World Indoor Tour victories on the line in Toruń

The Orlen Copernicus Cup will bring the curtain down on the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold series on Sunday (22), as athletes compete for a US$10,000 bonus in the scoring disciplines and wildcard entries for next month’s World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26.

Held in the same Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena that will host next month’s global showpiece in Toruń, several World Indoor Tour titles remain undecided, ensuring high drama across the scoring disciplines.

The women’s 60m hurdles is the perfect example. Not only are three athletes in with a chance of winning the World Indoor Tour crown, it’s also a clash between the world indoor and outdoor champions, the two fastest women in history, and all three medallists from last year’s European Indoor Championships.

Two-time world indoor champion and world record-holder Devynne Charlton is fresh from a 7.79 season’s best victory in Lievin on Thursday, which catapulted her to the top of the World Indoor Tour Standings. The Bahamian lines up alongside European indoor bronze medallist and meeting record-holder Pia Skrzyszowska and France’s Laeticia Bapte, both of whom are still in contention for the tour crown.

They will face world champion and European indoor record-holder Ditaji Kambundji and two-time European indoor champion Nadine Visser in what looks set to be one of the highest quality and most competitive events of the evening.

The men’s 800m also carries major tour implications. Belgium’s Eliott Crestan, who in the past month has produced two of the seven fastest indoor performances in history, leads the standings following his victories in Ostrava and Lievin.

Polish indoor record-holder Maciej Wyderka, runner-up in both of those races, sits six points adrift, while world 1500m champion Isaac Nader and 2023 world bronze medallist Ben Pattison add further depth. A top-three finish would secure Crestan the overall title regardless of Wyderka’s placing. And, having twice broken 1:44 this year, Crestan may even target the meeting record of 1:43.63.

In the women’s long jump, Milica Gardasevic leads the tour but faces a stern challenge from European indoor champion Larissa Iapichino. A top-two finish would guarantee Gardasevic the crown, yet if she finishes third and Iapichino wins, the Italian will snatch the title. Keep an eye out for world indoor silver medallist Annik Kalin, who could yet disrupt the equation.

The men’s shot put promises a heavyweight finale. Jamaica’s Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell can claim the tour title if he wins and surpasses 22.04m, but he will need to overcome Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, who triumphed in Lievin on Thursday, as well as two-time world champion Joe Kovacs and his US compatriot Roger Steen, the indoor world leader.

In the women’s high jump, the equation is simple: whoever finishes higher between world silver medallist Maria Zodzik and Yuliia Levchenko will walk away with the tour trophy.

Although the women’s 1500m tour title has already been secured by Birke Haylom thanks to victories in Madrid and Ostrava, Sunday’s race still boasts a formidable line-up.

Two-time world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu arrives fresh from her Lievin win over 3000m, Olympic 800m silver medallist Tsige Duguma makes her 1500m debut after her Millrose 1000m triumph, and European indoor champion Agathe Guillemot returns to action alongside Saron Berhe, Haregeweyni Kalayu, Salome Afonso and Marta Zenoni.

In the men’s pole vault, Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen has already done enough to clinch the overall title, highlighted by his season’s best of 5.90m in Lievin. He will renew rivalries with USA’s 2021 Olympic silver medallist Chris Nilsen, European indoor champion Menno Vloon and two-time world medallist Ernest John Obiena.

The women’s 400m crown has also been wrapped up, with Lieke Klaver securing the tour victory. The Dutch athlete could, however, gain revenge on world 400m hurdles bronze medallist Emma Zapletalova, who beat Klaver in Lievin. Jamaican record-holder Nickisha Pryce and Poland’s Olympic bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka complete a high-class field.

High hopes for home stars

Four gold medallists from the 2025 European Indoor Championships will compete in Torun, including both of Poland’s champions.

European indoor champion Jakub Szymanski headlines the men’s 60m hurdles, where he will clash with European champion Lorenzo Simonelli, world indoor silver medallist Wilhem Belocian and USA’s Jamal Britt.

In the women’s 800m, world indoor silver medallist Nigist Getachew faces Poland’s European indoor champion Anna Wielgosz, European silver medallist Gabriela Gajanova and UK indoor champion Isabelle Boffey.

European indoor champion Zaynab Dosso leads the women’s 60m field that also features world indoor bronze medallist Patrizia van der Weken, Polish record-holder and meeting record-holder Ewa Swoboda and world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt.

The men’s 1500m includes 2025 world leader Azeddine Habz, European indoor 800m champion Samuel Chapple, Swedish record-holder Samuel Pihlstrom and world and Olympic 800m finalist Tshepiso Masalela, who makes his indoor 1500m debut.

With tour titles, wild cards and reputations on the line, Torun provides the perfect prelude to next month’s global stage.