TORUŃ, POLAND, March 20–22 — Youth will be served. That, in a nutshell, is the story of the Team USA men at the 23rd edition of the World Indoor Championships, where the only individual golds went to newcomers to the squad, teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus and first-year pro Jordan Anthony.
The 800 showcased the dizzying talent of the 17-year-old Texan. After running the rounds with the confidence of a consummate veteran, he lined up for the final against, among others, Eliott Crestan of Belgium, who has run 1:43.83 this winter and medaled at the last two World Indoors. For nearly 500m, Lutkenhaus stayed on Crestan’s shoulder. Then he took command, with Crestan challenging at the bell. Lutkenhaus pulled away to win gold in 1:44.24 after running nearly even splits of 52.02/52.22, with Crestan at 1:44.38 and Mohamed Attaoui of Spain at 1:44.66.
The youngest World Indoor medalist ever said, “I probably wasn’t the favorite but any time I feel like I can step into a final I have a chance to win. Maybe it came from confidence or maybe from being too young but I really wanted to try to make a defining move. I believed in that on the third lap — I just wanted to try to take it from there.”
Jordan Anthony, just 21, had to rise above some of the world’s best dashmen to make his statement. They were in fine form: Trayvon Bromell hit a world-leading 6.42 in his semi ahead of Kishane Thompson’s 6.47. The next saw Anthony tie his best with a 6.43 in front of Britain’s Jeremiah Azu (6.45).
Anthony nailed the best start in the final as ’16 champ Bromell struggled. The youngest in the field streaked away to a world leader 6.41. Timers had to work to find the margin between Thompson and Bromell. Both timed at 6.45, it was the Jamaican who eked out a 0.001 difference. Defending champion Azu missed the podium with his 6.46.
“When I saw [Bromell] ran 6.42 I was like, ‘OK, right, now I need to run faster,’” said Anthony. “The final was a great race but I still have a lot left in the tank.”
After a 44.52 World Record earlier in the season and easy rounds of 46.09 and 45.39, Khaleb McRae looked ready to make a run at the 400 gold.
In the new 2-section final format, training partner Christopher Robinson led the first in 45.55. In the second, McRae started in lane 5 with Christopher Morales Williams to his right. He held off the Canadian in a spirited first lap of 20.74. Yet after holding a strong lead on the final backstretch, he could not resist Morales Williams’ final drive to the line. The Canadian got the gold in a championship record 44.76, with McRae silver at 45.03. The final podium spot went to ’22 gold medalist Jereem Richards in 45.39.
In a heated match, Josh Kerr positioned himself perfectly for a last lap sprint in the 3000 and made it to the line ahead of rival Cole Hocker, who left himself too far back when the going got serious.
Hocker had led through 1K in 2:38.50 while Kerr lingered near the back. Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune took over for the next 7 laps, passing the 1600 in 4:10.26 and 2K in 5:10.57. Teammate Getnet Wale stayed close, but when the bell rang, the Ethiopians faded and Kerr effortlessly moved to the front. He covered his final circuit in 26.34.
Kerr, who crossed in 7:35.56, mimicked one of Hocker’s finish line poses, track’s nod to hoopster Steph Curry’s “night night,” in celebration. Hocker, who had frantically made his bid from 6th place at the bell, nabbed France’s Schrub 7:35.70–7:35.71.
In a tactical 1500, Spain’s Mariano Garcia, the ’22 champion at 800, took control at 300 and steadily sped up, hitting his 400s in 64.80, 60.78 and 54.63. At the end, only Portugal’s Isaac Nader stayed close, but he could not top Garcia’s 26.62 final lap. Garcia’s 3:39.63 topped Nader (3:40.06) and Wisconsin alum Adam Spencer (3:40.26). American Nathan Green finished 6th in 3:40.78.
With 3-time hurdle champion Grant Holloway not in the picture, Trey Cunningham hoped to have a clear shot at the top. It looked good after he led the semis with his 7.35 PR, moving to No. 5 all-time. Winning the others were France’s Wilhem Belocian and Poland’s Jakub Szymański, both in 7.42.
However, Cunningham, in 4, did not have the spark in the final. He got out slow and never could catch the solid hurdling of local favorite Szymański, who pulled away for a 7.40 victory that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Enrique Llopis leaned for a Spanish record 7.42 ahead of Cunningham’s 7.43.
In the meet’s final event, the U.S. tore through the 4 x 400 in a meet record 3:01.52, easily topping Belgium’s 3:03.29. The winning squad — Justin Robinson (46.15), Chris Robinson (45.16), Demarius Smith (45.56) and McRae (44.65).
