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.
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High Jump: Nicola Olyslagers (Australia) 6-6¼ (1.99)
Australia’s ’23 WC bronze medalist Nicola Olyslagers moved up two places on the global podium with a win in a slightly underwhelming competition which saw her take the gold medal with a third-attempt last-gasp clearance of 6-6¾ (1.99).
Only twice in the history of the World Indoors has the HJ gold gone with a lower height and Olyslagers herself had her struggles, with failures at both 6-4¾ (1.95) and 6-5½ (1.97).
However, perhaps that could be put down to a lack of familiarity with jumping under cover.
Amazingly the Australian was having her first indoor competition since 2017 — although she had cleared 6-8 (2.03) outdoors down under in January — and her first two attempts at national record of 6-8 (2.02) were close.
Silver went to the defending champion and ’23 WC winner Yaroslava Mahuchikh who was clear at the first time of asking up to and including 6-5½.
But the Ukrainian rode her luck and never looked like the jumper who went over a world lead of 6-8¼ (2.04) in Cottbus back in January. She clipped both 6-4¾ and 6-5½ with her heels on her first attempts at those heights, leaving the bar wobbling but still on the uprights.
Six jumpers were still in the competition at 6-5½ (1.97) but four — Slovenia’s Lia Apostolovski, Germany’s Christina Honsel, Serbia’s Angelina Topić, Britain’s Morgan Lake — departed at that height.
Apostolovski, who equaled her personal best, took the bronze by virtue of being flawless up to this point despite retiring after one failure at 6-5½.
Eight-time U.S. champion Vashti Cunningham, who is still the youngest ever world indoor champion in any women’s event after her ’16 win at the age of 18 and 62 days, was a scratch before the start following an ill-timed stomach bug. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
(March 01)
1. Nicola Olyslagers (Aus) 6-6¼ (1.99)
(6-2, 6-3½, 6-4¾, 6-5½ [2], 6-6¼ [3], 6-7½ [xxx]) (1.88, 1.92, 1.95, 1.97 [2], 1.99 [3], 2.02 [xxx]);
2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-5½ (1.97)
(6-3½, 6-4¾, 6-5½, 6-6¼ [xxx]) (1.92, 1.95, 1.97, 1.99 [xxx]);
3. Lia Apostolovski (Slo) 6-4¾ (1.95) =PR
(6-½, 6-2, 6-3½, 6-4¾, 6-5½ [x]) (1.84, 1.88, 1.92, 1.95, 1.97 [x], 1.99);
4. Christina Honsel (Ger) 6-4¾ (1.95)
(6-½, 6-2 [2], 6-3½ [2], 6-4¾, 6-5½ [xxx]) (1.84, 1.88 [2], 1.92 [2], 1.95, 1.97 [xxx]);
5. Angelina Topić (Ser) 6-3½ (1.92); 6. Morgan Lake (GB) 6-3½; 7. Tatiána Goúsin (Gre) 6-2 (1.88); 8. Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (Kaz) 6-2; 9. Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 6-½ (1.84);… nh—Daniela Stanciu (Rom);… dnc[ill]—Vashti Cunningham (US).
Pole Vault: Molly Caudery (Great Britain) 15-9 (4.80)
Few would have predicted at the start of the indoor season that Great Britain’s Molly Caudery would have provided a crowd-pleasing home gold medal despite her 5th-place showing in the ’23 WC.
However, Caudery has increased her PR from 15-7 (4.75), which she achieved in Budapest last summer, in three increments to a world-leading 15-11¼ (4.86) in the last five weeks and her 2nd-time clearance at 15-9 (4.80) was sufficient to take the title.
Four women attempted 15-9 — including 2-time reigning world outdoor champion Katie Moon and Switzerland’s Angelica Moser — but only Caudery and New Zealand’s Elisa McCartney went clear, the latter on her 3rd attempt.
Caudery had three solid attempts at 15-11 (4.85) while McCartney — who went over a 15-10 ½ (4.84) NR in France three weeks ago — decided to gamble everything after one failure at 15-11 and took her two final efforts at 16-¾ (4.90), giving Caudery a few nervous moments before her victory was confirmed especially as McCartney’s last attempt went close.
