2026 WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW - WOMEN
(all times ET)
Women's 60
Heats: Saturday, 6:05a — Semis: Saturday, 3:14p — Final: Saturday, 4:20p Team USATF: Jacious Seara (PB 7.02/SB 7.03); Jaslyn Gardner (PB 7.13/SB 7.13) Medal History: 19 - 7G, 7S, 5B — Last Medal(s): S in 2022 Best U.S. Performance: 6.95 – Gail Devers, 1993
Last year's silver and bronze medalists are back in search of gold, but they will have a titanic task to fend off Olympic 100 champion Julien Alfred of St. Lucia, who has the fastest PB in the field at 6.94. Italy's Zaynab Dosso shares the world lead with Alfred at 6.99 and was the runner-up in 2025 ahead of Patrizia van der Weken of Luxembourg. Van der Weken lowered her PB to 7.01 in February. USATF champion Jacious Sears is an explosive starter who can hang with anyone in the world at the top end, and she leads the U.S. list at 7.03. Two years ago, Poland's Ewa Swoboda was the silver medalist, and she boasts a PB of 6.98 that could give her the fuel to ride the vocal support of her home country fans to her first global gold. Other medal contenders include Britain's Amy Hunt, who nabbed World Championships silver in the 200 last year and finished fifth in this meet in 2025. Jaslyn Gardner was fourth at the USATF meet and will likely need to PB to advance to the final.
Women's 400
Heats: Friday, 6:08a — Semis: Friday, 2:42p — Final: Saturday, 3:40p Team USATF: Rosey Effiong (PB 50.54/SB 51.53); Bailey Lear (PB 51.55/SB 51.60) Medal History: 17 - 6G, 5S, 6B — Last Medal(s): S in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 50.24 – Alexis Holmes, 2024
Norway's Henriette Jaeger is the only returning medalist, earning bronze in 2025, and she leads the entry list with a season best of 50.62. This event is wide open, and Poland's Natalia Bukowiecka could take advantage to claim her first global individual gold. Bukowiecka took silver at the 2023 World Championships and bronze at the Paris Olympics. Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands is a hard-charging runner whose pacing sometimes costs her late in the race, but she has dipped under 50.0 outdoors and has an indoor PB of 50.10, which is the best among all entrants. U.S. hopes are carried by Rosey Effiong and Bailey Lear, who went 1-2 at the USATF indoors. Effiong and Lear were gold medalists on the Team USATF 4x400 at the 2025 World Indoors and Effiong has an indoor PB of 50.53 while Lear has clocked 51.55.
Women's 800
Heats: Friday, 7:38a — Semis: Saturday, 7:22a — Final: Sunday, 2:53p Team USATF: Addison Wiley (PB 1:59.43/SB 1:59.43); Valery Tobias (PB 1:59.30/SB 1:59.30) Medal History: 8 - 2G, 2S, 4B — Last Medal(s): G in 2022 Best U.S. Performance: 1:58.99 – Ajee' Wilson, 2018
Shattering an ancient world indoor record earlier this season, Britain's Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson is a prohibitive favorite to add World Indoor gold to her résumé. Hodgkinson cruised to a 1:54.87 on Feb. 19 in France and is more than two seconds faster than her nearest challenger in 2026. If the Brit falters, look for Switzerland's Audrey Werro and 2025 silver medalist Nigist Getachew of Ethiopia to challenge for gold. Another British contender is Isabelle Boffey, who dramatically lowered her PB to 1:57.43 this year, and NCAA indoor champion Gladys Chepngetich of Kenya and Clemson. Addison Wiley, who competed at the 2024 edition of this meet, outkicked Valery Tobias for the USATF title in a PB 1:59.43, with Tobias earning silver in 1:59.77, just off her PB of 1:59.30 from mid-February. Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma was the 2024 champion and earned silver at the Olympic Games that year.
