GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, March 01–03 — Our coverage of World Indoor Championships XIX is presented in four composite articles: men’s track, men’s field, women’s track, women’s field.
| Jump To Event Report: | ||||||||||
| HJ | PV | LJ | TJ | SP | Hept | |||||
High Jump: Hamish Kerr (New Zealand) 7-8¾ (2.36) WL
Kerr, the WIC bronze medalist two years ago, elevated an otherwise humdrum competition at this level by clearing 7-8¾ (2.36).
He not only equaled the absolute Oceania record, but his jump was also a world lead.
Just three men were left in at 7-5¾ (2.28): Kerr, Korea’s reigning WIC champ Sang-hyeok Woo and current U.S. list leader Shelby McEwen.
The New Zealander continued his flawless record when he cleared this height well at the first time.
By contrast, Woo and McEwen — both having technical issues compared to some of their meets earlier in this season which included the pair going over 7-7¾ (2.33) in the Czech Republic last month — needed two attempts at this height.
With the bar raised to 7-7 (2.31), Kerr again went clear while his two rivals could go no higher although, with at least the silver secure, McEwen saved his last effort for when the bar was raised to 7-8 (2.34).
After failing the first time at 7-7 but having clinched gold after McEwen’s departure, Kerr then put the bar to 7-8¾ and flew clear with daylight to spare on his second attempt before calling it a day.
“That jump at 2.36 was absolutely the best jump of my life,” said Kerr, for whom this was his first indoor meet of the year.
He also gave an insight into why both the men’s and women’s competitions underwhelmed generally with McEwen’s 7-5¾ the lowest-ever height for a WIC silver.
“I talked to some of the women after their competition on Friday and they said that the track was very fast. I think a lot of people couldn’t adapt. I was worried myself and came in at 7-½ (2.15) which is lower than I would normally do. It took me a couple of jumps to work it [the surface] out.”
One of those who Kerr might have been referring to was Oklahoma alum Vernon Turner, the ’22 NCAA indoor champion, who was 6th with 7-4¼ (2.24). /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
(March 03)
1. Hamish Kerr (NZ) 7-8¾ (2.36) NR (WL)
(7-½, 7-2½, 7-4¼, 7-5¾, 7-7, 7-8 [x], 7-8¾ [2]) (2.15, 2.20, 2.24, 2.28, 2.31, 2.34 [x], 2.36 [2]);
2. Shelby McEwen (US) 7-5¾ (2.28)
(7-½, 7-4¼, 7-5¾ [2], 7-7 [xx], 7-8 [x]) (2.15, 2.24, 2.28 [2], 2.31 [xx], 2.34 [x]);
3. Sang-hyeok Woo (SK) 7-5¾ (2.28)
(7-2½, 7-4¼ [3], 7-5¾ [2], 7-7 [xxx]) (2.20, 2.24 [3], 2.28 [2], 2.31 [xxx]);
4. Oleh Doroshchuk (Ukr) 7-4¼ (2.24)
(7-½, 7-2½, 7-4¼, 7-5¾ [xxx]) (2.15, 2.20, 2.24, 2.28 [xxx]); 5. Jan Štefela (CzR) 7-4¼ (2.24)
(7-½ [2], 7-2½ [2], 7-4¼, 7-5¾ [xxx]) (2.15 [2], 2.20 [2], 2.24, 2.28 [xxx]);
6. Vernon Turner (US) 7-4¼ (2.24) (7-½, 7-2½, 7-4¼ [2], 7-5¾ [xxx]) (2.15, 2.20, 2.24 [2], 2.28 [xxx]);
7. Norbert Kobielski (Pol) 7-4¼; 8. Edgar Rivera (Mex) 7-2½ (2.20); 9. tie, Ryoichi Akamatsu (Jpn) & Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-½ (2.15); 11. tie, Andrii Protsenko (Ukr) & Thomas Carmoy (Bel) 7-½ (2.15).
Pole Vault: Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) 19-10¼ (6.05) WL
Mondo Duplantis defended his WIC title and soared clear at 19-10¼ (6.05) before a crowd-pleasing three attempts at 20-5¾ (6.24).
Despite a tense few minutes when the bar was at 19-2¼ (5.85), and the Swede with Louisiana roots needed three attempts to stay in the competition, eventually the WR-holder won by two clear heights.
