Mechaal smashes European indoor 3000m record, Holloway storms to 60m hurdles world lead
World 60m hurdles record holder Grant Holloway started the indoor season setting the world-leading time with 7.37. Trey Cunningham showed his vast potential by finishing second in 7.47 ahead of Millrose Games winner Devon Allen (7.51), Daniel Roberts (7.60). Holloway has maintained his unbeaten streak in the 60m hurdles.
Grant Holloway: “It’s my first competition of 2022. It was about getting out there and having some fun. That shows where we are going. 7.37 is a fast time for me. The world record is right there, so it’s about continuing to keep my head down. It was a good race, but I can do better. The goal is to be consistent in every race. In every sport, the most important thing is to perform well when it matters most. Winning the World Indoor Championships title in Belgrade is my main goal. Whenever I have a great indoor season, I have a great outdoor season, so it’s about continuing to work hard and do everything right”.
Men’s 3000 meters: Mechaal breaks the European indoor record
Adel Mechaal won the men’s 3000 meters in 7:30.82, breaking the European Indoor record and the national record held by Sergio Sanchez’s Spanish record since 2010 with 7:32.41.
Two-time Olympic 5000m finalist Andrew Butchart came through to take second place in 7:37.42, sharing the same time as Luis Grijalva from Guatemala, who improved his national record. Commonwealth and European medallist Jake Wightman finished fourth, setting his lifetime best of 7:37.81, beating Maximilian Thorwirth (PB 7:38.14). Jonas Raess improved the Swiss record, clocking 7:39.49.
Mechaal went through the 1000m in 2:32.47 and 2000m in 5:40.91.
Adel Mechaal: “I was sure I could do 7:33. I will chase the Spanish Indoor record in Birmingham, and I plan the 3000m at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade. With someone pushing the last few laps, I could have run 7:29, but not better than that today”.
Women’s 60 meters hurdles: Danielle Williams sets PB
Former world outdoor champion Danielle Williams won her second consecutive World Indoor Tour race this season in 7.83, improving her PB by 0.01 one week after her win in Karlsruhe in 7.84. Brittany Anderson completed the Jamaican double finishing runner-up in her lifetime best of 7.88 following her win at the Millrose Games eight days ago. US Gabrielle Cunningham finished third in her seasonal best of 7.92.
Danielle Williams: “I was hoping to execute a much better race. It was very sloppy regarding what I was working on in practice. A personal best in a sloppy race, I will take it. My rhythm just wasn’t today.”
Men’s 800 meters: Garcia sets Spanish record and world-leading time
Mariano Garcia completed an excellent day for Spanish middle distance running by winning the men’s 800 meters in a national indoor record and a world-leading time of 1:45.12. Garcia beat last week’s Millrose Games 800m winner Bryce Hoppel, who narrowly missed her PB by 0.03, clocking 1:46.08. Tony Van Diepen from the Netherlands finished third in 1:46.49 ahead of British specialists Kyle Langford (1:46.52) and Guy Learmonth (1:46.90).
Women’s 3000 meters: DeBues Stafford breaks the Canadian record
Gabriela DeBues Stafford set the 3000m Canadian indoor record with 8:33.92, beating Ethiopian 3000m steeplechase specialist Mekides Abebe (8:36.31) and US 1500 meters Josette Norris (8:37.91).
Gabriela DeBues Stafford: “We have not done many specific sessions, but I feel perfect about this race and where my training is at. I am flirting with the idea of a 1500m-5000m double at the World Championships in Oregon next July”.
Women’s 800 meters: Goule sets the fastest time in the world
Olympic finalist Natoya Goule from Jamaica set the fastest time in the world to win the women’s 800 meters in 1:59.62 ahead of US Olivia Baker and Isabelle Boffey, who improved their PBs clocking 2:00.33 and 2:01.37. Goule went through the 400m in 58.16 and held her lead until the finish line.
Natoya Goule: “I was expecting to go under the 2 minutes barrier. It was a great run. I have been training hard this week, and I can run faster. This time I went out and controlled it. Last week my coach was not happy. He said: ‘you have to get out”.
Women’s 60 meters: Brisco sets the world seasonal best
Olympic 4x100 champion and former 100m and 200m world under 20 champion Briana Williams won the first heat in 7.09 ahead of US sprinters Destiny Smith Barnett (7.14) and Cambrea Sturgis (7.22). Mikiah Brisco, who won the US 60m indoor title in 2020, won the second heat in 7.14 edging Klara Parker (7.22).
Brisco won the final in 7.07 ahead of Williams (7.11), improving the world-leading time by 0.01. Smith Burnett finished third in 7.14.
Mikiah Brisco: “My latter half was better than my first half, but I am pretty happy with it. My start was okay. I did not get out first, but I have to work on my front-side mechanics the last few weeks, and it felt good. If I get the start together, the time is going to drop. It was my second race of the season. I set the world seasonal best. I have to be patient. The goal is to peak my form for the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade”.
Men’s 60 meters: Noah Lyles improves his PB
World 200m champion Noah Lyles set the fastest overall time in the two heats clocking 6.64 ahead of Demek Kemp (6.68). Travis Collins won the second heat in 6.65, beating 4x100 relay world champion Michael Rodgers and Mario Burke from Barbados, who shared the same time of 6.67.
Lyles won the final, improving his PB by 0.01 to 6.56, beating Burke (6.63).
Noah Lyles: “It felt so good to be in the mix of the race instead of having to come from behind. We have been analyzing Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman a lot more in the 20 meters, rethinking the idea of getting the most of your stride. This means everything for the 100m and the 200m, making sure I am in it from the beginning and not struggling to get back in the race. I came from a bad race at the Millrose Games. I need competitions to improve”.
Men’s 200 meters: Bromell holds off Taylor
US Trials 100 metres champion Trayvon Bromell won the men’s 200 metres in 20.64, beating 400m Olympic finalist Christopher Taylor (20.81), 2018 NCAA indoor champion Elijah Hall (20.82), and Josephus Lyles (20.84 indoor PB).
Trayvon Bromell: “I had a goal to run something crazy, but my last indoor 200m was in 2016. Six years later, trying to do that was tough. I want to keep progressing, take the lessons from last year, and attack every race. Right now, indoors is not really my mindset. This year to a home in on doing my best outdoors”.
Women’s 300 meters:
Olympic 200m bronze medallist Gabby Thomas won the 300m in 36.21, edging her compatriot Lynna Irby (36.42).
Gabby Thomas: “It was all right. It was a good competition. I think I competed well, but I was hoping to run faster. I am more fit than that, but I need to turn it on mentally”.
Women’s long jump: Ugen sets the second-best performance in the world this year
Lorraine Ugen from Great Britain won the women’s long jump with 6.71m in the fourth round setting the second-best performance in the world this year. Only Ivana Spanovic Vuleta jumped further this year at the world level with 6.85m in Belgrade on Saturday. Quanesha Burks took the runner-up spot with 6.65m ahead of US combined events specialist Kendell Williams (6.48m).
Men’s 400 meters: PB for Richards
World 200 meters bronze medallist Jereem Richards improved his PB to 45.83 to win in the 400 meters beating Vernon Norwood (46.06) and 2019 NCAA outdoor champion Khamary Montgomery (46.23).
Women’s 400 meters: Beard takes the win
Two-time world 4x400 champion Jessica Beard took the win in her seasonal best of 52.88 holding off Canada’s Kyre Constantine (52.96) and olympic 4x400 relay bronze medallist Roneisha McGregor from Jamaica (53.01).
Men’s mile: First World Indoor Tour win for Coscoran
Olympic semifinalist Andrew Coscoran from Ireland came from behind to beat Colby Alexander in a sprint finish in the men’s mile, improving his PB to 3:53.64. Alexander finished runner-up in 3:53.83 ahead of Luke McCann (PB 3:53.87), 3000m Millrose Games winner Geordie Beamish (3:55.14), and 800m Spanish outdoor record Saul Ordonez (3:55.27).
Andrew Coscoran: “I was a bit tired coming off the Millrose Games, so I sat towards the back, and I was able to come through. I was not expecting to run so fast, but I felt like I was strong in the final 200 meters, and if someone came up to my shoulders, I felt like I had another gear”.
Women’s 1500 meters: Guerrero claims the win
Spanish middle distance runner Esther Guerrero won the women’s 1500 meters in 4:11.87 ahead of US athletes Heather MacLean (4:12.29) and Nikki Hiltz (4:12.32).
Men’s triple jump: Last-attempt win for Scott
US Donald Scott, who finished seventh at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, clinched the win with 16.68m in the final attempt, overtaking Jahnhai Perinchief, who leaped to 16.55m. Double Olympic silver medallist Will Claye took third place with 16.46m.
Donald Scott: “It was hard to find my rhythm until the last attempt, but I am glad to get the win.”