Women's 1500
Heats: Friday, 1:22p —Final: Sunday, 2:22p Team USATF: Nikki Hiltz (PB 4:02.32/SB 4:03.61); Gracie Morris (PB 4:02.12/SB 4:02.12) Medal History: 4 - 2G, 1S, 1B — Last Medal(s): S, B in 2024 Best U.S. Performance: 4:01.67 – Regina Jacobs, 2003
On paper this would appear to be a contest between Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell, the top returning medalist after taking bronze last year and a 4:00.04 performer thus far, and the duo of Ethiopia's Birke Haylom and France's Agathe Guillemot. Paper doesn't win races, though. Nikki Hiltz does so with regularity in American competition. Undefeated this year in a brief campaign, Hiltz notched a fourth straight USATF title using a kick that is hard to defend against. The World Indoor silver medalist in 2024, Hiltz has the racing moxie and speed to win off a slow pace or in a tactical affair. Gracie Morris, the runner-up to Hiltz at the USATF meet, has shown great improvement this season, lowering her PB to 4:02.10. 2024 Olympic silver medalist Jessica Hull of Australia is also a threat to mount the podium with an outdoor PB of 3:50.83. Of interest to collegiate fans, Oregon's Wilma Nielsen won the past two NCAA indoor mile crowns and will represent Sweden here.
Women's 3000
Final: Saturday, 2:04p Team USATF: Emily Mackay (PB 8:30.01/SB 8:30.01); Margot Appleton (PB 8:39.79/SB 8:39.79) Medal History: 9 - 1G, 3S, 5B — Last Medal(s): S in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 8:20.87 – Elle St. Pierre, 2024
Winner of the 1500 in 2024 and this event last year, Ethiopia's Freweyni Hailu is shooting for a third World Indoor gold, and it would be hard to bet against her. She leads the entry list at 8:24.59, with fellow Ethiopian Aleshign Baweke more than a second adrift of that at 8:26.29. Those two will have to keep an eye on Italy's Nadia Battocletti, an 8:26.44 performer in 2026 who is best known as the Olympic and World championships silver medalist at 10,000 meters. Battocletti has great range and is a tenacious competitor when medals are on the line. Emily Mackay was the bronze medalist in the 1500 in 2024 and she sprinted to the USATF 3000 gold in a PB 8:30.01, so she can't be counted out. The other American is Margot Appleton, a rapidly improving runner who took third at the USATF meet and dropped her PB to 8:39.79 in January. Australia's Linden Hall and Jessica Hull are well equipped to be in the medal hunt.
Women's 60 Hurdles
Heats: Sunday, 7:55a — Semis: Sunday, 1:51p — Final: Sunday, 3:13p Team USATF: Alia Armstrong (PB 7.81/SB 7.82); Danae Dyer (PB 7.92/SB 7.92) Medal History: 15 - 7G, 5S, 3B — Last Medal(s): B in 2022 Best U.S. Performance: 7.70 – Keni Harrison, 2018
World indoor record holder and two-time defending champion Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas is on course for a hat trick of titles if she can safely navigate five pesky barriers again. She has clocked 7.77 this season, the fastest of all entrants, but last year's silver medalist, Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland is snapping at her heels with a best of 7.78. Kambundji won the World Championships 100H last year and could dethrone the queen, but she will also be pushed by 2018 bronze medalist Nadine Visser of the Netherlands and local favorite Pia Skrzysowska, the 2024 bronze medalist. Those two have matched Kambundji with 7.78 outings in 2026. Right behind that trio is USATF champion Alia Armstrong, who has a best of 7.82 and was fourth in the 100H at the 2022 World Championships while a student at LSU. Danae Dyer made the most of a big 7.92 PB at the USATF meet, earning silver and making her first international team.
Women's 4x400 Relay
Heats: Sunday, 7:05a — Final: Sunday, 3:47p Medal History: 15 - 5G, 5S, 5B — Last Medal(s): G in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 3:23.85 –2018
Team USATF scored a runaway victory in 2025, putting almost five seconds between them and silver medalists Poland. It's almost a certain to be much closer this time around, especially with the Poles buoyed by fervent local support. Along with Poland, heat will come from the Netherlands, winners in 2024, and Great Britain.