Moon had to settle for the bronze, after silver two years ago in Belgrade, going over 15-7 (4.75) with her 2nd attempt to Moser’s 3rd.
The other U.S. representative, 2-time defending champion Sandi Morris was a disappointing 5th and could go no higher than 15-3 (4.65). /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
(March 02)
1. Molly Caudery (GB) 15-9 (4.80)
(14-11, 15-3, 15-7 [2], 15-9 [2], 15-11 [xxx]) (4.55, 4.65, 4.75 [2], 4.80 [2], 4.85 [xxx]);
2. Eliza McCartney (NZ) 15-9 (4.80)
(14-11, 15-3 [2], 15-7, 15-9 [3], 15-11 [xpp], 16-¾ [xx]) (4.55, 4.65 [2], 4.75, 4.80 [3], 4.85 [xpp], 4.90 [xx]);
3. Katie Moon (US) 15-7 (4.75) (14-11, 15-7 [2], 15-9 [xxx]) (4.55, 4.75 [2], 4.80 [xxx]);
4. Angelica Moser (Swi) 15-7 (4.75) =PR
(14-5¼, 14-11 [2], 15-3, 15-7 [3], 15-9 [xxx]) (4.40, 4.55 [2], 4.65, 4.75 [3], 4.80 [xxx]);
5. Sandi Morris (US) 15-3 (4.65)
(14-11, 15-3, 15-7 [xxx]) (4.55, 4.65, 4.75 [xxx]);
6. Amálie Švábíková (CzR) 15-3; 7. Katerína Stefanídi (Gre) 14-11 (4.55); 8. tie, Margot Chevrier (Fra) & Wilma Murto (Fin) 14-11; 10. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 14-5¼ (4.40); 11. Ling Li (Chn) 14-5¼.
Long Jump: Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 23-2½ (7.07)
Tara Davis-Woodhall came to Glasgow atop the formchart thanks to her monster world-leading PR 23-6¾ (7.18) at the USATF Indoor meet, and she did not disappoint. After a back-and-forth battle with fellow American Monae’ Nichols in the early going, Davis-Woodhall ultimately took the gold with relative ease, notching the four longest leaps of the day.
Nichols, who finished 3rd at USA Indoors but earned her ticket to Glasgow when runner-up Jasmine Moore opted to focus on the triple jump, leapt to the early lead with 22-1¾ (6.75) in the first round.
Davis-Woodhall was close behind at 22-1 (6.73) and then moved ahead with her second jump of 22-3½ (6.79). Nichols edged back into 1st in the third round at 22-5 (6.83). Seven jumpers later, Davis-Woodhall responded with 22-9 (6.93).
Nichols improved to 22-5¾ (6.85) in round 4, but then Davis-Woodhall put the competition away with 23-2½ (7.07), which would hold up for the fourth-best winning mark in meet history. She followed with a 22-7 (6.88) and 23-¾ (7.03) to add an exclamation point to the victory.
“It was really hard to get into the groove of things,” she admitted, despite showing her trademark flamboyance during the competition. “I was just trying to get the energy going and get my approach down. And once I got my approach down the 7.07 came.”
