held in the same Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń that will host the World Indoor Championships from 20-22 March.
As a result of the wild cards, some national teams for Kujawy Pomorze will be strengthened by having a third team member in certain disciplines. Usually, team selection for the World Indoor Championships is capped at two athletes per nation per discipline, but these wild card places allow for a third athlete to compete. As always, the final decision on entering any individual athlete for the World Indoor Championships rests with the athlete&rsquo;s national federation.
Each of the 2026 World Indoor Tour series winners also receives a US$10,000 bonus.
The scoring disciplines on the World Indoor Tour rotate each year. The individual event winners of the 2026 World Indoor Tour are:
Women 400m &ndash; Lieke Klaver (NED) 1500m &ndash; Birke Haylom (ETH) 60m hurdles &ndash; Devynne Charlton (BAH) High jump &ndash; Maria Żodzik (POL) Long jump &ndash; Larissa Iapichino (ITA) <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/standings/2026/women" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full standings</a>
Men 60m &ndash; Ackeem Blake (JAM) 800m &ndash; Eliott Crestan (BEL) 3000m &ndash; Tshepo Tshite (RSA) Pole vault &ndash; Sondre Guttormsen (NOR) Triple jump &ndash; Yasser Mohammed Triki (ALG) Shot put &ndash; Jordan Geist (USA) <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/standings/2026/men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full standings</a>
&nbsp;

World Athletics Indoor Championships

Eleven athletes have secured wild card places for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 as winners of the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Tour

World Indoor Tour champions win wild cards for Kujawy Pomorze

There was just the one concern on Nelli Cooman&rsquo;s mind as she settled into her starting blocks in the Palacio de Deportes in Madrid on the afternoon of 23 February 1986.
&ldquo;The most important thing was the start,&rdquo; the diminutive Dutch dynamo said, recalling the European indoor women&rsquo;s 60m final of 40 years ago for the BBC World Service&rsquo;s Sporting Witness series. &ldquo;When my start is ok, you&rsquo;re gonna see my backside.&rdquo;
As it happened, Cooman registered the slowest reaction time of the six finalists, 0.178. Yet, such was the explosive sprinting power packed into her 5ft 1in frame, the rest of the field were staring at her from the first step onwards. Cooman proceeded to rocket clear of Marlies Gohr, reducing the five-time champion to a ragged, arms-flailing mess of an also-ran.
As the flying Cooman flashed across the line, the figures on the trackside clock froze at 7.00.
It was the first seven-seconds-flat clocking in the history of the women&rsquo;s 60m indoors, a landmark achievement that was subsequently recognised as the first official world indoor record at the distance.
The previous world best stood at 7.04, by Gohr&rsquo;s East German teammate Marita Koch. Gohr took second place in 7.08, to go third on the all-time list, with compatriot Silke Gladisch third in 7.14.
&ldquo;My reaction time was not the best, but my first step was,&rdquo; Cooman reflected. &ldquo;My start was everything. I even beat Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson out of the blocks on a training camp. They both saw my backside. They were not very happy.
&ldquo;I benefitted from having 80% fast-twitch fibres. I was like a Ferrari when the gun went.&rdquo;
Four decades on, the human Ferrari has generously donated the gold spikes she wore that day to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) &ndash; as a reminder of the seven seconds that changed her life.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/699c95a61d4547a45e970de3.jpg" alt="Nelli Cooman" />
