Charlton equals world record as Hodgkinson and Hunter Bell lead World indoors final-day highlights
Devynne Charlton delivered one of the standout performances of the championships, equalling her own world indoor record of 7.65 to win a historic third consecutive title in the women’s 60m hurdles on the final day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń. The closing session also featured championship records, world leads, and a series of high-quality middle-distance and field event finals.
Women’s 60m hurdles
Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas claimed her third consecutive world indoor title, equalling her own world record with 7.65. Charlton, who first set the mark in Glasgow, confirmed her dominance by becoming the first athlete to win three straight titles in this event.
Charlton said: “I did not have the best start. I stumbled a bit, but I tried to fix it as fast as I could. This is one of the things we train for. I knew I had run the world record when I crossed the finish line. I know I could have run a bit faster.”
Nadine Visser of the Netherlands took silver in 7.73, while Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska matched that time to secure bronze with a national record, delighting the home crowd at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena.
In the semifinals, Skrzyszowska set a world lead of 7.76, edging Ditaji Kambundji, while Charlton dominated her race in 7.74.
Women’s 800m
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson won her first world indoor title in emphatic fashion, setting a championship record of 1:55.30—the second-fastest time in history behind her own world indoor record.
Audrey Werro claimed silver in a Swiss record of 1:56.64, while Addison Wiley of the USA secured bronze in a personal best of 1:58.36. Nigist Getachew finished fourth in 1:59.73.
Hodgkinson said: “There has been a lot going on in the last four weeks. Everything feels a bit blurry. It feels so nice to run and win. This is my first world title… To prove to myself that I can do it and remove that pressure means everything.”
Men’s 800m
Seventeen-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus produced a stunning breakthrough to win gold in 1:44.24, becoming the youngest individual medallist in World Indoor Championships history.
Belgium’s Eliott Crestan took silver in 1:44.38, while Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui earned bronze in 1:44.66. Australia’s Peter Bol finished fourth in an Oceanian indoor record of 1:45.14.
Lutkenhaus said: “I knew if I made a move on the third lap, I could take it. The support I felt out there carried me all the way to the finish.”
Women’s 1500m
Georgia Hunter Bell led a historic race, winning gold in a world-leading 3:58.53 as the top four athletes broke four minutes.
Jessica Hull set an Oceanian record of 3:59.45 for silver, while Nikki Hiltz clocked a personal best of 3:59.68 for bronze. Agathe Guillemot narrowly missed the podium despite a French record of 3:59.71.
Hunter Bell said: “This victory is so sweet. I stayed calm, trusted my instincts, and when I saw the gap, I knew I had to go.”
Women’s pole vault
Molly Caudery secured her second world indoor title with a clearance of 4.85m in a competition of exceptional depth.
Nine athletes cleared 4.70m—an indoor record for depth. Tina Šutej took silver with 4.80m, while Angelica Moser, Amálie Švábíková, and Imogen Ayris shared bronze at 4.70m.
Men’s long jump
Portugal’s Gerson Baldé produced a world-leading 8.46m in the final round to claim a surprise victory.
Italy’s Mattia Furlani equalled his personal best of 8.39m for silver, while Bozhidar Sarâboyukov took bronze with 8.31m.
Baldé said: “This was my dream. I was not among the favourites, but I believed that anyone who dreams big can achieve it.”
Women’s pentathlon
Sofie Dokter claimed gold with a world-leading 4888 points, ahead of Anna Hall (4860) and Kate O’Connor (4839) in a tightly contested competition.
Dokter sealed victory with a strong long jump and held off Hall in the final 800m.
She said: “Gold did not seem realistic before the competition. After the long jump, I knew it was possible—but I had to give everything.”
Men’s 1500m
Spain’s Mariano García won a tactical final in 3:39.63, adding the 1500m title to his 800m gold from 2022.
Isaac Nader took silver in 3:40.06, while Adam Spencer secured bronze in 3:40.26.
Women’s 4x400m relay
The United States retained the title in 3:25.81, ahead of the Netherlands (3:26.00) and Spain (3:26.04).
Keely Hodgkinson impressed again, running the fastest split of the race (50.10) for Great Britain, who finished fifth.
Men’s 4x400m relay
The United States closed the championships with a dominant win in a championship record of 3:01.52, just 0.01 shy of the world record.
Belgium secured silver in 3:03.29, with Jamaica taking bronze in 3:05.99.