Nichols, the NCAA outdoor runner up for Texas Tech in ’22, was pleased with how she competed in her first major championship. “I sometimes settle back and don’t push myself, especially if I’m not in the lead; then I don’t get my best,” she said. “But today I continued to press on through every round. I had to, it’s a world championships.” /Rich Sands/
RESULTS
(March 03)
1. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 23-2½ (7.07) (x, 5 A)
(22-1, 22-3½, 22-9, 23-2½, 22-7, 23-¾ [x, =7 A]) (6.73, 6.79, 6.93, 7.07, 6.88, 7.03);
2. Monae’ Nichols (US) 22-5¾ (6.85) PR
(22-1¾, f, 22-5, 22-5¾, 21-11, f) (6.75, f, 6.83, 6.85, 6.68, f);
3. Fatima Diame (Spa) 22-3 (6.78) PR
(21-2¾, f, 21-0, 21-4¼, 22-3, f) (6.47, f, 6.40, 6.51, 6.78, f);
4. Mikaelle Assani (Ger) 22-2½ (6.77)
(21-10¾, 21-10¼, 21-11, 21-6¾, 22-2½, 21-1½) (6.67, 6.66, 6.68, 6.57, 6.77, 6.44);
5. Annik Kälin (Swi) 22-1¾ (6.75)
(f, 21-8¾, 21-10¾, 22-1, 22-1¾, 21-11) (f, 6.62, 6.67, 6.73, 6.75, 6.68);
6. Milica Gardašević (Ser) 22-1½ (6.74)
(21-2¾, f, 21-6¼, 22-1½, 21-7½, f) (6.47, f, 6.56, 6.74, 6.59, f);
7. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 21-11½ (6.69); 8. Alina Rotaru-Kottmann (Rom) 21-2½ (6.46); 9. Sumire Hata (Jpn) 21-1¼ (6.43); 10. Tissanna Hickling (Jam) 21-1¼ (6.43) PR; 11. Diána Lesti (Hun) 20-10 (6.35); 12. Natalia Linares (Col) 20-9¼ (6.33) PR; 13. Petra Beáta Banhidi-Farkas (Hun) 20-8 (6.30); 14. Eliane Martins (Bra) 20-7¾ (6.29); 15. Lissandra Campos (Bra) 20-2¼ (6.15).
Triple Jump: Thea LaFond (Dominica) 49-3 (15.01) WL
Whatever drama might have eventually ensued was dashed early by Dominica’s Thea LaFond. After a tepid 47-3½ (14.11) on her opening attempt, the Maryland alum boomed a PR and world-leading 49-3 (15.01) on her next trip down the runway to set an early challenge for the other 14 competitors.
Her leap was done with jeweler’s precision as high-tech equipment measured her takeoff spot at only one millimeter behind the board. After passing her third jump to let the emotions return to a more normal level, LaFond took advantage of being last in the jumping order for the final three stanzas to wait out any further challenges.
Immediately after LaFond’s big jump, Ana Peleteiro-Compaoré of Spain, the Tokyo bronze winner, posted a 48-1¾ (14.67) to move into 2nd behind the Dominican ahead of the midway break. Cuba’s Leyanis Pérez, the Budapest bronze winner, held 3rd after registering 47-10 (14.58 twice).
At the start of the day, most eyes had been on the erstwhile global leader Pérez, who had posted a 48-9 (14.86) world lead 4 weeks earlier in Mondeville. The Cuban caught fire in the fourth round with a 48-10¾ (14.90) to overtake 2nd. All the while, LaFond remained in her spectator role and would never again lace up her shoes the rest of the morning.
For LaFond, it was a successful return to Glasgow after her senior international debut 10 years ago in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in which she reached the finals in both the high jump and triple jump.
She was quick to credit Julien Alfred from St. Lucia, who won the women’s 60 on Saturday night, for inspiration. “I told Aaron [Gadson, her coach/husband] last night that I need a 1-2 punch for the Lesser Antilles islands. Julien was the ‘1’, and I gotta be the number ‘2.’”
