THE EUROPEAN INVITATIONAL SEASON broke out big with 8 meets under the umbrella of the World Indoor Tour.
Ingebrigtsen Plus 3000 WJRs
LIÉVIN, FRANCE, February 13 — The Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais stole the headlines (and is, thus, reported out of chronological order here) with Jakob Ingebrigtsen ending Yared Nuguse’s reign as mile WR holder at a mere 5 days — the second-shortest span ever.
The Norwegian, in his first-ever indoor mile, ran behind a pacer for the first five laps, passing 400 in 56.39, 800 in 1:52.55 and 1000 in 2:20.49. Then he quite confidently set out alone, leaving the rest far behind. He flashed through 1500 in 3:29.63, shattering his own standard of 3:30.60 he had set here in ’22.
It was a foregone conclusion that he would smash the newly-minted mile mark too, but by how much? Plenty, it turns out, as he maintained his sprint to the line for a 3:45.15, slashing 1.49 from Nuguse’s 3:46.63.
He became the first man since John Landy in ’54 (outdoors just 46 days after Bannister’s first sub-4) to break the 1500 and mile standards in the same race. “It feels amazing,” he said. “This is what happens in Liévin. I’m a very happy man. You have to be focused for the whole race. It’s tough, but it’s worth it.”
Both 3000s produced U20 records. In another WR attempt, the women’ race was won by Freweyni Hailu in 8:19.98, becoming No. 3 ever. Behind her, Gudaf Tsegay faded at the end for a 8:25.12 and Birke Haylom ran a World Junior Record 8:25.37. Neils Laros outkicked Ethiopian teen Briniam Mehary in the men’s race, 7:29.49–7:29.99. For the latter it marked a World Junior Record.
Diribe Welteji took the 1500 in a world leader 3:58.89.
Grant Holloway dominated the hurdle field in a world-leading 7.36. The women’s race went to Ackera Nugent, her list-leading 7.75 topping Grace Stark’s 7.82.
Katie Moon cleared a world-leading 15-10 (4.83) to beat Molly Caudery (15-7/4.75). Leyanis Pérez of Cuba won the triple with another leader, 47-11¾ (14.62).
Italians ruled the men’s shot, with Leonardo Fabbri throwing a world leader 72-¼ (21.95) to beat the 71-3¼ (21.72) of Zane Weir.
Kishane Thompson Indoor Debut
ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN, January 25 — Kishane Thompson raced indoors for the first time, taking the 60 at the WIT Gold season opener in 6.56. Chase Jackson won the shot at 62-9¼ (19.13) and Ethiopian 16-year-old Marta Alemayo sprinted to the win in the 3000 in 8:38.80, a World Youth Record.
Ronnie Baker Rolls
BELGRADE, SERBIA, January 29 — Ronnie Baker took his first WIT Gold 60 of the season in 6.53 and Sweden’s Thobias Montler the long jump at 27-0 (8.23). Angelina Topić of Serbia high jumped 6-3½ (1.92).
Nilsen World Lead In Vault Meet
CAEN, FRANCE, January 31 — The vault-only Perch’Xtrem meet saw Chris Nilsen top a world-leading 19-8½ (6.01), tying the No. 4 performance in U.S. history. That bested a field that included runner-up Emmanouíl Karalís at 19-4¼ (5.90). Switzerland’s Angelica Moser won with a clearance of 15-5½ (4.71).
Brit Record 3000 For Mills
VAL-DE-REUIL, FRANCE, February 02 — At this WIT Silver meet, George Mills blasted a 7:27.92 to break the British 3000 record. Chris Nilsen added another vault win, this time over 19-2¼ (5.85). Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom captured the mile in 4:25.44. A shot world leader went to Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands at 65-1½ (19.85), defeating reigning world indoor champ Sarah Mitton (64-9¾/19.75) and American Chase Jackson (63-9/19.43).
Seven World Leaders
OSTRAVA, CZECHIA, February 04 — Seven world-leading marks came at the Czech Indoor Gala, keyed by Ronnie Baker picking up another win, this one in a lead-tying 6.50. Another world-leader tie went to Sweden’s Erik Erlandsson in the 200 (20.43). Hungary’s Attila Molnár took the 400 in 45.08, while Lieke Klaver scored the women’s win in 50.92.
Freweyni Hailu moved to No. 8 on the all-time list with her 8:24.17 win at 3000, closing with a 2:39 final K. “The pacemaker did a brilliant job tonight. I felt comfortable and it was easy,” she said. Matti Furlani tied the world lead in the long jump at 27-0 (8.23) and Italy’s Zane Weir took the shot with his 70-2¼ (21.39).
Mihambo & Mitton
KARLSRUHE, GERMANY, February 07 — The INIT meeting featured some stacked women’s field events, with a world leader going to Malaika Mihambo, who tied her long jump PR at 23-2½ (7.07) before passing her two remaining jumps. Sarah Mitton got a world leader of her own with her Canadian Record 67-10¼ (20.68) that beat both Jessica Schilder (65-11/20.09) and Chase Jackson (65-9¾/20.06). Britain’s Molly Caudery took the vault at 15-7 (4.75).
Said Mitton, “I immediately knew it was going to be over 20. It matched my outdoor PB — in February! I’m really excited about it.”
Heß And Duguma World Leaders
METZ, FRANCE, February 08 — At this WIT Silver, Alia Armstrong took the hurdles in 7.81, tying her PR. Germany’s Max Heß set a world leader in the triple jump at 57-1½ (17.41) and Ethiopia’s Tisge Duguma got a list leader of her own at 800 (1:58.97).