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Nelli Cooman (&copy; World Athletics)
<h2>Sprint rise</h2>
She was 21 at the time and already a European indoor 60m champion. A surprise bronze medallist as a teenager in Gothenburg in 1984, she had been an even more surprising winner in Piraeus in 1985.
Beating Gohr by 0.03 in 7.10, Cooman brought an end to the East German&rsquo;s unbeaten record of five successes in the event with an upset victory commemorated in the MOWA collection by the Dutch singlet and shorts and the bib number she wore that day.
As a breakthrough world record-setter in Madrid in 1986, however, Cooman became a household name in her homeland &ndash; a familiar face on Dutch television shows and insistently recognised on the streets. &ldquo;Everyone would say, &lsquo;Hey, Nelli Cooman&hellip;seven seconds!&rsquo;&rdquo; she recalled.
Born Cornelli Antoinette Cooman in Suriname, the former Dutch colony on the Caribbean coast of South America, her family emigrated to the Netherlands when she was eight, her mother holding down three part-time jobs to provide for Nelli and her three sisters as they settled into a new life in Rotterdam.
Cooman&rsquo;s sporting prowess first became evident on the football field; her schoolmates called her &lsquo;Miss Pele&rsquo;. She was reluctantly drawn into track and field at the age of 16 when a local coach spotted her natural sprinting talent at a school sports day.
Under the guidance of Henk Kraajenhof, a scientist turned expert speed coach, Miss Pele became the mistress of the boards.
Queen Nelli of the Netherlands came to rule the global indoor sprint game &ndash; even though, at times, she had to hone her speed in a pedestrian tunnel under the River Maas, due to a lack of suitable facilities.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/699c953af32870a1a6c113e3.jpg" alt="Nelli Cooman's donations to the Museum of World Athletics" />
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Nelli Cooman's donations to the Museum of World Athletics (&copy; World Athletics)
<h2>Multiple medallist</h2>
Outdoors, over 100m, she only claimed one major championship medal: European bronze in Stuttgart in the summer of 1986. Indoors, with her power-packed frame ideally suited to 60m, Cooman racked up a record tally of six European crowns, following her wins in Piraeus and Madrid with victories in Li&eacute;vin in 1987, Budapest in 1988, The Hague in 1989 and Paris in 1994. She also claimd a second bronze, in Glasgow in 1990.
Then there were her two world indoor triumphs.
The first of those came in 1987 in Indianapolis, where Cooman initially won by a whisker (officially 0.003) in 7.08, although Canada&rsquo;s Angella Issajenko was retrospectively disqualified as runner-up because of doping.
A painting depicting that triumph has also been kindly donated to the Museum of World Athletics by Cooman, who successfully defended her global crown in Budapest in 1989, improving her championship record to 7.05.
Her world indoor record survived until 1992, when Merlene Ottey breached the seven-second barrier.
The Jamaican did so with a time of 6.96 &ndash; like Cooman&rsquo;s historic 7.00 clocking, also achieved 670m above sea level in Madrid, the second-highest capital city in Europe.
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage 
<div><a href="https://tinyurl.com/visitMOWA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6885f79e982e117f1338cb26.jpg" alt="MOWA banner" /></a>
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There was just the one concern on Nelli Cooman’s mind as she settled into her starting blocks in the Palacio de Deportes in Madrid on the afternoon of 23 February 1986