Six men remained in the competition at 19-2¼ but only U.S. record-holder Sam Kendricks and Greece’s Emmanouíl Karalís went clear, both at the first time of asking, with Duplantis eventually following them.
Kendricks, jumping first of the trio, then went immediately went clear at 19-4¼ (5.90) while Duplantis passed and Karalís brought the bar down with his first attempt at what would have been an NR height.
At 19-6¼ (5.95), Duplantis finally got into his groove, clearing with his second attempt as both Kendricks and Karalís failed twice, which meant the latter got the bronze medal.
With nothing to lose, Kendricks opted to take his third attempt at 19-8¼ (6.00) but that was also unsuccessful and he pocketed his third WIC silver medal after 2nd-place finishes in ’16 and ’18.
With the gold medal securely within his grasp, Duplantis passed up to 19-6¼ and cleared that height on his second attempt, his 76th 6-meters-or-more jump.
“This was the hardest I have ever worked. It seems to be that way when I am against Sam. He’s such a tough competitor and he brings out the best in me. I had my back against the wall quite a few times today and gave my mom too many scares tonight than she would have liked,” reflected Duplantis, whose parents-cum-coaches were looking on from the sidelines of the arena where he jumped a 20-3½ (6.18) WR in 2020.
Chris Nilsen has cleared 19-feet or more on no less than seven occasions this winter including 19-8¼ (6.00) to win the U.S. title just over two weeks ago. He was among the trio that could go no higher than 18-10½ (5.75) and the ’22 WIC bronze medalist had to settle for 4th place this time. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
(March 03)
1. Mondo Duplantis (Swe) 19-10¼ (6.05) (WL)
(18-6½, 19-2¼ [3], 19-6¼ [2], 19-10¼ [2], 20-5½ [xxx]) (5.65, 5.85 [3], 5.95 [2], 6.05 [2], 6.24 [xxx]);
2. Sam Kendricks (US) 19-4¼ (5.90)
(18-½, 18-6½, 18-10¼, 19-2¼, 19-4¼, 19-6¼ [xx], 19-8¼ [x]) (5.50, 5.65, 5.75, 5.85, 5.90, 5.95 [xx], 6.00 [x]);
3. Emmanouíl Karalís (Gre) 19-2¼ (5.85)
(18-½ [x], 18-6½ [2], 18-10¼ [2], 19-2¼, 19-4¼ [x], 19-6¼ [xx]) (5.50 [x], 5.65 [2], 5.75 [2], 5.85, 5.90 [x], 5.95 [xx]);
4. Chris Nilsen (US) 18-10¼ (5.75)
(18-6½, 18-10¼, 19-2¼ [xxx]) (5.65, 5.75, 5.85 [xxx]);
5. Kurtis Marschall (Aus) 18-10¼ (5.75)
(18-½ [2], 18-6½, 18-10¼, 19-2¼ [xxx]) (5.50 [2], 5.65, 5.75, 5.85 [xxx]);
6. tie, Ben Broeders (Bel) & Thibaut Collet (Fra) 18-6½ (5.65); 8. Menno Vloon (Neth) 18-6½; 9. EJ Obiena (Phi) 18-6½; 10. Ersu Şaşma (Tur) 18-½ (5.50);… nh—Piotr Lisek (Pol).
Long Jump: Miltiádis Tentóglou (Greece) 26-11¾ (8.22)
Though it was decided by the shortest winning mark since ’10, the men’s long jump was an entertaining competition, with the three medalists separated by a single centimeter and the gold determined by secondary marks.
Shortly after the 10:00 a.m. start, reigning Olympic and world outdoor champion Miltiádis Tentóglou of Greece opened his day with a 26-11¾ (8.22). Moments later, Italy’s Mattia Furlani, last year’s European U20 champion, matched that mark, but through three rounds Tentóglou maintained the lead based on his second-best jump, 26-¾ (7.94).
American Jarrion Lawson moved into medal position with a third-attempt effort of 26-5½ (8.06). The next round brought drama when Furlani hit 26-7 (8.10) to improve his back-up mark and take the lead. Tentóglou responded immediately with a 26-9 (8.15) to slide back to the top of the podium. Neither improved in the fifth round, but Jamaica’s Carey McLeod, last year’s indoor and outdoor NCAA champion for Arkansas, jumped up to 3rd, scaring the leaders with his 26-11¼ (8.21), which would hold up for bronze.
Furlani had a massive foul on his final jump, which guaranteed Tentóglou would defend his title from ’22. He finished his day with his second-best mark, 26-10½ (8.19).
