WORLD ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
POLAND
World Athletics Indoor Championships, Kujawsko‑Pomorska Arena, Toruń – 20-22 March 2026
Tom Walsh earned a seventh world indoor medal winning gold in the men’s shot put.
The 34-year-old – who also won world indoor titles in 2016, 2018 and 2025 – now owns more world indoor medals than any male athlete in history.
USA’s Jordan Geist took an early lead with his opening effort of 21.64m. He followed it with several big throws, some close to 22 metres, but they were fouls. Walsh, meanwhile, improved steadily throughout the competition, opening with 20.59m before improving to 21.21m in round two and 21.28m in round four.
The defending champion took the lead in round five with his effort of 21.66m. USA’s Roger Steen produced his best mark in the final round, consolidating his third place with 21.49m, then Geist rounded out his series with 21.38m.
With the title secured, Walsh saved his best for last and hurled his shot out to a season’s best of 21.82m.
“My whole career started in Poland with bronze at the 2014 world indoors in Sopot,” said Walsh, who also won a bronze in 2014 and 2022 and a silver in 2024 to go with his four golds.
“If you told me then that I would still be here winning medals at every edition since then I would tell you were dreaming.
“It is great to see I can still do it against the younger guys.”
Walsh, who was also crowned world outdoor champion in London in 2017, added: “My goal for today was to throw 22m and win a medal. I did not quite get to 22 but I won gold so it is pretty good.
“I was glad I was able to build things up as the competition went on. Throwing last when you know you have won sometimes saps the energy out of you but, at other times, it can give you a boost, and that happened for me today.”
Imogen Ayris added a second medal on the day for New Zealand with bronze in the women’s pole vault.
Ayris was among nine women, including Eliza McCartney to clear 4.70m – record depth for an indoor competition, and a standard only previously achieved at the 2024 Olympics.
The bar moved to 4.80m and Tina Sutej and Molly Caudery were over on their first attempts. The seven other women who remained in the contest at that height were unsuccessful in their attempts to clear it, and it meant that bronze was shared by Switzerland’s Angelica Moser, Czechia’s Amalie Svabikova and Ayris.
New Zealand indoor records were set by Tiaan Whelpton in the 60 metres, and Lex Revell-Lewis in the 400m.
Results
20 March: Tiaan Whelpton 60m heats 6.58 (2H1) (NZ indoor record, breaks Gus Nketia 1995 record of 6.59 set in Barcelona) Q semi-final 6.66 (7H3). Annalies Kalma 400m heats 53.03 (4H2) Lex Revell-Lewis 400m heats 47.17 (4H2) (NZ indoor record, breaks Bailey Stewart’s 2016 record of 47.62 set in Birmingham Alabama). Alison Andrews-Paul 800m heats 2:01.46 (4H2) q. James Harding 800m heats 1:47.42 (5H6), Thomas Cowan 800m heats 1:51.26 (5H5). Tapenisa Havea shot put final 15.49m (15).
21 March: Zoe Hobbs 60m heats 7.21 (3H5) Q, semi-final 7.12 (4SF3). Alison Andrews-Paul 800m semi-final 2:01.38 (6SF2). Geordie Beamish 3000m final 7:45.05 (14).
22 March: Tom Walsh shot put final 21.82m (1, Gold medal) (20.59, 21.21, 21.00, 21.28, 21.66, 21.82). Imogen Ayris pole vault final 4.70m (3, Bronze medal), Eliza McCartney PV 4.70m (6).
NATIONAL RESULTS
AUCKLAND
New Zealand Combined Events Championships, Mt Smart Stadium – 21/22 March 2026
Angus Lyver went into the final event the 1500m with Jack Henry breathing down his neck. He had to make sure that Henry didn’t come away with a time that would bridge the points difference.
Henry came through and finished in 4:32.40, but Lyver dug deep over the final 200m and recorded 4:47.13 to win the title by 18 points.
Lyver said he had a few anxious moments at the start of the 1500m.
“I took it a wee bit fast, and then Jack got almost a 100 metres on me so I thought I was toast. But I managed to pull it back somehow.
“It is an absolute privilege running with these Canterbury boys who I train with every few days,” said Lyver on winning the title for the second year.
“It was nice to finally get a PB in the pole vault, which resembled what looked like to be a pole vault.”
It was equally close in the women’s heptathlon with defending champion Briana Stephenson trying to run faster that Maddie Wilson in the 800m.