Mixed 4x400 Relay
Final: Saturday, 7:00a
Final: Friday, 6:39a Team USATF: Charity Hufnagel (PB 1.96/SB 1.96); Vashti Cunningham (PB 2.02o/SB 1.93) Medal History: 5 - 2G, 1S, 2B — Last Medal(s): S in 2018 Best U.S. Performance: 1.98 – Chaunté Lowe, 2010
Marquee event doesn't begin to describe this conglomeration of excellence, as world record holder and Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine headlines a field that has eight women with lifetime bests of 2.00 or better. Mahuchikh has a full set of World Indoor medals, winning in 2022 and earning silver in 2024 and bronze last year. The woman who won the last two world golds, Nicola Olyslagers of Australia, is back for a third but cleared only 1.96 in her sole competition this season, an outdoor meet in her home country. Ascending into the elite at age 19, Serbia's Angelina Topic was fourth in 2025 and has improved her PB to 2.00 this year. The daughter of 1997 men's bronze medalist Dragutin Topic, she was the bronze medalist at the World Championships last fall. Australia's Eleanor Patterson has a pair of silvers that includes her runner-up finish in 2025 and has gone over 2.02 outdoors in her career. Charity Hufnagel broke Vashti Cunningham's record-setting win streak at the USATF Indoors and has improved to 1.96 this season, but Cunningham is a veteran international competitor who won the 2016 title as a teen.
Women's Pole Vault
Final: Sunday, 12:45p Team USATF: Chloe Timberg (PB 4.71o/SB 4.70); Jessica Mercier (PB 4.57/SB 4.57) Medal History: 10 - 4G, 5S, 1B — Last Medal(s): B in 2024 Best U.S. Performance: 4.95 – Sandi Morris, 2018
The top five finishers from 2025 return to a field that is bereft of a strong favorite. Marie-Julie Bonnin of France defends the title she won last year and has raised her PB to 4.76 this season. Tina Sutej of Slovenia is the grand old dame of pole vaulting at age 37, and with a best of 4.80 she would love to win her first global gold after silver in 2025. Returning bronze medalist Angelica Moser of Switzerland needs to return to the form that saw her sail over a PB 4.88 at Monaco in 2024. The leading mark coming in is an outdoor 4.81 by New Zealand's Eliza McCartney, the 2024 silver medalist, and Britain's Molly Caudery and Amalie Svabikova of Czechia are two more string challengers. 2024 NCAA champion Chloe Timberg won her first USATF title with a season best of 4.70, and Jessica Mercier makes her international debut after a third place finish.
Women's Long Jump
Final: Sunday, 5:20a Team USATF: Jasmine Moore (PB 7.03/SB 6.86); Monae' Nichols (PB 6.97o/SB 6.85) Medal History: 11 - 7G, 4S, 0B — Last Medal(s): G in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 7.23 – Brittney Reese, 2012
Another field with only one returning medalist, Switzerland's Annik Kalin, will witness a new champion, and a jump of 7.00 might do the trick. Kalin took silver in 2025 but has been below par this season. Portugal's Agate de Sousa tops the entry list with a best of 6.97 and she was sixth at the World Championships last year. Larissa Iapichino of Italy was the 2025 European indoor champ and placed sixth at the Paris Olympics. She has a leap of 6.93 in 2026 that puts her just ahead of the American duo of Jasmine Moore and Monae' Nichols. Moore won the USATF gold with a 6.86 effort, while Nichols has a best of 6.85 and was the silver medalist here two years ago.
Women's Triple Jump
Final: Saturday, 2:38p Team USATF: Jasmine Moore (PB 15.12/SB 14.21); Ryann Porter (PB 13.94/SB 13.94) Medal History: 1 - 0G, 0S, 1B — Last Medal(s): B in 2001 Best U.S. Performance: 14.42 – Keturah Orji, 2022
Three-time champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela is back. The world record holder indoors and outdoors, Rojas was the undisputed queen of the triple jump after winning four straight World Championships golds from 2017-23, sandwiched around an Olympic title in 2021, but she fell victim to Achilles tendon injury and did not compete in 2024. She returned last year for an abbreviated campaign and claimed bronze at the World Championships but announced her full return with a 14.95 in her only competition of this season. Cuba's Leyanis Perez and Liadagmis Povea went 1-2 in 2025 and return to take on Rojas, with Olympic champion Thea LaFond of Dominica also in the mix for the medals. Jasmine Moore, who did the horizontal jumps double at the USATF Indoors, made history in 2024 when she became the first American woman to medal in the long jump and triple jump at an Olympic Games. Moore has a best of 14.21 this season but has shown 15-meter ability in the past. Ryann Porter is the other U.S. entrant and has raised her PB to 13.94 in 2026.
