Jordan Anthony Claims World Indoor Title in Men’s 60m
Jordan Anthony, the US national champion, made a stunning debut at the world indoor championships by clocking a world-leading time of 6.41 seconds in the men’s 60m. This remarkable achievement not only secured him his first world indoor title but also marked the emergence of a new sprinting sensation on the global stage.
Britain’s Jeremiah Azu started strongly in the final, showing promise with a powerful acceleration. However, he struggled in the final meters, falling short of defending his title from Nanjing, China. The race was closely contested, with several athletes finishing within fractions of a second of each other. Anthony, however, maintained a commanding lead throughout the event.
Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, an Olympic and world 100m silver medallist, claimed silver with a personal best of 6.45 seconds. American Trayvon Bromell took bronze, matching Thompson’s time. The final was a tight affair, with all the top contenders qualifying within 0.05 seconds of each other.
Bromell set a then-world-leading time of 6.42 seconds in the second semi-final, while Anthony matched his personal best of 6.43 seconds. Azu, meanwhile, set a new personal best in the last semi-final, securing a place in the final. His performance in the final, where he clocked 6.45 seconds, brought him within 0.03 seconds of Dwain Chambers’ British record. He later improved to 6.46 seconds, showcasing his potential.
Azu expressed his disappointment after the race, stating: “It’s tough. I was very vocal about defending that [title] and I fell short. It’s track and field – you win some you lose some. I’m still able to use this gift to try and inspire people. But it’s tough to take right now.”
Anthony entered the event as the favorite, having run the fastest time in the world this year, 6.43 seconds. This was three-hundredths of a second faster than Thompson and one-hundredth of a second ahead of Bromell, Azu, and Levell. The 21-year-old, a two-time former NCAA champion, had previously won the US title in 6.45 seconds, defeating Olympic 100m champion and training partner Noah Lyles.
Despite facing a challenging situation, Anthony remained focused. He competed in Poland with his arm heavily taped due to a blood clot caused by a bungled drug test. He explained: “Yesterday I had drug testing, they took blood, but he didn’t stick my vein, he stuck outside. I got a clot the size of a football. Luckily, I’m still running. That’s why my arm is taped up. I can’t really do this with it. It is what it is, that’s not going to stop me.”
Yaroslava Mahuchikh Wins Women’s High Jump Gold
Earlier on Friday, Yaroslava Mahuchikh made history by claiming the first gold medal of the championships in the women’s high jump. The Ukrainian, who holds the world record and is the reigning Olympic champion, secured victory with a jump of 2.01 meters.
In a rare occurrence, three athletes shared the silver medal. Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, Serbia’s Angelina Topic, and Ukraine’s Yuliia Levchenko all cleared 1.99 meters without any previous failures, resulting in a joint second-place finish.
Keely Hodgkinson Triumphs in Women’s 800m
In the women’s 800m, Keely Hodgkinson dominated her heat with a time of 2:00.32. Her journey to the race was not without challenges, as her kit and spikes were initially misplaced by the airline. She managed to retrieve them just in time, though she admitted the situation was stressful.
“It came last night, thank God,” said Hodgkinson. “I was starting to get annoyed. A very nice Polish girl let me borrow her spikes, and they gave me a blister. I just didn’t have any kit or my supplements. But it’s all good now.”
The 24-year-old has been a consistent performer at major championships, missing out only once due to injury. She recently broke the world indoor record, and her current form suggests she is in peak condition.
Her main rival, Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, ran slightly faster in her heat, clocking 1:59.91. Meanwhile, Hodgkinson’s compatriot and new British indoor champion, Isabelle Boffey, qualified as a fastest loser.
Other Highlights from the Championships
Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell secured her spot in the final of the 1500m, remaining a strong contender for the title. However, her teammate Jemma Reekie narrowly missed out after finishing fourth in her heat.