The both have similar best times and they went neck and neck, Wilson finishing a hundredth of a second in front in 2:11.53.
Wilson won with a total score of 6059, beating the performance standard for the Commonwealth Games of 6050.
Wilson said it was super satisfying result.
“To get over that 6k points, after a couple of years, it’s really nice.
“I just had to hang on to Bree and knew I had to get that 2:12 time to get the 6050. I was really happy with the high jump which was a bit over place but I got there with an equal PB 1.87m, coming after a PB 100m hurdles,” she said.
Stephenson said she tried hard in the 800m.
“Always 64 seconds through the first lap, is the plan, and I wanted Maddie to get over that 6050, so we spoke about going through the 600m together at about 1:37, which we went through pretty perfectly and I said I’d let her have the last 200m. But I had some left in the tank and wanted to keep challenging her, so I felt we really pushed ourselves to do our best in that race.
“I’ve done the A standard for the Games, so I just wanted to put another good on the board and just tipped over the 6000,” she said.
Results:
Men
Senior decathlon: Angus Lyver (Chch OB) 7281 points (100m 10.78 +0.2, LJ 7.19m -1.7, SP 12.85m, HJ 1.87m, 400m 48.70, 110m H 15.51 -0.4, DT 41.91m, PV 3.50, JT 56.18m, 1500m 4:47.13), Jack Henry (Canterbury) 7263 (11.40 -0.6, 6.94m -1.4, 13.68m, 1.87m, 50.71, 14.68 -0.4, 14.82m, 4.30m, 52.95m, 4:32.40), Max Attwell (Canterbury) 7073, Luke Moffitt (Otago) 6374, Max Teuruaa (Cook Islands) 6337, Connor Brown (Tauranga) 6052.
Under 20 decathlon: Jacques Temarii (French Polynesia) 6161, Asher Robertson (Lower Hutt) 5836, Ty Gonzales (Lynndale) 5067.
Under 18 decathlon: Connor Brady (Takapuna) 7074, Elikai Manuel (Takapuna) 6132.
Masters M60 decathlon: Mark Lett (NHB) 3477.
Under 16 Octathlon: Christiaan Findlay (Owairaka) 2892, Puatua Puatua (Lynndale) 2354, Blake Spalding (Owairaka) 1712.
Women
Senior heptathlon: Maddie Wilson (Canterbury) 6059 points (100m H 14.26 +0.4, HJ 1.87m PB, SP 12.72m, 200m 25.33 -1.8, LJ 6.00m +0.5, JT 41.28m, 800m 2:11.53), Briana Stephenson (HBG) 6002 (100m H 13.46 +0.4, HJ 1.72m, SP 12.53m, 200m 24.08 -1.8, LJ 5.88m, JT 38.73m, 800m 2:11.54), Maya Francis (Australia) 4230.
Under 20 heptathlon: Tayler Trow (Manawatu Whanganui) 4864) Jody McCarthy-Dempsey (Canterbury) 4746, Lauren Barrett-Hamilton (Waitakere) 4377.
Under 18 heptathlon: Jamie Fell (Hamilton City Hawks) 4888, Juno Ireland (Waitakere) 4679, Anna Gillett (Chch OB) 4309.
Masters: W40 heptathlon: Melissa Karl (Takapuna) 1897.
Under 16 Pentathlon: Kate O’Connell (Takapuna), 2379.
New Zealand 24 Hour Track Championship, AUT Millennium Stadium, North Shore – 21/22 March 2026
Keith Burrows continued his run of success in ultra distance running collecting another 24 hour title covering 231.107km. He won his first 24 hour title in 2020.
Siân Johnson won her first women’s title.
Results:
Men: Keith Burrows (Owairaka) 231.107km, Troy Field (Auckland) 205.222, David Middlemiss (Hamilton) 201.947, Shawn O’Leary (Auckland) 184.574, Alan Shand (Auckland) 173.021, Peter Marek (Auckland) 171.538.
Women: Siân Johnson (Gisborne) 165.768, Summer Yu-Fan Hsiao (Auckland) 159.477, Maggi Forsyth (Greymouth) 127.200.
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS
USA OUTDOORS
Eku Spring Invitational, Earle Combs Stadium, Richmond KY, 20 March: Hamish Murry 800m 1:53.87 (1R1).