Americans Keturah Orji and Jasmine Moore took 4th and 5th, with early-round jumps of 47-1½ (14.36) and 46-5¼ (14.15). /Ed Gordon/
RESULTS
March 03
1. Thea LaFond (Dom) 49-3 (15.01) NR (WL) (=9, x W)
(47-3½, 49-3, p, p, p, p) (14.41, 15.01, p, p, p, p);
2. Leyanis Pérez (Cub) 48-10¾ (14.90) PR
(f, 47-10, 47-10, 48-10¾, 48-6¼, f) (f, 14.58, 14.58, 14.90, 14.79, f);
3. Ana Peleteiro-Compaoré (Spa) 48-4¾ (14.75) NR
(45-8½, 48-1¾, 48-½, f, 48-4¾, 47-3½) (13.93, 14.67, 14.64, f, 14.75, 14.41);
4. Keturah Orji (US) 47-1½ (14.36)
(46-4, 47-1½, f, 44-3¼, 46-10¼, 38-4) (14.12, 14.36, f, 13.49, 14.28, 11.68);
5. Jasmine Moore (US) 46-5¼ (14.15)
(46-5¼, f, 46-2, 45-10¾, 45-9, f) (14.15, f, 14.07, 13.99, 13.94, f);
6. Charisma Taylor (Bah) 46-3½ (14.11); 7. Kim Williams (Jam) 46-2 (14.07); 8. Ilionis Guillaume (Fra) 45-11¾ (14.01); 9. Diana Ana Maria Ion (Rom) 45-½ (13.73); 10. Elena Andreea Taloș (Rom) 44-9½ (13.65); 11. Neja Filipič (Slo) 44-8¼ (13.62); 12. Kristiina Mäkelä (Fin) 44-2½ (13.47); 13. Dovilė Kilty (Lit) 44-2 (13.46); 14. Gabriele dos Santos (Bra) 44-1½ (13.45);… 3f—Mariko Morimoto (Jpn).
Shot: Sara Mitton (Canada) 66-4¼ (20.22)
Sara Mitton became the first Canadian woman to take a medal at the World Indoors since Brianne Theisen-Eaton took the pentathlon title in ’16 when she came out on top with a North American indoor record of 66-4¼ (20.22).
German surprise package Yemisi Ogunleye led through the first three rounds of a close contest when she produced a big PR with her 66-3 (20.19) opener, adding more than 2 feet to her previous best.
However, Mitton — who had shown her form when going out to a previous NR of 65-10½ (20.08) in the Czech town of Nehvizdy 10 days earlier — usurped her rival by one centimeter in the fourth round with 66-3¼ (20.20). With the gold medal already confirmed after Ogunleye finished with three fouls, Mitton reached her winning distance with the very last attempt of the morning contest.
“It feels amazing to get my first global title and I’m amazed with my distance,” said the ’23 WC silver medallist, who holds the Canadian record with 66-8½ (20.33) outdoors.
“It always comes down to small distances with these girls because the shot put is in a good place [at the moment]” added Mitton, who then delighted the near-capacity crowd by revealing her Scottish heritage and plans to stay for a few extra days’ holiday.
Chase Jackson, outdoor world champ at the last two editions in ’22 and ’23, sustained a groin injury in training the day before and had to settle for the bronze on this occasion with her second-round best of 64-2¼ (19.57). Maggie Ewen finished down in 7th with 62-2½ (18.96). /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
(March 01)
1. Sarah Mitton (Can) 66-4¼ (20.22) PR
(63-7¾, f, 65-0, 66-3¼ PR, 63-11½, 66-4¼) (19.40, f, 19.81, 20.20, 19.49, 20.22);
2. Yemisi Ogunleye (Ger) 66-3 (20.19) PR
(66-3, f, 64-8, f, f, f) (20.19, f, 19.71, f, f, f);
3. Chase Jackson (US) 64-6½ (19.67)
(64-2¼, 64-6½, 63-2¼, f, 64-3¾, 63-3½) (19.56, 19.67, 19.26, f, 19.60, 19.29);
4. Maddi Wesche (NZ) 64-4½ (19.62) PR
(f, 51-6½, 63-4¾, 63-5, 64-4½, f) (f, 15.71, 19.32, 19.33, 19.62, f);
5. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 63-6¾ (19.37)
(f, f, 63-6¾, f, f, f) (f, f, 19.37, f, f, f);
6. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 62-8¾ (19.12)
(60-2, 61-9¾, 60-1¾, f, 62-8¾, 61-10¼) (18.34, 18.84, 18.33, f, 19.12, 18.85);
7. Maggie Ewen (US) 62-2½ (18.96)
(62-¼, 62-2½, f, f, 61-4, f) (18.90, 18.96, f, f, 18.69, f);
8. Axelina Johansson (Swe) 61-3½ (18.68); 9. Fanny Roos (Swe) 59-9 (18.21); 10. Jessica Inchude (Por) 59-2¼ (18.04); 11. Alina Kenzel (Ger) 58-4¾ (17.80); 12. Eliana Bandeira (Por) 56-11¼ (17.35); 13. Amelia Campbell (GB) 56-5¾ (17.21); 14. Erna Sóley Gunnarsdóttir (Ice) 56-0 (17.07); 15. Dimitriana Bezede (Mol) 55-7½ (16.95); 16. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 55-4¾ (16.88); 17. Ivana Gallardo (Chl) 53-8¼ (16.36) (52-2, 53-8¼, 52-11½).