Women's Shot Put
Final: Friday, 1:10p Team USATF: Chase Jackson (PB 20.95o/SB 20.44); Abria Smith (PB 19.23/SB 19.23) Medal History: 8 - 1G, 3S, 4B — Last Medal(s): B in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 20.21 – Michelle Carter, 2016 & Chase Jackson, 2022
Fresh off an American record performance of 20.44 at the USATF Indoors, Chase Jackson is looking for her first World Indoor title after claiming outdoor world crowns in 2022 and 2023. Jackson has two bronzes and a silver from this meet and standing in her way this year is Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands. Schilder tops the entry list at 20.69 and was the world champion last fall to go with silver at this meet. Two-time defending champion Sarah Mitton of Canada is always primed for big-time competition and brings a season best of 20.27. Germany's Olympic champion, Yemisi Ogunleye, earned silver at this meet in 2024 and has upped her PB to 20.37 in 2026. NCAA champion and collegiate record holder Axelina Johansson of Sweden and Nebraska is here, too, and Abria Smith gets her first taste of international championship competition following a runner-up finish at the USATF meet.
Women's Pentathlon
Final: Sunday, 5:05a Team USATF: Anna Hall (PB 5004/SB 4831); Taliyah Brooks (PB 4669) Medal History: 7 - 1G, 1S, 5B — Last Medal(s): B in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 4,753 – DeDee Nathan, 1999
World heptathlon champion Anna Hall has a full set of World Championships medals but has never competed at the World Indoors. She set the American indoor record of 5,004 in 2023 to win the U.S. indoor crown, and this year she easily won the national title with a score of 4,831, the best in the world in 2026. Ireland's Kate O'Connor is the top returnee after earning silver in 2025, and Taliyah Brooks gives the U.S. a string 1-2 punch following her bronze last year. 2022 silver medalist Adrianna Sulek of Poland is assured of noisy support, boasting the second highest score ever at 5,014 from 2023, and fellow Pole Paulina Ligarska will be in contention based on her 4,705 PB set this year.
2026 WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW - MEN
Men's 60
Heats: Friday, 5:20a — Semis: Friday, 1:16p — Final: Friday, 2:22p Team USATF: Jordan Anthony (PB 6.43/SB 6.43); Trayvon Bromell (PB 6.42/SB 6.47) Medal History: 21 - 10G, 8S, 3B — Last Medal(s): G, S in 2024 Best U.S. Performance: 6.37 – Christian Coleman, 2018
USATF Champion Jordan Anthony is the new star on the dash scene, zipping to a world-leading 6.43 to win at the Tyson Invitational before capturing his first U.S. indoor title. Joining him in the red, white and blue is Trayvon Bromell, the 2016 World Indoor champion who is on the comeback trail one more time after battling back from an array of injuries. Bromell was the runner-up at the USATF meet in 6.47 and has the fastest lifetime best in the field at 6.42. Defending champion Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain and Jamaican Kishane Thompson, the 100-meter silver medalist at the past two global championships, offer stern competition for the American duo. Another pair of Jamaicans, World Indoor Tour winner Ackeem Blake and Bryan Levell, will also be in the hunt for podium spots.