Blizzard Buster, Miama Ohio, Oxford OH, 20 March: Kate Hallie SP 13.72m (2), DT 50.29m (1), HT 50.84m (2).
Kirk Baptiste Invitational, Tom Tellez Track, Houston TX, 19 March: Alice Taylor JT 40.33m PB (2), 100m H 15.24 +2.3 (4H1), 200m 26.65 +1.1 (3H1).
Maverick Early Bird Open, Colorado Mesa-Maverick Track, Grand Junction CO, 20 March: Ella Smart 1500m 4:45.62 (1R2).
Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational, Doug Shaw Stadium, Myrtle Beach SC, 21 March: Elaine Zhai PV 3.80m (4).
Cal Invitational, Edwards Stadium, Berkeley CA, 21 March: Poppy Martin 1500m 4:29.10 (5R1), Courtney Fitzgibbon 1500m 4:42.60 (4R3), Abbey Moody DT 46.81m (5), JT 40.88m (3).
UTSA Invitational, Park West Athletics Complex, San Antonio TX, 20/21 March: Natalia Rankin-Chi Tar SP 14.90m (7), DT 46.11m (7).
USF Alumni Invitational, USF T&F Stadium, Tampa FL, 20/21 March: Anthony Barmes HT 72.06m. Maddie Kelso-Heap 400m 57.45 (2R9), 400m H 1:01.79 (2R4). Kaia Tupu-South SP 17.50m, DT 52.92m (5).
Yellow Jacket Invitational, George C Griffin Track, Atlanta GA, 20 March: Brianna Lee 1500m 4:31.21 (3R2). Kate Robinson 1500m 4:47.88 (8R4).
IWU Polar Bear Classic, T&F Complex, Marion IN, 21 March: Noah Retford 400m 55.13 (2).
Marty Pushkin Invitational, Mylan Park, Morgantown WV, 21 March: Fletcher van Heuven 800m 1:55.78 (6).
UCR Spring Break Classic, Track Stadium, Riverside CA, 21 March: Amelie Fairclough 200m 24.96 +1.5 (6R1), 400m 55.93 (6R1). Zarah Rattray 400m H 1:04.35 (1R2).
Belhaven Invitational, Jackson MS, 21 March: Anna Tucker 400m 58.49 (4R1).
Penn Challenger, Franklin Field, Philadelphia PA, 21 March: Callum Murray 800m 1:54.67 (1).
LSU Opener, Bennie Moore Track, Baton Rouge LA, 21 March: Joseph Morgan 1500m 3:55.53 (3).
Virginia Opener, Lannigan Field, Charlottesville VA, 21 March: James Ford 400m 49.38 (5). Suzannah Kennelly SP 15.27m (3), DT 50.22m (2).
GREAT BRITAIN
Retford Half Marathon, Retford, Nottinghamshire, 15 March: Hannah Miller 1:21.08 (1).
AUSTRALIA
129th Queensland State Championships, QSAC Brisbane 12/15 March: Damian Hodgson 400m 51.25 (5H1), 400m H 56.49 (7). Jordyn Blake 200m 24.85 +1.2 (4H3), 400m 54.90 (2H1) Q, 55.73 (3). Hayato Yoneto 100m 11.26 -3.3 (2H4) Q, 10.59 +3.1 (3SF2) q, 11.04 +1.6 (9), 200m 22.09 +0.9 (7SF3). Brooke Somerfield 200m 23.68 +3.0 (1H3) Q, 23.73 +1.0 (1SF 2) Q. Thomas Strawbridge 1500m 4:06.33 (10). Georgia Hulls 100m 12.01 +0.9 (4SF3). Zachary Saunders 200m 21.54 +1.1 (1H2), 21.61 +0.9 (5SF3).
Victoria Championships, Melbourne, 21 March: Lauren Bruce HT 66.99m (1), Feranda Tirado 53.05m (5).
Australian Half Marathon Road Walking Championships, War Memorial Drive, Adelaide, 15 March: Laura Langley 1:45:35 PB (7).
Bluff to Boat Ramp 10km, Devonport, Tasmania, 15 March: Toby Gualter 28:55 (3), Robbie White 31:41 (14).