Pentathlon: Noor Vidts (Belgium) 4773 WL
Noor Vidts had a shot at history and she nailed it — becoming the pent’s first WIC repeat winner. The Belgian did it in her first multi of the year and said afterwards of encouraging performances from a young field, “It gives us a nice feeling for Paris.”
60H: World leader María Vicente of Spain was fastest, clocking a near-PR 8.07. Second-fastest was a last-minute entry, American Chari Hawkins, who was competing in her first indoor meet in any event this year; she had a splendid PR 8.16. Vidts was solid at 8.27.
HJ: Vicente found disaster, injuring her left Achilles and leaving the competition. Surprisingly, Croatia’s Jana Koščak — who scored 6293 in the heptathlon last year as a 16-year-old — also left the field without an attempt. Vidts went into the lead with a 5-10½ (1.79) clearance, the same as 20-year-old Saga Vanninen of Finland. Vidts (2034) led by 13 points over Vanninen and Hawkins, who managed 5-9¼ (1.76).
SP: Vanninen went into the lead by 38 points with the best effort (49-3/15.01) while Vidts reached an indoor PR 46-9½ (14.26). Hawkins was in 3rd, another 72 points back after a 43-10½ (13.37).
LJ: Vanninen hit an indoor PR 21-½ (6.41) in Round 3 before Vidts surpassed her with a 21-4 (6.50). Vanninen’s lead was now 9 points. Hawkins dropped to 5th in the standings after a 19-8 (5.99).
800: Victory was all but certain for Vidts, who is far better than Vanninen in this event. Vidts ran 2:12.99 to Vanninen’s indoor PR 2:20.54 to settle the first two medals with scores of 4773 (a new WL) and 4677 (a Finnish NR). Earning bronze was Sofie Dokter of the Netherlands with 4571 points; her 2:11.89 win in the final event was a PR by almost 4 seconds. Italian Sveva Gerevini was 4th in a NR 4559, while Hawkins finished 7th at 4388. /Howard Willman/
RESULTS
(March 01)
1. Noor Vidts (Bel) 4773 (WL)
(8.27, 5-10½/1.79, 46-9½/14.26, 21-4/6.50, 2:12.99);
2. Saga Vanninen (Fin) 4677 NR
(8.33, 5-10½/1.79, 49-3/15.01, 21-½/6.41, 2:20.54);
3. Sofie Dokter (Neth) 4571
(8.29, 5-9¼/1.76, 42-9½/13.04, 20-4¼/6.20, 2:11.89);
4. Sveva Gerevini (Ita) 4559 NR
(8.28, 5-9¼/1.76, 41-3¼/12.58, 20-6½/6.26, 2:12.07);
5. Verena Mayr (Aut) 4466
(8.47, 5-9¼/1.76, 45-4½/13.83, 19-5½/5.93, 2:14.31);
6. Yuliya Loban (Ukr) 4402
(8.54, 5-9¼/1.76, 45-7¼/13.90, 19-9¾/6.04, 2:20.51);
7. Chari Hawkins (US) 4388
(8.16, 5-9¼/1.76, 43-10½/13.37, 19-8/5.99, 2:24.08);
8. Bianca Salming (Swe) 4317; 9. Abigail Pawlett (GB) 4287; 10. Szabina Szűcs (Hun) 4219;… dnf—María Vicente (Spa), Jana Koščak (Cro). ◻︎