Men's 400
Heats: Friday, 6:56a — Semis: Friday, 3:44p — Final: Saturday, 1:34p Team USATF: Khaleb McRae (PB 44.52/SB 44.52); Chris Robinson (PB 45.36/SB 45.36) Medal History: 15 - 60G, 5S, 4B — Last Medal(s): G, S, B in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 45.05 – Trevor Bassitt, 2022
Two of the three fastest men in history will go head-to-head in pursuit of the first sub-45 clocking ever outside the United States. Khaleb McRae won the USATF crown in 45.01 two weeks after a stunning 44.52 at the Tyson Invitational set a pending world indoor record, while Canada's Christopher Morales Williams ran the fastest time in history two years ago with a 44.49 that was not ratified as a world record due to technical issues. Morales Williams is the only entrant besides McRae who has broken 45 this season, running his best of 44.80 in mid-February. Better known as the 2023 NCAA 400 hurdles champion, Christopher Robinson grabbed his spot on the roster with an impressive PB of 45.36 at the USATF meet, and he has a 44.15 outdoor best from last year. European hopes rest on Attila Molnar of Hungary, who has run 45.01 this season and is a serious threat for gold. 2022 champion Jereem Richards of Trinidad is also not to be overlooked, bringing in superb 200 speed to go with his two-lap experience.
Men's 800
Heats: Friday, 8:21a — Semis: Saturday, 8:08a — Final: Sunday, 2:38p Team USATF: Cooper Lutkenhaus (PB 1:44.03/SB 1:44.03); Sean Dolan (PB 1:45.41/SB 1:45.41) Medal History: 8 - 4G, 1S, 3B — Last Medal(s): G in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 1:44.77 – Josh Hoey, 2025
One of the brightest young talents to emerge from the United States for many years, Cooper Lutkenhaus has continued to impress as a 17-year-old, winning the USATF gold by almost half a second two weeks after smashing the world U20 indoor record with a 1:44.03. The precocious Texan will have his hands full here, though, in the shape of 2025 silver medalist Eliott Crestan of Belgium, who leads the world list at 1:43.83. Australia's Peter Bol also has a sub-1:44 to his credit in 2026, a 1:43.98 run outdoors. The crowd favorites will be Poland's Maciej Wyderka, owner of a lifetime best of 1:44.07 and four sub-1:45 outings this season, and Filip Ostrowski, who has run a 1:44.68 PB in 2026. With 13 entrants sporting sub-1:45 season bests, 2024 NCAA indoor silver medalist Sean Dolan will have to pull off his greatest race ever to challenge for a spot in the final. Dolan set his PB of 1:45.41 on March 7.
Men's 1500
Heats: Friday, 5:20a — Semis: Friday, 1:16p — Final: Friday, 2:22p Team USATF: Nathan Green (PB 3:34.91/SB 3:34.91); Luke Houser (PB 3:34.91/SB 3:34.91) Medal History: 6 - 1G, 1S, 4B — Last Medal(s): B in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 3:36.69 – Cole Hocker, 2024
Nathan Green and Luke Houser were almost inseparable at the finish line of the USATF Indoors, with Green grabbing gold by .02 seconds, and the former Washington duo were even closer when they achieved their qualifying standard at Philadelphia on March 7, hitting the tape in 3:34.91. Houser was the bronze medalist at this meet last year in China so has valuable championship experience, while Green was the NCAA outdoor champ in 2025. Portugal's Isaac Nader is the reigning world outdoor champion and is a ferocious competitor with a 3:32.44 indoor best that leads all entrants, while Samuel Chapple of the Netherlands also cracked 3:33 this year with a PB of 3:32.68. Nine men come in with bests of 3:34 or better in 2026, but international championships can often turn into tactical affairs that leave the door open for those with superior finishing speed.
Men's 3000
Final: Saturday, 2:22p Team USATF: Cole Hocker (PB 7:23.14/SB 7:37.57); Yared Nuguse (PB 7:28.23/SB 7:33.78) Medal History: 6 - 2G, 3S, 1B — Last Medal(s): S in 2024 Best U.S. Performance: 7:37.97 – Bernard Lagat, 2010
Nobody has been on more of a tear this year than Cole Hocker. Hocker, the reigning Olympic champion at 1500 and world champion at 5000, won the USATF 3000 title by .03 over Yared Nuguse, but has to be the pre-meet favorite based on his other performances in 2026. He set American indoor records in the 1500 and mile on Feb. 14 and won a star-studded two mile at the Millrose Games. Nuguse earned silver at this meet in 2024 and has a PB of 7:28.23 that was an American record when he ran it in 2023. Top challengers to the American twosome include Frenchman Yann Schrub, who leads all entrants with a best of 7:29.38 this year, and a pair of Irishmen, Andrew Coscoran and Nicholas Griggs. Ethiopia's Getnet Wale is a steeplechase ace who has just missed the Olympic and World Championships podium several times in that event, and New Zealand's Geordie Beamish is the reigning world steeplechase champ and the 2024 World Indoor 1500 gold medalist. Jacob Krop of Kenya is a two-time World Championships medalist in the 5000.
