• Norway’s Henriette Jæger top-ranked and ready for another podium flourish
• Lieke Klaver hopes to claim first individual global title
• Slovakia, Spain and hosts Poland also carry strong medal hopes

A year after taking 400m bronze in Nanjing, Norway’s 22-year-old Henriette Jæger has the prospect of doing even better at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26.

Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver, overall women’s 400m winner in this year’s World Athletics Indoor Tour, will also fancy her chances, while strong challenges are expected from Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova and home athlete Natalia Bukowiecka.

The event will be without 2025 winner Amber Anning, world leader Ella Onojuvwevwo and NCAA indoor champion Dejanea Oakley, which means that Jaeger travels to Poland as the fastest 400m entrant based on this season’s times, thanks to the 50.62 she recorded in Metz, just 0.18 shy of the PB she set last year.

But while Klaver – who won mixed 4x400m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics – has run 51.00 this season, she is the fastest in the field with a short track personal best of 50.10.

She will also be buoyed by the memory of her victory at last year’s European Indoor Championships on home soil in Apeldoorn, where she clocked 50.38 to finish ahead of Jaeger, who clocked 50.45 for silver.

It could be Klaver’s best opportunity yet to earn an individual global title, but she won’t underestimate the challenge from competitors such as world 400m hurdles bronze medallist Zapletalova, who clocked 50.78 as she followed Jaeger home in Metz.

Also contending for a medal will be Poland’s own Bukowiecka, who clocked 50.97 last month in the Kujawsko-Pomorska arena where the championships will be held.

And home fans will have fingers crossed that their long-time favourite Justyna Swiety-Ersetic, European champion in 2018 and possessor of four World Indoor Championship relay medals will be able to produce another flourish at the age of 33.

Other medal contenders will be present in Spain’s Paula Sevilla, who equalled the national record of 50.99 in taking European indoor bronze last year and who has a 2026 best of 51.69.

The top US performer looks likely to be Rosey Effiong, who has run 51.53 this year but has a best of 50.54.

Also in the hunt will be Czechia’s Lurdes Gloria Manuel, who has run a best of 51.03 this season, Klaver’s teammate Myrte van der Schoot, who has clocked 51.33, and Kenyan record-holder Mercy Oketch.

In the absence of Anning, Britain’s banner will be carried by Yemi Mary John, who has set a personal best of 51.55 this season.

Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics

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