“I did not like the competition today, it was really bad for me,” said the winner, who was unhappy with the morning time slot. “I jumped terrible… I am just a lucky guy. It was very close. I hope everyone had some fun today. At least it was exciting at the end.” The 25-year-old Greek took advantage of post-competition interviews to criticize WA for proposed changes in calling LJ fouls.
Germany’s Simon Batz matched Lawson’s best mark in the final frame to finish 4th based on a better secondary effort, while the other American, Will Williams, wound up 7th at 25-8¼ (7.83). /Rich Sands/
RESULTS
(March 02)
1. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Gre) 26-11¾ (8.22)
(26-11¾, 26-¾, f, 26-9, 26-7¼, 26-10½) (8.22, 7.94, f, 8.15, 8.11, 8.19);
2. Mattia Furlani (Ita) 26-11¾ (8.22)
(26-11¾, 25-11½, 25-9½, 26-7, 26-4½, f) (8.22, 7.91, 7.86, 8.10, 8.04, f);
3. Carey McLeod (Jam) 26-11¼ (8.21)
(f, 26-¾, 25-9½, 25-7½, 26-11¼, 26-4¼) (f, 7.94, 7.86, 7.81, 8.21, 8.03);
4. Simon Batz (Ger) 26-5½ (8.06)
(26-1¾, 25-7½, 25-10, f, f, 26-5½) (7.97, 7.81, 7.87, f, f, 8.06);
5. Jarrion Lawson (US) 26-5½ (8.06)
(25-7¼, f, 26-5½, 26-0, 25-10¾, f) (7.80, f, 8.06, 7.92, 7.89, f);
6. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 25-10¾ (7.89); 7. Will Williams (US) 25-8¼ (7.83); 8. Thobias Montler (Swe) 25-7¼ (7.80); 9. Jianan Wang (Chn) 25-4¾ (7.74); 10. Emiliano Lasa (Uru) 25-4¾ (7.74); 11. Bozhidar Saraboyukov (Bul) 25-4½ (7.73); 12. Andreas Trajkovski (Mac) 25-4½ (7.73); 13. J. Jeswin Aldrin (Ind) 25-2¾ (7.69); 14. Radek Juška (CzR) 25-2½ (7.68); 15. LaQuan Nairn (Bah) 24-11 (7.59);… 3f—Arnovis Dalmero (Col).
Triple Jump: Hugues Fabrice Zango 57-6¼ (17.53)
On paper, Burkina Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango was in a class by himself with his 59-3½ (18.07) PR, but with just a 56-5¾ (17.21) season’s best, the Budapest champion was in for an interesting contest.
The 14-man competition began on a high note for a pair of former NCAA champions going 1-2 after round 1. Former Texas A&M Aggie Yasser Mohammed Triki of Algeria bounced 56-11¼ (17.35) to take the lead from erstwhile Oregon Duck Emmanuel Ihemeje of Italy who went 55-5½ (16.90).
Round 2 saw Triki foul and Zango come close to the Algerian with a 56-10¼ (17.33) effort. China’s Yaoqing Fang overtook Ihemeje for 3rd with his 55-6½ (16.93).
Triki fouled again in round 3 but would pass his remaining jumps, leaving the door wide open for Zango.
In round 5 Zango unleashed a 57-6¼ (17.53) bound to overtake Triki and did not look back. In round 6 the only improvement came from Portugal’s Tiago Pereira, who jumped from 6th to 3rd after his 56-0½ (17.08) and knocked Fang off the podium.
