In the starting blocks in Belgrade (© Dan Vernon)
The first senior global track and field championships in almost three years will get underway on Friday (18) when the Serbian capital hosts the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22.
Here are five expected highlights on the first day of action.
The return of the World Indoors
TRACK (and field) IS BACK!
Since the inaugural edition in 1987, the World Indoors has never had a hiatus as long as this. But four years on since the 2018 championships in Birmingham, the World Indoor Championships is ready to return.
The action will kick off with the women’s pentathlon 60m hurdles, where Katarina Johnson-Thompson will attempt to retain her title as she takes on European indoor silver medallist Noor Vidts and world leader Adrianna Sulek.
The first final of the championships – the men’s triple jump – will take place during Friday’s morning session. Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo, defending world indoor champion Will Claye and World Indoor Tour winner Lazaro Martinez are all entered.
Fifteen-lap thriller
The first track final of the championships, the women’s 3000m looks set to be a thriller.
Dawit Seyaum has impressed on the World Indoor Tour this year, winning in Lievin in a world-leading 8:23.24 to move to third on the world indoor all-time list. But fellow Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye has the fastest outdoor PB of the field with the 8:19.52 national record she set last year.
Watch out, too, for Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, whose closing speed will be tough to beat in a tactical race.
Birthday boy seeks first world title
Miltiadis Tentoglou has already won three senior continental titles (two indoors, one outdoors) and, of course, an Olympic gold, but the Greek long jumper has not yet won a world title, indoors or out.
What better day to put that right than on his 24th birthday? He has the farthest season’s best of the men's long jump field, thanks to the 8.25m leap he produced in Belgrade earlier this month. But European indoor silver medallist Thobias Montler is close behind on this year’s world lists with 8.23m.
The likes of 2016 world indoor champion Marquis Dendy, 2017 world silver medallist Jarrion Lawson, Asian champion Yuki Hashioka and Olympic bronze medallist Maykel Masso will ensure it’s a highly competitive final.
Dongmo meets Ewen
Auriol Dongmo and Maggie Ewen have both been undefeated and in PB form this year, but at least one of them will lose their unbeaten streak by the end of the women’s shot put final on Friday evening.
Portugal’s Dongmo tops the world list with her 19.90m – the best throw in the world since 2016 – but US indoor champion Ewen is close behind with 19.79m. Jessica Schilder, meanwhile, has set numerous Dutch records this year, topped by her 19.72m heave.
Given how closely matched the top three entrants are, they could push each other beyond the 20-metre barrier.
Sprint showdown
The first day will reach a crescendo with the women’s 60m final.
Ewa Swoboda is the fastest in the world this year with her 6.99 clocking from the Polish Indoor Championships. But four other women have season’s bests within a tenth of a second of Swoboda’s time.
US duo Marybeth Sant-Price and Mikiah Brisco have been highly consistent this year, while Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji is always a danger at major championships. Jamaica’s Briana Williams, still just 19 years of age, will be contesting her first individual event at a senior championships and could also be a danger.
Expect fireworks, a close finish and fast times.