The seven seconds that changed Cooman's life

Tickets for the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 are now on general sale, as the eyes of the sporting world are turning towards Botswana. On 2-3 May 2026, the Botswana National Stadium will host the world&rsquo;s fastest sprinters in this historic event &ndash; the first time this global championship has been held on African soil.&nbsp;
To ensure a seamless experience for fans, the local organising committee has implemented a digital ticketing system. If you're planning to witness the world&rsquo;s fastest athletes live, here is everything you need to know about securing your spot.&nbsp;
<h2>The new standard: 100% online, 100% secure</h2>
For WRE Gaborone 26, the entry process is entirely paperless.
No physical sales: tickets will not be sold at the stadium gates or any physical outlets.
Official channels only: to protect yourself from fraudulent activity, only use the verified portals.
The exclusive ticketing site is <a href="https://vend.1venda.com/war/er8b9/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tickito</a>. You can also find the ticketing link via the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/tickets-gaborone26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official event website</a>.&nbsp;
The system features a digital seat selector, allowing you to choose exactly where you want to sit to catch the explosive baton exchanges.
There are no third-party sellers. Do not click on unofficial links or buy from individuals claiming to have "spare" physical tickets.&nbsp;
<h2>How to buy your tickets: a step-by-step guide</h2>
Getting your ticket is quick and easy. Follow these six steps:&nbsp;
1. Visit the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 website. Click <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/tickets-gaborone26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>&nbsp;using your smartphone,&nbsp;tablet&nbsp;or computer.&nbsp;
2. Click on the button: 'BUY TICKETS NOW'.
3. Choose your date and seat. Use the digital stadium map to review available sections. Select your preferred seat based on the view and price category.&nbsp;
4. Enter your details. Proceed to the checkout page and fill in the required information. You can choose to receive your ticket via email or as an SMS code.&nbsp;
5. Payment method. Confirm your order details and select your preferred payment option (the system supports secure online card payments and mobile platforms).&nbsp;
6. Complete the payment process through the encrypted gateway. Once the transaction is successful, check your email or phone. Your digital ticket will arrive instantly.&nbsp;