A relieved Zango said afterwards, “It’s never easy to win a championship. When I came here, I thought I might be able to do something, but my season wasn’t what I wanted. Tonight, I tried and tried and on my fifth jump it finally happened — doing 17.53m is really crazy.” /Brian Russell/
RESULTS
(March 02)
1. Hugues Fabrice Zango (BF) 57-6¼ (17.53)
(54-9¼, 56-10¼, 56-9½, 55-10½, 57-6¼, 50-6) (16.69, 17.33, 17.31, 17.03, 17.53, 15.39);
2. Yasser Triki (Alg) 56-11¼ (17.35) NR
(56-11¼, f, f, p, p, p) (17.35, f, f, p, p, p);
3. Tiago Pereira (Por) 56-½ (17.08) PR (f, 54-11¼, f, f, f, 56-½) (f, 16.74, f, f, f, 17.08);
4. Yaoqing Fang (Chn) 55-6½ (16.93)
(f, 55-6½, 53-10¼, p, p, 55-3½) (f, 16.93, 16.41, p, p, 16.85);
5. Emmanuel Ihemeje (Ita) 55-5½ (16.90)
(55-5½, 51-2¾, f, 53-8¼, f, 54-10¾) (16.90, 15.61, f, 16.36, f, 16.73);
6. Donald Scott (US) 55-4¾ (16.88)
(52-10¼, f, 55-¼, 55-3, 55-4¾, 54-1¾) (16.11, f, 16.77, 16.84, 16.88, 16.50);
7. Yaming Zhu (Chn) 54-10¼ (16.72); 8. Lázaro Martínez (Cub) 54-9¼ (16.69); 9. Max Heß (Ger) 54-8 (16.66); 10. Almir dos Santos (Bra) 54-6¾ (16.63); 11. Praveen Chithravel (Ind) 53-11¾ (16.45); 12. Chris Benard (US) 52-11½ (16.14); 13. Cristian Nápoles (Cub) 52-5¼ (15.98); 14. Dimítrios Tsiámis (Gre) 52-4 (15.95).
Shot: Ryan Crouser (US) 74-8½ (22.77) MR
Ryan Crouser filled the one remaining gap in his global medal collection by claiming the World Indoor title at 74-8½ (22.77), the No. 3 indoor performance ever.
The reigning 2-time Olympic and world champion dominated the competition from the very first and had four marks better than anyone else could manage, topped by his meet record effort in the penultimate stanza.
He opened with 73-4½ (22.36) — which in itself would have been enough to win — followed by a modest, by his exalted high standards, 72-2¼ (22.00) and then a foul.
Crouser then improved to 73-10½ (22.51) in the fourth stanza and further still in the fifth round before finishing with 74-5½ (22.69).
All-in-all a good day’s work for the American, which earned him a first-prize check of $40,000. His effort put behind him the shock loss to Brazil’s Darlan Romani two years ago in Belgrade.
“In preparation for the Olympics, this is a big stepping stone and being here added a sense of urgency to my training,” he said.
“When you are in September and October you think, ‘I’ve got so long to train,’ but in the middle of the winter, you need to have a moment when you think, ‘Oh shoot, I have a meet in 6 weeks and it’s a world championship!’”
“I was really, really happy with my throwing today, my technique was a bit so-so, but my preparation has been really good and that’s been the goal of the indoor season, to lay the foundations.
“I got a lot of power behind the ball and I’m very excited to throw so far when it was technically not my best.”
For those who are counting, Crouser’s 5 valid throws in Glasgow brought his 22-meter-and-more tally to a staggering 252.
Behind Crouser, New Zealand’s ’16 and ’18 winner Tom Walsh was a distant 2nd with 72-8 (22.07), the best mark of all of Crouser’s rivals coming in the opening round.
Roger Steen, the Wisconsin man coming to his first global championship after three successive 21-meter-plus meets, could only manage 65-6¼ (19.97) with his one valid effort and finished 13th. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
(March 01)
1. Ryan Crouser (US) 74-8½ (22.77) (x, 3 W, A)
(73-4½, f, 72-2¼, 73-10¼, 74-8½, 74-5½) (22.36, f, 22.00, 22.51, 22.77, 22.69 [x, 5 W, A]);
2. Tom Walsh (NZ) 72-5 (22.07)
(72-5, 71-½, 69-1¼, 72-3½, 71-11, 70-7) (22.07, 21.65, 21.06, 22.03, 21.92, 21.51);
3. Leonardo Fabbri (Ita) 72-¾ (21.96)
(72-¾, f, 67-6¼, 71-7¼, f, f) (21.96, f, 20.58, 21.82, f, f);
4. Zane Weir (Ita) 71-8¼ (21.85)
(f, 68-3, 69-11, 71-8¼, f, 69-4) (f, 20.80, 21.31, 21.85, f, 21.13);
5. Jacko Gill (NZ) 71-2 (21.69) PR
(68-1½, 69-6, 68-3¾, 71-2, 70-6¼, 69-4) (20.76, 21.18, 20.82, 21.69, 21.49, 21.13);
6. Chuk Enekwechi (Ngr) 70-10½ (21.60)
(f, 69-9¾, 69-7, 70-10½, 69-11½, f) (f, 21.28, 21.21, 21.60, 21.32, f);
7. Darlan Romani (Bra) 69-3¼ (21.11); 8. Filip Mihaljević (Cro) 68-¼ (20.73); 9. Mesud Pezer (Bos) 66-11½ (20.41); 10. Scott Lincoln (GB) 66-9¾ (20.36); 11. Tomáš Staněk (CzR) 66-7¾ (20.31); 12. Bob Bertemes (Lux) 66-7¼ (20.30); 13. Roger Steen (US) 65-6¼ (19.97) (f, 65-6¼, f); 14. Mostafa Amer Hassan (Egy) 65-2¾ (19.88); 15. Uziel Muñoz (Mex) 63-3¼ (19.28);… 3f—Rajindra Campbell (Jam).