REGIONAL RESULTS
HAMILTON
Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty season closer, Porritt Stadium – 21 March 2026
Mia de Jager HJ 1.76m. Paige Fletcher 3kg HT 60.73m, 3kg SP 14.05m, Kulaea Falekaono-Seagar 36.90m. Fletcher 3kg SP 14.05m. Liam Hodgson 5kg HT 37.66m. Charlotte Drabble LJ 5.50m +0.8. Lewis Arthur LJ 6.56m +0.5, Matt Walsh 6.32m +0.1. James Lowther 100m 10.72 +3.0, Julian Syben 10.94. Ben Bidois 1000m 2:32.15.
TAURANGA
Waikato Bay of Plenty Schools’ Championships, Tauranga Domain – 18 March 2026
Casey Day (16) of Lake City Rotorua, representing Western Heights High School set a New Zealand under 17 triple jump record of 12.48m +0.2 PB, breaking Atipa Mabonga’a 2014 record of 12.21.
The national under 18 long and triple jump champion also set a Schools’ long jump record of 6.10m -0.6 PB.
Other Schools’ records set on the day; Kayden Wastney IB 100m 11.04 +0.1 PB, Julian Syben SB 200m 21.81 +0.1 and a member of 4 x 100m relay 42.31 and Millah Burge SG 500g JT 44.84m.
WELLINGTON
Athletics Wellington Meeting #6, Newtown Park – 21 March 2026
Elizabeth Hewett 4kg HT 59.42m, Irae Uili 42.17m, Aurora Carswell 40.85m PB. Meletonga Makisi 3kg HT 40.97m. Emily Aubrey 300m H 54.73 PB. Cody Wilson 60m 7.18, Zack Ziogas 7.33, Saravee Sos 7.76.
Callum Stewart 800m 2:00.18, Carlos Anderson 2:00.45. Aurora Carswell SP 11.14m PB, Mikayla Sola 10.49m. Conor Sharkey 4kg HT 56.48m PB, Lorenzo Kelly 41.63m PB.
Cody Wilson 200m 21.82 -2.4, Ethan Calder-Cass 21.85, Zack Ziogas 22.66 PB. Maddison Maclean 1500m 4:50.37, Maia Holden 4:54.25.
CHRISTCHURCH
Don Greig Racing Stables Twilight Challenge, Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub – 18 March 2026
Results:
Men
800m: Joshua Browne 1:54.92, Lorcan Rabbitte 1:57.12, Oliver Dunshea 1:58.05, Owen Reid 1:59.91 PB, Charlie Hudson 2:00.64 PB.
3000m: Gareth Harcombe 9:15.66.
5000m: Thomas Richards 15:11.81, Zefa Faavae 15:15.07, Luke Mitchell 15:20.19, Blair McWhirter 15:26.29, Hayden Zervos 15:27.27 PB, Corban Straker 15:31.79.
Women
800m: Rosa Twyford 2:05.52, Ariana Candy 2:14.39, Tahlia Pellow 2:18.91.
3000m: Tillie Hollyer 9:15.91 PB, Brynne Gordon 9:46.62 PB.
5000m: Lahana Reeves 16:59.28, Lucy Jurke 17:43.73, Navajo Prentice 17:47.80, Clara Fergus 17:48.45. Masters; Sarah Bryant 17:59.91 PB.
DUNEDIN
Athletics Otago Modified Meeting, Caledonian Ground, 21 March 2026: Jorja Gibbons 100m 12.05 -0.5. Ben Whaley 100m 11.82 -0.6.
ROAD AND TRAIL RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
AUCKLAND
Good George 5km, North Wharf, Wynyard Quarter, 17 March: Hamish Bolland 16:28, Simon Mace 17:13, Mark Boyce 17:38. Joanna Aleh 18:58, Brooke Ross 19:30, Kathleen Hudson 19:45.
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 18 March: Cam Gordon 17:12, Andy Kilding 17:16, Noah Hanrahan 17:49, Helen Kilding 19:25.
Y Marathon 10km, Auckland Domain, 19 March: Leon Dickison 39:44, Samuel Lindsay 39:49.
HAMILTON
The Cook 5km, Hamilton East, 17 March: James French 19:10, Mitchell Metcalfe 19:11, George Allen 19:58. Charlotte Bell 20:18.
NELSON
Honest Lawyer 5km, Monaco, 16 March: Chris Sharland 17:19, Harrison Trowbridge 19:09, Jay Martin 19:51. Charlotte Tear 21:02, Aimee Burnard 21:08, Jamila Milne 21:43.