World Athletics Relays

Tickets for the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 are now on general sale, as the eyes of the sporting world are turning towards Botswana

Tickets to the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 now on general sale 

<h3>Five storylines that started in 2023 and could define the World Athletics Ultimate Championship when the sport's stars return to the Hungarian capital in 2026</h3>
 Two hundred days remain. Two hundred days until the sport&rsquo;s fiercest contenders return to Budapest &ndash; not for another World Championships, but for something tighter, sharper and altogether less forgiving.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will gather Olympic champions, world champions and Diamond League Final winners in one compressed contest designed to settle the debate and determine the ultimate champions. The last time the global spotlight fell on the Hungarian capital, for the World Championships in 2023, it produced moments that still echo: sprint statements, middle-distance heartbreak, last-round drama in the field and record-breaking relay runs.
Those stories did not end when the medals were handed out. They evolved through Paris, Tokyo and beyond. And now, with qualification earned rather than gifted, the stage is set for their next chapter.
From the sprint straight to the throwing circle, from the tactical churn of the 1500m to the innovation of the mixed 4x100m relay, Budapest is once again poised to measure greatness in hundredths, centimetres and split-second decisions.
Here are five storylines that began in Budapest in 2023 &ndash; and could define what happens when the sport&rsquo;s stars return there on 11-13 September 2026.
&nbsp;
<h2>The sprint stage that builds legends</h2>
Budapest was where sprint statements were made in 2023, the boldest of those coming from USA&rsquo;s Noah Lyles, who won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m triple. He followed that with Olympic 100m gold in Paris, booking his place at the Ultimate Championship.
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But with Letsile Tebogo winning Olympic 200m gold and Oblique Seville taking the world 100m title last year, the question remains unresolved: who owns this sprinting era?
It&rsquo;s a conversation sprint icon Usain Bolt admits he would have relished.
&ldquo;The absolute best of the best facing off against each other &ndash; all the major global stars, big money, even bigger personalities, no excuses &ndash; to see who gets bragging rights as the ultimate champion,&rdquo; said the Jamaican superstar, who is an official &lsquo;Ultimate Legend&rsquo; for the event. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s just say I would have loved to be competing in this box-office championship.&rdquo;
Budapest is a city where sprint reputations are forged. In 2026, it may be where one is sealed.
&nbsp;
<h2>Heartbreak, redemption and two unforgiving laps</h2>
In 2023, the women&rsquo;s 800m delivered one of the championship&rsquo;s defining images: a race run on instinct and nerve, decided in the final strides. For Keely Hodgkinson, the runner-up on that occasion, it was a moment that sharpened ambition rather than satisfied it.
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Since then, global titles have reshuffled the division. Hodgkinson gained redemption by winning Olympic gold in Paris, but new challengers have emerged. Lilian Odira, the surprise world champion last year, is one such contender. Femke Bol&rsquo;s move from the 400m hurdles to this discipline adds another layer of intrigue.
The event remains as volatile as ever &ndash; two laps that reward courage but punish miscalculation. And for those who left the Hungarian capital with unfinished business in 2023, the return carries extra significance.
&nbsp;
<h2>Unpredictability in spikes</h2>
If the 2023 World Championships proved anything about the men&rsquo;s 1500m, it is that dominance is never permanent.
Championship middle-distance racing is not a time trial. It is positioning, patience and a final kick finish that can undo years of expectation. Just ask Josh Kerr, who stunned the field in 2023. Or Olympic champion Cole Hocker. Or world champion Isaac Nader.
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The event thrives on uncertainty, and the Ultimate Championship compresses that unpredictability into a smaller, sharper contest. No heats, no second chances. Just one race where the smartest tactician prevails.
Budapest may yet produce another unexpected winner.
&nbsp;
<h2>Relay theatre reimagined</h2>
Relays in Budapest have a habit of rewriting scripts.
In 2023, the mixed 4x400m delivered not only one of the most dramatic finishes, but also the only world record of the championships.
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Three years on, a new format steps into the spotlight. The mixed 4x100m will feature at the Ultimate Championship &ndash; shorter, faster, less forgiving. The margin for error is measured in baton passes, not metres.
Sha&rsquo;Carri Richardson anchored the US women to 4x100m victory in Budapest in 2023, while compatriot Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ran the glory leg in Tokyo last year. In a mixed format, that calibre of speed becomes even more explosive.
In an event that blends individual brilliance with team precision, Budapest will once again provide the setting for split-second drama.
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<h2>Full circle moment</h2>
Few events felt as rooted in place in Budapest three years ago as the men&rsquo;s hammer.
The rhythm of the turns, the silence before release, the eruption as the implement lands &ndash; Hungarian fans understood every phase.
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For Bence Hal&aacute;sz, a multiple global medallist and the host nation&rsquo;s leading athlete, the return carries particular significance. But sentiment will not guarantee anything &ndash; especially in a field that includes the likes of world and Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg.
The hammer is a contest of centimetres and composure. And in 200 days&rsquo; time, a home crowd will wait to see whether inspiration can tip the balance.

