A World Record in New York
There was fierce indoor competition in the US and Germany on the weekend, and the high-level performances demonstrated what to expect outdoors this season as the Tokyo World Championships looms.
In a stunning display of speed, battle, and strategy at the Millrose Games in New York (Feb. 8), Americans Grant Fisher and Yared Nuguse broke World indoor records in the 3000m and mile events, respectively. There were “murmurs of potential record-breaking performances” in the build-up to the meet, but many athletes focused just on winning.
Double Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher won the 3000m in 7:22.91, surpassing Lamecha Girma’s World indoor record of 7:23.81. Cole Hocker finished closely behind in 7:23.14, also beating the previous record. Fisher expressed his surprise at the speed of the race, initially aiming for the American record.
Shortly after Fisher’s achievement, Yared Nuguse claimed victory in the Wanamaker Mile, setting a World indoor record of 3:46.63. British meddle-distance runner Josh Kerr had withdrawn from that competition due to illness; however, Nuguse led the race maintaining a strong pace throughout. Hobbs Kessler finished second in 3:46.90, also breaking the previous World indoor record of 3:47.01.
There were several other notable performances in New York:
• Josh Hoey of the USA set a North American indoor record in the 800m with a time of 1:43.90.
• Whittni Morgan won the women’s 3000m in a personal best of 8:28.03.
• Georgia Bell secured victory in the women’s Wanamaker Mile in 4:23.35.
• US sprint hurdles Paris Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell won the women’s 60m hurdles in a world-leading 7.76.
• American Dylan Beard won the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.38, setting a Milrose record.
• Jacious Sears won the women’s 60m in a world-leading personal best of 7.02.
• St. Vincent and The Grenadines middle-distance runner Shafiqua Maloney dominated the women’s 800m, winning in 1:59.07.
• American Katie Moon won the pole vault with a height of 4.82m
• Lisa Raye of Trinidad and Tobago set a World U18 best in the girls’ 60m with a time of 7.13.
• Mexico’s Ever Palma broke the World indoor best in the mile race walk with 5:24.50.
Mihambo Impressive in Germany
Across the pond, the INIT Indoor Meeting was held in Karlsruhe, Germany (Feb. 7) and showcased impressive performances. The event, part of the World Indoor Tour Gold, featured world-leading marks from Germany’s Malaika Mihambo in the long jump and Canada’s Sarah Mitton in the women’s shot put.
Mihambo, the reigning European outdoor champion, achieved a world-leading 7.07m jump that equaled her indoor personal best and surpassed the meeting record of 7.06m set in 1994 by her compatriot Heike Drechsler.
Mitton won the women’s shot put with a world-leading 20.68m throw, equaling her Canadian national record. This was the best indoor women’s shot put result in more than a decade.
Other Highlights from Karlsruhe:
• British athlete Molly Caudery won the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.75m.
• Patrizia Van der Weken of Luxembourg won the women’s 60m in 7.13secs.
• Prudence Sekgodiso registered 1:59.88 to break the South African indoor record for the women’s 800m.
• French hurdler Wilhem Belocian won the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.53secs.
• Brian Faust of the USA broke the meeting record in the men’s 400m with 46.03.
• Sweden’s Samuel Pihlström secured victory in the men’s 1500m with 3:35.62.
• Stefan Nillessen shattered the Dutch indoor record in the men’s 3000m, winning in 7:37.10.
• Ethopia’s Lomi Muleta won the women’s 3000m in 8:57.52.
• Alice Mangione broke the Italian indoor record in the women’s 400m, clocking 51.75.
These performances in New York and Karlsruhe demonstrate the high level of competition and record-breaking achievements in indoor athletics.
Check out the spirited discussion about both meets: