World-Class Throws and Middle-Distance Showdowns Headline the 2025 Memorial Irena Szewińska
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The 2025 Memorial Irena Szewińska, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, returns to Bydgoszcz, Poland on Friday, May 30, with a world-class lineup of throwers and middle-distance runners set to electrify the Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium. Named in honor of Polish track legend Irena Szewińska, the meet promises a series of thrilling rematches, record chases, and seasonal debuts from global medallists and national stars across a variety of events.
Men’s Shot Put:
A blockbuster re-match is in store between Tom Walsh, Roger Steen, and Adrian “Tripp” Piperi—the medallists from the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. Walsh claimed gold with 21.85m, securing his third world indoor title. Steen followed with 21.62m, while Piperi earned bronze with 21.48m and recently threw 21.47m in Rabat. They’ll face fierce competition from current world leader Payton Otterdahl (21.97m) and Rajindra Campbell (22.15m Olympic bronze), who went 1–2 in Rabat. Also in the mix is Leonardo Fabbri, 2024 Diamond League champion, who boasts a PB of 22.98m and recently threw 21.63m in Zagreb.
Women’s Shot Put:
Two-time world outdoor champion Chase Jackson headlines the women’s field, consistently surpassing 20 metres this year, including wins in Keqiao (20.54m) and Halle (20.35m). Jackson, who earned bronze indoors in Nanjing (20.06m), will battle Maggie Ewen (19.53m) and Danniel Thomas Dodd (19.15m), both coming off a strong showing at the USATF Throws Festival.
Men’s Hammer Throw:
Polish icons Pawel Fajdek and Wojciech Nowicki renew their rivalry in front of a home crowd. They’re joined by an elite trio who have all surpassed 80 metres in 2025: US record holder Rudy Winkler (81.08m), Hungary’s Olympic silver medallist Bence Halász (80.97m), and Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan (80.73m).
Women’s 400 Metres:
Natalia Bukowiecka returns to defend her title after setting the meeting record in 2024 (49.86). The European champion and Olympic bronze medallist broke Irena Szewińska’s longstanding national record with 48.90 last year and opened 2025 with a 50.92 run in Doha. She’ll be challenged by compatriot Justyna Święty-Ersetic and Colombia’s Evelis Aguilar, who ran a lifetime best of 49.80 in Bogotá.
Women’s 800 Metres:
Anna Wielgosz, fresh off her European indoor title in Apeldoorn, makes her outdoor season debut. She’ll face Portugal’s Patricia Silva, who claimed world indoor bronze with a national record of 1:59.80 in Nanjing.
Men’s 800 Metres:
Sweden’s Andreas Kramer, silver medallist at the 2024 World Indoors, leads a strong field including Ireland’s two-time European bronze medallist Mark English and Czech record-holder Jakub Dudycha (1:44.82), who starred in last year’s edition.
Women’s 1500 Metres:
Linden Hall of Australia returns to her specialty after an impressive 5000m PB of 14:43.61 in Los Angeles. Hall owns a 1500m best of 3:56.40 and was sixth at the Tokyo Olympics.
Women’s 3000 Metres:
Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani, a steeplechase finalist at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, is favored in the 3000m flat event.
Men’s 110 Metres Hurdles:
Omar McLeod, Olympic and world champion, looks to maintain his resurgence after placing second in Savona (13.25) and Zagreb (13.40).
Women’s 100 Metres Hurdles:
European champion Luca Kozák (12.69 NR) faces Denisha Cartwright, who improved to 7.78 over 60m hurdles this indoor season, and Japan’s Hitomi Nakajima, who clocked 12.85 recently in Tokyo.
This year’s edition honors Szewińska’s legendary legacy not only with record chases on the track she once graced, but by assembling a lineup worthy of her name.