World Athletics Ultimate Championships

Five storylines that started in 2023 and could define the World Athletics Ultimate Championship when the sport's stars return to the Hungarian capital in 2026

Budapest beginnings

Sweden&rsquo;s world pole vault record-holder Mondo&nbsp;Duplantis&nbsp;cleared a world lead of 6.06m on his season opener at the All Star Perche, a&nbsp;World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting, in&nbsp;Clermont-Ferrand, France,&nbsp;on Sunday (22).
Despite suffering sickness in the days leading up to the event, the 26-year-old multiple world and Olympic champion still managed the highest clearance in the world so far this year and went on to have three attempts at a world record height of 6.31m.
Australia&rsquo;s two-time world bronze medallist Kurtis Marschall became the latest member of the six-metre club as he cleared 6.00m on his first attempt to finish second and then had three attempts at 6.06m.
World silver medallist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece placed third on 5.90m.
&ldquo;This competition is very important to me,&rdquo; Duplantis said on the live broadcast. &ldquo;The day before yesterday, I had a bad night with some throwing up. I'm glad that I could take some jumps and be able to win.&rdquo;
Duplantis entered the competition at 5.70m and managed that and 5.90m on his first attempts. His 6.06m clearance came from his third vault of the competition.
His most recent world record was the 6.30m he achieved in September in Tokyo, where he claimed his third consecutive World Championships title and his eighth major senior international title.
He will return to the global stage next month to seek a fourth successive World Indoor Championships title in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, before an outdoor season that will feature the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September.
Before that, he will compete at the Mondo Classic, another World Indoor Tour Silver meeting, in Uppsala on 12 March.
Asked about his targets, he said: &ldquo;Hopefully the 6.31m bar. I would like to get a world record in early. I'm getting married this year, so it would be nice to get a world record bonus to pay for the wedding. I'm joking, but only half joking! But to get a world record &ndash; try to get a 6.31m &ndash; that would be great. I feel really good and I think I'm going to have some really good jumps the next couple of competitions.&rdquo;
Four women cleared 4.76m in the women&rsquo;s contest, which was topped by Czechia&rsquo;s Am&aacute;lie &Scaron;v&aacute;b&iacute;kov&aacute; on countback.
The world fourth-place finisher cleared that season&rsquo;s best height on her first attempt and won ahead of Tina &Scaron;utej, Imogen Ayris and Marie-Julie Bonnin, the mark being a PB for Ayris and a French record for Bonnin that adds one centimetre to the height she cleared to win the world indoor title in Nanjing last year. 
<h2>US quartet clocks 9:14.80 distance medley relay in Indiana</h2>
A US quartet of Brendan Herger, Miles Brown, Camden Law and Trent McFarland teamed up to clock 9:14.80 for the distance medley relay at the Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, Indiana, on Saturday (21).
That time is faster than the ratified outright world record of 9:15.50 achieved by a US team at the 2015 World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas.
A quicker time of 9:14.58 for the event &ndash; which&nbsp;comprises legs of 1200m, 400m, 800m and 1600m &ndash;&nbsp;was run by another US quartet in Eugene in April 2024 and that mark is pending world record ratification.
&nbsp;

Sweden’s world pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis cleared a world lead of 6.06m on his season opener at the All Star Perche

Duplantis starts season with 6.06m in Clermont-Ferrand, US team clocks 9:14.80 distance medley relay

Devynne Charlton, Eliott Crestan and Zaynab Dosso ended their World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold campaigns on a high by clinching statement victories in the final meeting of the series in Toruń on Sunday (22).
Overall tour titles&nbsp;in the scoring disciplines offering a bonus of US$10,000 and wildcard entries for next month&rsquo;s World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 were up for grabs at the Orlen Copernicus Cup, held in the same Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena that will host next month&rsquo;s global showpiece.
Charlton was among the athletes who secured their tour titles with a win in Toruń. The Bahamian two-time world indoor champion and world record-holder became the fastest woman in the 60m hurdles so far this year as she clocked a meeting record of 7.77 to narrowly hold off Switzerland&rsquo;s world 100m hurdles champion Ditaji Kambundji.
It was a battle between the two fastest women in history and Charlton got the better start but Kambundji finished strongly to push her rival close, crossing the line just 0.01 back. Nadine Visser was third in 7.80 and home favourite Pia Skrzyszowska fourth in 7.82. Skrzyszowska had earlier won her heat in 7.83.
The women&rsquo;s 60m is not a scoring discipline on the World Indoor Tour this year but Dosso still made her mark ahead of the World Indoor Championships by setting a meeting and national record of 6.99 to equal the world lead.
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The Italian two-time world indoor medallist dipped under seven seconds for the first time &ndash; becoming the 15th athlete to ever break the barrier &ndash; to beat world indoor bronze medallist Patrizia van der Weken and world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt who ran respective PBs of 7.01 and 7.04. Home star Ewa Swoboda finished fourth in 7.09.
"Breaking seven seconds for the first time certainly feels special," said Dosso. "Now I feel ready for the World Indoors. The competition will certainly be tough, everyone was setting PBs here, but I am confident about my form."
Belgium&rsquo;s Crestan achieved his third World Indoor Tour Gold meeting win of the season, adding 800m triumph in Toruń to his victories in Ostrava and Li&eacute;vin. That saw him claim the overall tour crown after his clear 1:44.07 win ahead of Polish indoor record-holder Maciej Wyderka (1:44.30).
Since the start of this month, Crestan has achieved three of the six fastest times of the season and three of the 12 fastest indoor performances of all time.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/699b5cacdb75b4baae0f615f.jpg" alt="Eliott Crestan wins the 800m in Torun" />
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Eliott Crestan wins the 800m in Toruń (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Adam Nurkiewicz)
The women&rsquo;s 1500m tour title had already been secured by Birke Haylom but France&rsquo;s European indoor champion Agathe Guillemot achieved a big confidence-boosting win as she overpowered Ethiopia&rsquo;s two-time world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu to triumph in a PB of 4:00.64.
Hailu and her compatriot Haylom broke away along with Guillemot and Hailu had the lead off the final bend, but Guillemot found a gap on the inside and strode through to win by 0.03. Haylom was third in 4:00.92.
France&rsquo;s Azeddine Habz ran a meeting record of 3:32.56 &ndash; the third-fastest time in the world this year &ndash; to win a dramatic men&rsquo;s&nbsp;1500m.
The 2025 world leader launched himself over the finish line as a fast-finishing Tshepiso Masalela tried to deny him in the closing stages, but Masalela &ndash; making his indoor 1500m debut &ndash; was later disqualified and Habz was confirmed as the winner ahead of Samuel Chapple (3:32.68) and Samuel Pihlstr&ouml;m (3:33.47), who both set national short track records.
European indoor champion Jakub Szymanski got a win on home soil in the men&rsquo;s 60m hurdles, clocking 7.48, while Ethiopia&rsquo;s world indoor silver medallist Nigist Getachew won the women&rsquo;s 800m in an indoor PB of 1:59.32 as the top six all dipped under two minutes.
World 400m hurdles bronze medallist Emma Zapletalova went quickest in the 400m, winning her race in 50.90, but the overall tour title had already been won by Lieke Klaver who ran 51.35 to finish second in the other 400m final behind Lurdes Gloria Manuel (51.17).
USA&rsquo;s Joe Kovacs clinched shot put victory during his European indoor meeting debut. The two-time world champion threw a season&rsquo;s best of 21.92m in the first round and will now aim to secure his spot at the US Championships to compete at his first World Indoor Championships back in Torun next month.&nbsp;
His compatriot Roger Steen, the indoor world leader, was second with a best of 21.62m. Their fellow US thrower Jordan Geist was not competing this time but he clinched the overall World Indoor Tour title thanks to his performances in Ostrava, Madrid and Belgrade.
World silver medallist Maria Zodzik equalled her indoor PB of 1.98m to win the high jump and the overall tour trophy, securing her spot for the World Indoor Championships back on home soil. Jamaica&rsquo;s Lamara Distin was second on countback and Ukraine&rsquo;s Yuliia Levchenko was third, both athletes clearing 1.94m.
European indoor champion Larissa Iapichino leapt to victory and the overall tour title, soaring 6.72m to win the long jump by a single centimetre ahead of world indoor silver medallist Annik K&auml;lin, making her season debut.
Norway&rsquo;s Sondre Guttormsen went into the competition with the overall pole vault tour title secured and he added one more win to his tally in Toruń. He cleared 5.85m to triumph over his brother Simen and USA&rsquo;s Chris Nilsen, who both cleared 5.80m with Nilsen getting the runner-up spot on countback.
The meeting also featured a pentathlon and that was won by Poland&rsquo;s Paulina Ligarska by a single point ahead of Great Britain&rsquo;s Abigail Pawlett &ndash; 4676 to 4675, both PB performances.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/calendar-results/7228326/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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Devynne Charlton, Eliott Crestan and Zaynab Dosso ended their World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold campaigns on a high by clinching statement victories in the final meeting of the series in Toruń