Belgium had won the mixed 4×4 a day earlier in 3:15.60. The U.S. team, devoid of stars, struggled to 5th in 3:21.35.
MEN’S 60 RESULTS
(March 20)
1. Jordan Anthony (US) 6.41 PR
(WL, AL) (=4, =9 W, A);
2. Kishane Thompson (Jam) 6.45 PR;
3. Trayvon Bromell (US) 6.45;
4. Jeremiah Azu (GB) 6.46;
5. Emmanuel Eseme (Cam) 6.58;
6. Taymir Burnet (Neth) 6.61;
7. Bryan Levell (Jam) 7.69;
… dnf—Simon Verherstraeten (Bel).
(lanes: 1. Eseme; 2. Burnet; 3. Levell; 4. Anthony; 5. Azu; 6. Bromell; 7. Thompson; 8. Verherstraeten)
(reaction times: 0.127 Anthony, 0.130 Thompson, 0.132 Bromell, 0.137 Verherstraeten, 0.144 Azu, 0.153 Levell, 0.157 Eseme, 0.161 Burnet)
SEMIS (March 20)
I–1. Levell 6.53 =PR; 2. tie, Burnet & Verherstraeten 6.56; 4. Dominik Illovszky (Hun) 6.59; 5. Dominik Kopeć (Pol) 6.60; 6. Ali Anwar Al-Balushi (Oma 6.61; 7. Pablo Mateo (Fra) 6.62; 8. Filippo Randazzo (Ita) 6.66.)
II–1. Bromell 6.42 =PR; 2. Thompson 6.47 PR; 3. Eloy Benitez (PR) 6.57; 4. Oliwer Wdowik (Pol) 6.58; 5. Samuele Ceccarelli (Ita) 6.61; 6. Yoshiki Kinashi (Jpn) 6.63; 7. Erik Felipe Cardoso (Bra) 6.66; 8. Claude Itoungue (Cam) 6.66.
III–1. Anthony 6.43 =PR; 2. Azu 6.45 PR; 3. Eseme 6.52 =NR; 4. Ackeem Blake (Jam) 6.55; 5. Guillem Crespi (Spa) 6.57 PR; 6. Bori Akinola (Ire) 6.60; 7. Tiaan Whelpton (NZ) 6.66; 8. Yoshihide Kiryu (Jpn) 6.69.
MEN’S 400 RESULTS
(March 21)
1. Christopher Morales Williams (Can)
2. Khaleb McRae (US)
3. Jereem Richards (Tri)
4. Chris Robinson (US)
5. Tomáš Horák (CzR)
6. Attila Molnar (Hun)
7. Matheus Lima (Bra)
8. Brian Tinega (Ken)
Sections
I–1. Robinson 45.55; 2. Molnár 45.71; 3. Lima 46.17; 4. Tinega 46.62.
(lanes: 3. Tinega; 4. Lima; 5. Robinson; 6. Molnar)
(reaction times: 0.138 Robinson, 0.184 Molnar, 0.191 Lima, 0.194 Tinega)
II–1. Morales Williams 44.76; 2. McRae 45.03; 3. Richards 45.39; 4. Horák 45.70.
(lanes: 3. Horak; 4. Richards; 5. McRae; 6. Morales Williams)
(reaction times: 0.157 McRae, 0.159 Horak, 0.167 Richards, 0.206 Morales Williams)
SEMIS (March 20)
I–1. Robinson 45.46; 2. Matheus Lima (Bra) 45.71 NR; 3. Ericsson Tavares (Por) 46.15 PR; 4. David García (Spa) 46.65.
II–1. Morales Williams 45.35; 2. Tinega 45.75; 3. Richards 45.87; 4. Markel Fernandez (Spa) 46.72.
III–1. Molnár 45.81; 2. Horák 46.03; 3. Elián Larregina (Arg) 46.93; 4. Franko Burraj (Alb) 47.23.
IV–1. McRae 45.39; 2. Omar Elkhatib (Por) 46.51; 3. Reheem Hayles (Jam) 46.87; 4. Boško Kijanović (Ser) 47.20.