Heptathlon: Simon Ehammer (Switzerland) 6418
A noticeably young group provided a thrilling competition from start to finish.
60: Simon Ehammer, 24, started the best, just missing a PR at 6.73. Ken Mullings, a Bahamian based in Petros Kyprianou’s camp in Illinois, matched his best at 6.83 and former NCAA decathlon champ Johannes Erm PRed at 6.90. American Harrison Williams, competing in his first heptathlon since winning the 2019 NCAA title, ran a solid 6.95 before retiring.
LJ: Good jumping saw Ehammer – last year’s Diamond League champ in this event – increase his lead to 90 points with a 26-4¼ (8.03). Five others went over 25-0 (7.62), including Mullings, who PRed twice with a best of 25-2¾ (7.69).
SP: The first five PRed, led by France’s Makenson Gletty with a massive 55-7½ (16.95). Erm (51-7/15.72) and 21-year-old Sander Skotheim of Norway (47-10/14.58) were among that quintet but Ehammer wasn’t despite a solid 47-2½ (14.39) that kept him in the lead by 61 points.
HJ: Mullings took the Day 1 lead (3637) with his third PR of the day, 7-1 (2.16). Ehammer (3558) was now in 2nd, 79 points back after 6-4¾ (1.95). Erm was 3rd at 3552 with his 6-7 (2.01). Skotheim was in 4th at 3547 after clearing 6-11¾ (2.13).
60H: Ehammer cut Mullings’ lead almost in half with a near-heptathlon world best of 7.62 and Mullings matched his PR 7.76. The Bahamian now led 4680–4638.
PV: Ehammer was just a centimeter off his best at 17-¾ (5.20) in taking back the lead by 140 points as Mullings had a subpar 15-1 (4.60). Skotheim became the bigger threat after a solid 16-8¾ (5.10) as the Norwegian wielded one of the fastest 1K PRs in the field.
1000: Ehammer and Skotheim would duel, but in separate realms as Skotheim’s PR 2:37.63 was far ahead of Ehammer’s (2:49.78). Current technology gave viewers real-time updates that vacillated back and forth as both PRed (Skotheim 2:33.23, Ehammer 2:46.03). Ehammer prevailed in the scoring with a 6418 Swiss NR (=No. 9 all-time) to the Norwegian NR of 6407 by Skotheim. Erm grabbed the bronze with a 6340 PR. /Howard Willman/
RESULTS
(March 02–03)
1. Simon Ehammer (Swi) 6418 NR (WL) (=9, x W)
(6.73, 26-4¼/8.03, 47-2½/14.39, 6-4¾/1.95, 7.62, 17-¾/5.20, 2:46.03);
2. Sander Aae Skotheim (Nor) 6407 NR
(7.06, 25-5¼/7.75, 47-10/14.58, 6-11¾/2.13, 8.05, 16-8¾/5.10, 2:33.23);
3. Johannes Erm (Est) 6340 PR
(6.90, 25-3½/7.71, 51-7/15.72, 6-7/2.01, 8.21, 16-8¾/5.10, 2:36.15);
4. Ken Mullings (Bah) 6242
(6.83, 25-2¾/7.69, 47-6½/14.49, 7-1/2.16, 7.76, 15-1/4.60, 2:49.35);
5. Makenson Gletty (Fra) 6187; 6. Vilém Stráský (CzR) 6080 PR; 7. Sven Jansons (Neth) 6076 PR; 8. Jente Hauttekeete (Bel) 5940; 9. Ondřej Kopecký (CzR) 5737;… dnf—Harrison Williams (US) (6.95, dnc), Markus Rooth (Nor). ◻︎