Charlton, Crestan and Dosso close World Indoor Tour Gold in style in Toruń

Harbert Kibet and Caroline Gitonga both moved into the top 10 on the world all-time lists while Yann Schrub and Megan Keith set European records at the 10K Facsa Castell&oacute;n, a World Athletics Label road race, on Sunday (22).
Making his 10km debut, Uganda&rsquo;s 20-year-old Kibet won the race in a world-leading 26:39, a time that makes him the fifth-fastest 10km runner in history &ndash; just one second slower than his compatriot Joshua Cheptegei, the multiple global gold medallist and world 5000m and 10,000m record-holder.
Kibet won by four seconds ahead of Schrub of France, who clocked 26:43 to beat Sweden&rsquo;s Andreas Almgren by two seconds and improve his rival&rsquo;s European record in the process. Almgren ran 26:45 in Valencia last month to improve his own European record and the world 10,000m bronze medallist matched that mark in Castell&oacute;n.
Kenya&rsquo;s Gitonga improved her PB by more than a minute to win the women&rsquo;s race in 29:34 and move to joint ninth on the world all-time list.
She won by 11 seconds ahead of her compatriot Nelvin Jepkemboi, while Ethiopia&rsquo;s Chaltu Dida was third in 29:50 and Great Britain&rsquo;s Keith was fourth in 30:07, taking one second off the European record set by her compatriot Eilish McColgan in Valencia. McColgan ran 30:35 on this occasion to finish sixth, one place behind Purity Gitonga (30:25), twin sister to winner Caroline.
The pacemaker Mike Foppen led a seven-strong leading men&rsquo;s pack through 5km in 13:23 and Almgren and Schrub remained to the fore as the group passed the 7km mark.
Kibet, contesting the longest race of his career so far, started to make a move with around 1.5km remaining and he strode ahead, glancing over his shoulder.
But Almgren and Schrub didn&rsquo;t respond and Kibet won clear in 26:39. Schrub won the battle for the runner-up spot and the European record, moving to sixth on the world all-time list, and he and Almgren were followed over the finish line by Kenya&rsquo;s Silas Senchura (26:58).
In the women&rsquo;s race, Jepkemboi and Caroline Gitonga ran together through the 5km mark in 14:32. Jepkemboi then pushed ahead but she could not maintain that lead and Caroline passed her with what ended up being a winning move.
Caroline built an 11-second lead by the finish line, crossing clear in 29:34 to improve on the PB of 30:46 she set when finishing eighth in Castell&oacute;n last year.
Keith, meanwhile, beat the two athletes who had previously held the European record &ndash; McColgan and Belgium&rsquo;s Jana Van Lent, who ran 30:10 in Nice last month and clocked 30:50 in Castell&oacute;n. Lonah Chemtai Salpeter&rsquo;s 30:05 from Tilburg in 2019 remains the fastest time achieved by a European athlete but that mark was not ratified as a European record.
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Caroline Gitonga (KEN) 29:34 2 Nelvin Jepkemboi (KEN) 29:45 3 Chaltu Dida (ETH) 29:50 4 Megan Keith (GBR) 30:07 5 Purity Gitonga (KEN) 30:25 6 Eilish McColgan (GBR) 30:35
Men 1 Harbert Kibet (UGA) 26:39 2 Yann Schrub (FRA) 26:43 3 Andreas Almgren (SWE) 26:45 4 Silas Senchura (KEN) 26:58 5 Biniyam Melak (ETH) 27:10 6 Bereket Nega (ETH) 27:39
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/calendar-results/7237361/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a> 
<h2>Mekashu and Dida claim Ethiopian double in Guadalajara</h2>
Kolole Mekashu and Gemechu Dida achieved an Ethiopian double at the XL Medio Marat&oacute;n Internacional Guadalajara Electrolit, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday (22).
Mekashu clocked a PB of 1:12:49 to win the women&rsquo;s race by four seconds, while Dida ran 1:03:38 to pip Kenya&rsquo;s Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi in a close battle.
Mekashu and Kenya&rsquo;s Mercy Jerop Kwambai ran as part of a group that passed 5km in 17:42, 10km in 35:03 and 15km in 51:56.
Mekashu, Kwambai and Mexican triathlete Anah&iacute; &Aacute;lvarez broke away and &Aacute;lvarez looked to be pushing the pace. But Mekashu and Kwambai were waiting for their moment to kick and they first ran together before Mekashu moved ahead and eventually won by four seconds &ndash; 1:12:49 to 1:12:53.
&Aacute;lvarez gained on Kwambai but ran out of road and finished third in 1:12:54.
The men&rsquo;s race ended in a sprint. Dida and Lasoi ran together as part of a large pack that hit 5km in 15:20 and 10km in 30:36. A breakaway group of six passed the 15km mark in 45:17 and then the race was down to Dida and Lasoi plus Kenya&rsquo;s Moses Kibet and Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo.&nbsp;
Dida had the strongest finish and he held off Lasoi, both athletes given a finishing time of 1:03:38.
Kibet was five seconds behind them and Kilimo a further three seconds back. Kenya&rsquo;s Victor Kipchirchir was fifth (1:04:10) and Mexico&rsquo;s Antonio Vara was sixth (1:04:40).
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1&nbsp;Kolole Mekashu (ETH) 1:12:49 2 Mercy Jerop Kwambai (KEN) 1:12:53 3&nbsp;Anah&iacute; &Aacute;lvarez (MEX) 1:12:54 4 Adela Honorato (MEX) 1:13:35 5 Marcela&nbsp;&Aacute;lvarez (MEX) 1:13:42 6 Ana Torres (MEX) 1:15:03
Men 1&nbsp;Gemechu Dida (ETH) 1:03:38 2&nbsp;Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN) 1:03:38 3&nbsp;Moses Kibet (KEN) 1:03:43 4 Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo (KEN) 1:03:46 5&nbsp;Victor Kipchirchir (KEN) 1:04:10 6 Antonio Vara (MEX) 1:04:40
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/calendar-results/7237360/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>

Harbert Kibet and Caroline Gitonga both moved into the top 10 on the world all-time lists while Yann Schrub and Megan Keith set European records at the 10K Facsa Castellón

