Jordan Anthony Secures World Indoor 60m Crown in Torun
American sprint sensation Jordan Anthony announced his arrival on the global stage with a stunning victory in the men's 60m final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Torun, Poland. The 21-year-old US national champion clocked a world-leading time of 6.41 seconds to claim his first world indoor title, establishing himself as athletics' newest sprint star.
Dramatic Finish Sees Azu Miss Medal by Narrowest Margin
Britain's Jeremiah Azu, the defending champion from Nanjing 2024, produced a brilliant start but faded in the closing metres to finish fourth in a heartbreakingly close race. Azu's time of 6.46 seconds left him just 0.01 seconds outside the medals in what proved to be one of the most competitive finals in championship history.
The American champion was well clear at the front, but there was a lengthy delay before the official results could be confirmed as multiple athletes finished within fractions of a second behind him. Jamaica's Kishane Thompson, the Olympic and world 100m silver medallist, took silver with a personal best of 6.45s, while American Trayvon Bromell claimed bronze with an identical time.
High-Quality Competition Throughout Championships
The stage had been set for an exceptionally close final during the semi-finals, where all the major contenders qualified within 0.05 seconds of each other. Bromell had initially set a world-leading time of 6.42s in winning the second semi-final, while Anthony equalled his personal best of 6.43s and Azu established a new PB as they finished first and second respectively in the final semi.
Azu's performance brought him within 0.03 seconds of Dwain Chambers' British record, demonstrating the remarkable quality of his running despite the disappointing final result. Anthony entered the championships as the clear favourite, having recorded the fastest time in the world this year at 6.43s - three-hundredths quicker than Thompson and another hundredth quicker than Bromell, Azu and fellow competitor Levell.
Anthony's Remarkable Journey to Gold
The young American champion, a two-time former NCAA champion, had recently won the US national title in 6.45s earlier this month, defeating Olympic 100m champion and training partner Noah Lyles. His victory in Poland was particularly impressive given he competed with his arm heavily taped after suffering complications from a drug test.
"Yesterday I had drug testing, they took blood, but he didn't stick my vein, he stuck outside. I got a clot the size of a football. Luckily, I'm still running," Anthony explained to media in Torun. "That's why my arm is taped up. I can't really do this with it. It is what it is, that's not going to stop me."
Other Championship Highlights
Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian high jump star Yaroslava Mahuchikh claimed the first gold medal of the championships, winning the women's high jump final for the first time since 2022. The world record holder and reigning Olympic champion cleared 2.01m for victory, while an unusual situation saw three women share the silver medal position.
Australia's Nicola Olyslagers, Serbia's Angelina Topic and Ukrainian Yuliia Levchenko all jumped 1.99m with identical records, resulting in a three-way tie for second place on the podium.
In the women's 800m, British favourite Keely Hodgkinson cruised to victory in her heat with a time of 2:00.32, having successfully retrieved her kit and spikes after they were initially misplaced by her airline during travel to Torun.
"It came last night, thank God," said Hodgkinson. "I was starting to get annoyed. A very nice Polish girl let me borrow her spikes, and they gave me a blister. I just didn't have any kit or my supplements. But it's all good now."
The 24-year-old has won medals at every major championship except these indoor worlds, having previously missed multiple editions through injury. She appears in world-beating form after breaking the world indoor record last month.
Her main rival, Switzerland's Audrey Werro, ran slightly quicker to win her heat in 1:59.91, while Hodgkinson's compatriot and new British indoor champion Isabelle Boffey qualified as a fastest loser. Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell won her 1500m heat to progress to the final as favourite for the title, though compatriot Jemma Reekie narrowly missed qualification after finishing fourth in her heat.