Men's 60 Hurdles
Heats: Saturday, 5:20a — Semis: Saturday, 2:48p — Final: Saturday, 4:02p Team USATF: Dylan Beard (PB 7.37/SB 7.37); Trey Cunningham (PB 7.37/SB 7.37) Medal History: 23 - 13G, 5S, 5B — Last Medal(s): G in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 7.29 – Grant Holloway, 2022 & 2024
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of all the men's events features Polish hero Jakub Szymanski going against the Team USATF dynamic duo of Dylan Beard and Trey Cunningham. All three men have set lifetime bests of 7.37 this season, and the gold here will go the one who can best hold his nerve and avoid any mistakes, no matter how minor. Szymanski is the reigning European indoor champion and is unbeaten in 2026 with a seven-meet win streak but has the heavy pressure of a hopeful nation on his shoulders. Beard set his PB in winning the USATF crown over Cunningham, who earned silver in the 110H at the 2022 World Championships. Should any of these three falter, a pair of silver medalists from previous editions could take advantage. France's Wilhem Belocian was the runner-up last year and has a PB of 7.42, while Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli of Italy claimed silver in 2024. Spain's Enrique Llopis is another with medal aspirations and talent to match.
Men's 4x400 Relay
Heats: Sunday, 5:48a — Final: Sunday, 3:26p Medal History: 14 - 11G, 3S — Last Medal(s): G in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 3:01.97 - 2018
Team USATF won six straight titles from 2006-2016 and recaptured the top spot last year after a three-meet drought. With two of the top open 400 entrants and returning gold medalist Elija Godwin on the roster, the U.S. should again be favored for victory but hosts Poland can never be counted out. The Poles have a proud tradition in the 4x4 and set the meet record of 3:01.77 in 2018. Belgium won in 2022 and 2024 but may not have the talent this time to take it all. Jamaica and the Netherlands are two other teams with title hopes if there's any drop-off by the favorites.
Men's High Jump
Final: Saturday, 2:22p No U.S. entrants
This might be the weakest men's event of the championships, but 2025 champion Woo Sanghyeok of South Korea is in search of a second gold. Czechia's Jan Stefela leads all entrants with a best of 2.32 this season, and Jamaica's Raymond Richards was the bronze medalist in China last year. There are no U.S. entrants.
Men's Pole Vault
Final: Saturday, 1:25p Team USATF: Zach Bradford (PB 6.01/SB 6.01); Chris Nilsen (PB 6.05/SB 5.85) Medal History: 14 - 2G, 8S, 4B — Last Medal(s): B in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 5.95 – Jeff Hartwig, 1999 & Lawrence Johnson, 2001
Higher and higher, baby, it's a Mondo thing... Three straight golds and a bucketful of world records puts Sweden's Mondo Duplantis in the role of prohibitive favorite. Duplantis recently improved his own world record to 6.31 and his progress looks unstoppable, but there are finally some signs of potential challengers emerging. Emmanouil Karalis of Greece is an immensely talented athlete who has upped his PB to 6.17 this season, and the 2025 silver medalist has shown flashes of ability that hint at vaults in the rare air of Mondoville. Two-time NCAA indoor champion Sondre Guttormsen of Norway boosted his PB to 6.06, and American Zach Bradford joined the six-meter club with a 6.01 last month to win the USATF title. Kurtis Marschall of Australia is the other man to clear 6.00 this year. American indoor record holder Chris Nilsen has a PB of 6.05 and earned bronze in 2022 but needs to improve his season best of 5.85 to be in the medals.