Kibet and Gitonga impress, Schrub and Keith run records in Castellón

The Polish athletics community came out in force in the city of Torun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to support the Museum of World Athletics&rsquo; (MOWA) latest public exhibition which opened last night for a one-month run at the Torun Plaza shopping mall.
Led by Sebastian Chmara, President of the Polish Athletics Association and the first Pole in history to win a world indoor title when taking heptathlon gold in 1999, six athletes who between them had won seven Olympic gold medals, four world and three world indoor titles came on stage to celebrate the opening of the MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26.
<h3>&lsquo;Long distance fighter&rsquo;</h3>
Sadly, severe weather in central Europe early on Friday (20) caused havoc with the travel of two guests. Patrizia Van der Weken, the world indoor and European indoor 60m bronze medallist, who was to participate in the ceremony, saw her flights from Luxembourg delayed and repeatedly diverted, so she missed the ceremony altogether.
Thankfully, four-time Olympic champion Robert Korzeniowski did make it on time but only after an unplanned six-hour taxi drive to Torun. Travelling from the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games via Vienna, Korzeniowski faced hours of delays after his flight was diverted to Brno in Czechia when Vienna airport temporarily closed, leaving him without onward connections to Poland.
Asked why he persisted in his journey, Korzeniowski, whose 2003 World Championships 50km world record race walking shoes are housed in MOWA, said, reflecting the grit that defined his endurance career: &ldquo;I am a long distance fighter, I would not give up.&rdquo;
<h3>New donors welcomed by established supporters</h3>
Korzeniowski made it to Torun with 30 minutes to spare and, once he quickly changed clothes, came on stage with another great friend of MOWA, 2004 Olympic 4x100m champion Jason Gardener.
The British sprinter, who won the world indoor 60m title that same year, was also a four-time European indoor champion and helped launch the World Athletics Heritage programme in 2018 by donating his winning spikes from the 2004 World Indoors.
On Friday, he, like Korzeniowski, was in Torun to welcome two new athletes into the MOWA family: Poland&rsquo;s 2014 world indoor high jump champion Kamila Licwinko and two-time Olympic shot put gold medallist Tomasz Majewski.
<h3>Licwinko: &lsquo;never give up&rsquo;</h3>
Licwinko, who donated her Olympic uniform, name bib and spikes from the Olympic high jump final in 2021, her last major competition before retirement later that year, was asked what advice she would give young girls hoping to succeed in sport.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6999aad90c0dfa3bd1fb5ad5.jpg" alt="Kamila Licwinko at the MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26" />
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Kamila Licwinko at the MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26 (&copy; MOWA <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Pawel Skraba)
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&ldquo;Never give up and always chase your dreams,&rdquo; said Licwinko. &ldquo;In my sporting career, there were many ups and downs. I suspect more downs than ups. Many medals slipped through my fingers for different reasons.
&ldquo;I met the right people; people who believed in me and they made me start to believe in myself. If someone had not told me I would jump two metres, I would have never believed it myself,&rdquo; said the Polish high jump record-holder.
<h3>&lsquo;Where our biggest dreams lie&rsquo;</h3>
Like Licwinko, Majewski donated his competition shoes from the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he finished sixth, his last major competition before retirement. Also, he generously gave the MOWA collection his uniform and bib from the 2014 World Indoor Championships in Sopot, where he had placed fourth.
Majewski &ndash; who had a consistent record at the World Indoor Championships with two bronze medals, three fourth places and a sixth-place finish &ndash; was asked what made the difference for him at the Olympic Games.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6999aabd0c0dfa3bd1fb5ad2.jpg" alt="Tomasz Majewski at the MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26" />
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Tomasz Majewski at the MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26 (&copy; MOWA <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Pawel Skraba)
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&ldquo;When I think about this event &ndash; its atmosphere, its history, its magnitude &ndash; all of it makes the Olympic Games something you dream about,&rdquo; replied Majewski. &ldquo;You may compete in many other sporting events but in truth, you dream only of the Olympics, of taking part in them and winning there. That is where our biggest dreams lie.&rdquo;
<h3>Heritage trophy for Chmara</h3>
Piotr Calbecki, Marshal of the Kujawy Pomorze region, received Licwinko&rsquo;s donation on behalf of MOWA. Krzysztof Wolsztynski, CEO of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 LOC, accepted Majewski&rsquo;s gifts on behalf of the museum.
Also attending the ceremony was the Deputy Mayor of Torun Adam Szponka and two of the LOC&rsquo;s athlete ambassadors, 2011 world pole vault champion Pawel Wojciechowski and Anna Matuszewicz, the new holder of the Polish indoor long jump record (6.77m), which she set in January.
Just prior to the cutting of the ribbon which officially opened the exhibition, a moment in which all the above-mentioned guests participated, a special commemorative award was made to the President of the Polish Athletics Association.
Chmara, in his capacity as the head of the host Member Federation and Poland&rsquo;s first winner of a world indoor gold medal, was presented with a commemorative World Athletics Heritage Trophy.
The MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26 is open daily until the last day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 (20-22 March 2026).
World Athletics Heritage gratefully acknowledges the support of MOWA Founding Patron Michael H Burke for his generous support which made yesterday&rsquo;s opening ceremony possible.
Chris Turner for World Athletics Heritage
<div><a href="https://tinyurl.com/visitMOWA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6885f79e982e117f1338cb26.jpg" alt="MOWA banner" /></a></div>

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