Men's Long Jump
Final: Sunday, 2:12p Team USATF: Steffin McCarter (PB 8.26o/SB 8.11); Jeremiah Davis (PB 8.37/SB 8.08) Medal History: 13 - 5G, 1S, 7B — Last Medal(s): B in 2022 Best U.S. Performance: 8.42 – Marquis Dendy, 2018
Two of last year's three medalists return, but it is Bulgaria's Bozhidar Saraboyukov who has stolen the limelight this season. Saraboyukov went 8.45 at Belgrade in early February and won the 2025 European indoor crown before a fifth-place finish at the World Championships. He is also a 2.28 high jumper and has triple jumped 16.61. Reigning champion Mattia Furlani of Italy also captured the world outdoor gold last year and is still only 21 years old. Furlani has a PB of 8.39 and was undefeated in three meets this season. Australia's Liam Adcock took bronze in 2025 but has competed only once this season, an outdoor 8.23 Down Under. Two-time Olympic champion and two-time World Indoor champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece has the second longest PB in the field at 8.65 but hasn't matched that form yet in 2026. American hopes lie with USATF champ Steffin McCarter, who was fifth at the 2022 World Championships, and Jeremiah Davis, an 8.37 performer in 2023 who won the 2024 Olympic Trials.
Men's Triple Jump
Final: Friday, 2:35p Team USATF: Russell Robinson (PB 17.30o/SB 16.98) Medal History: 9 - 5G, 3S, 1B — Last Medal(s): B in 2022 Best U.S. Performance: 17.73 – Walter Davis, 2006
Reigning champion Andy Diaz Hernandez of Italy is a former Cuban who earned bronze for his new nation at the 2024 Olympic Games and has the best PB in the field at 17.80, set in winning this meet last year. The top 2026 mark of 17.35 is held by Algeria's Yasser Triki, the 2024 silver medalist and 2018 NCAA champion for Texas A&M. Jamaica's Jordan Scott and Su Wen of China finished just off the podium last year and have medal potential. The lone American in the competition is USATF champ Russell Robinson, who was eighth in this meet last year and won the NCAA indoor title for Miami in 2024. Cuba's Lazaro Martinez and Brazil's Almir dos Santos are two other former medalists, and Italy's Andrea Dallavalle was the silver medalist at the 2025 World Championships.
Men's Shot Put
Final: Sunday, 6:23a Team USATF: Roger Steen (PB 22.11o/SB 22.07); Jordan Geist (PB 22.25o/SB 22.04); Josh Awotunde (PB 22.47o/SB 21.06) Medal History: 22 - 9G, 10S, 3B — Last Medal(s): S, B in 2025 Best U.S. Performance: 22.77 – Ryan Crouser, 2024
Traditionally a stronghold for Team USATF, this year's competition is wide open. New Zealand's Tom Walsh has medaled at the past five editions, including golds in 2016, 2018, and 2025, and can never be omitted from the medal possibles chart. The leading thrower in 2026 is Italy's Leonardo Fabbri, the 2024 bronze medalist who has a best of 22.50 at an outdoor meet. Roger Steen, the silver medalist at this meet last year, won the USATF title and has an indoor best of 22.07 thus far, while Jordan Geist won the World Indoor Tour crown before a runner-up effort behind Steen at the USATF meet. His WIT win enabled the U.S. to enter a third competitor, Josh Awotunde, the bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships who has an outdoor PB of 22.47.
Men's Heptathlon
Final: Day 1 - Friday, 5:05a; Day 2 – Saturday, 5:05a Team USATF: Heath Baldwin (PB 6245/SB 6245); Kyle Garland (PB 6639/SB none) Medal History: 9 - 6G, 3S, 0B — Last Medal(s): G in 2016 Best U.S. Performance: 6645 – Ashton Eaton, 2012
A world class long jumper and the 2024 winner of this event, Switzerland's Simon Ehammer has all the tools to again take gold here and leads the entries with a best of 6,416 points in 2026. USATF champion Heath Baldwin improved his PB to 6,245 and was fourth last year. He placed sixth in the decathlon at the 2025 World Championships and was an Olympian in 2024. Invited based on his bronze in the decathlon at the 2025 World Championships, Kyle Garland has the second highest score in history in the heptathlon with a 6,639 to win the NCAA Indoor gold in 2023. Jente Hauttekeete of Belgium is the only other entrant to have scored more than 6,200 this year.