MEN’S 800 RESULTS
(March 22)
1. Cooper Lutkenhaus (US) 1:44.24 (x, 8 A)
(25.12, 26.90 [52.02], 26.05 [1:18.07], 26.17) (52.02/52.22) (13.33);
2. Eliott Crestan (Bel) 1:44.38
(24.87, 27.04 [51.91], 26.15 [1:18.06], 26.32) (51.91/52.47) (13.32);
3. Mohamed Attaoui (Spa) 1:44.66
(25.89, 26.99 [52.88], 25.57 [1:18.45], 26.21) (52.88/51.78) (13.46);
4. Peter Bol (Aus) 1:45.14 NR
(24.94, 27.36 [52.30], 25.95 [1:18.25], 26.89) (52.30/52.84) (13.85);
5. Marino Bloudek (Cro) 1:45.31
(25.27, 27.39 [52.66], 26.55 [1:19.21], 26.10)(52.66/52.65) (13.22);
6. Allon Clay (Jpn) 1:45.42
(25.03, 27.46 [52.49], 26.25 [1:18.74], 26.68) (52.49/52.93) (13.64).
SEMIS (March 21)
I–1. Bol 1:46.21; 2. Clay 1:46.47; 3. Navasky Anderson (Jam) 1:46.65; 4. Mark English (Ire) 1:46.70; 5. Ben Pattison (GB) 1:46.85; 6. Abdullahi Hassan (Can) 1:47.05.
II–1. Lutkenhaus 1:44.29 (x, 9 A); 2.
Attaoui 1:44.48 NR; 3. Maciej Wyderka (Pol) 1:44.59; 4. Noah Kibet (Ken) 1:45.73; 5. Slimane Moula (Alg) 1:46.48; 6. Jordan Terrasse (Fra) 1:47.85.
III–1. Crestan 1:45.71; 2. Bloudek 1:45.92; 3. Sean Dolan (US) 1:46.45; 4. Filip Ostrowski (Pol) 1:46.50; 5. Handal Roban (StV) 1:46.51; 6. Ivan Pelizza (Swi) 1:46.85.
MEN’S 1500 RESULTS
(March 22)
1. Mariano Garcia (Spa) 3:39.63
(64.80, 60.78 [2:05.58], 54.23 [2:59.81], 39.82)
(13.63, 26.62, 53.09, 1:48.28);
2. Isaac Nader (Por) 3:40.06
(13.89, 26.87, 53.41, 1:48.22);
3. Adam Spencer (Aus) 3:40.26
(13.53, 26.67, 53.33, 1:48.56);
4. Samuel Pihlström (Swe) 3:40.59; 5. Samuel Chapple (Neth) 3:40.59; 6. Nathan Green (US) 3:40.78 (13.84, 26.90, 53.47, 1:49.00); 7. Federico Riva (Ita) 3:40.98; 8. Carlos Saez (Spa) 3:42.46; 9. Titouan Le Grix (Fra) 3:42.69.
HEATS (March 20)
I–1. Riva 3:40.52; 2. Spencer 3:40.79; 3. Green 3:40.97; 4. Romain Mornet (Fra) 3:41.68; 5. Robert Farken (Ger) 3:41.79; 6. Pieter Sisk (Bel) 3:42.45; 7. James McMurray (GB) 3:42.51; 8. Eduardo Herrera (Mex) 3:42.70; 9. Rok Markelj (Slo) 3:45.08; 10. Aldin Ćatović (Ser) 3:48.51.
II–1. Pihlström 3:43.38; 2. Nader 3:43.58; 3. Saez 3:43.75; 4. Luke Houser (US) 3:43.87; 5. Jochem Vermeulen (Bel) 3:44.55; 6. Pol Moya (And) 3:44.68; 7. Jack Higgins (GB) 3:44.75; 8. Aaron Ahl (Can) 3:45.11; 9. James Gormley (Ire) 3:50.71; 10. Samat Kazakbayev (Kir) 3:57.37.
III–1. Garcia 3:38.19; 2. Le Grix 3:38.92; 3. Chapple 3:39.03; 4. Foster Malleck (Can) 3:39.05; 5. Håkon Moe Berg (Nor) 3:39.29; 6. Žan Rudolf (Slo) 3:40.20; 7. Festus Lagat (Ken) 3:40.26; 8. Pietro Arese (Ita) 3:40.91; 9. Kamil Herzyk (Pol) 3:44.31; 10. Camden Gilmore (Par) 3:47.13.
MEN’S 3000 RESULTS
(March 21)
1. Josh Kerr (GB) 7:35.56 (13.06, 26.34, 55.05, 1:54.13, 3:54.30)
(31.62, 32.61 [63.93], 31.85 [1:35.78], 31.79 [2:07.57], 31.85 [2:39.42], 32.02 [3:11.44], 29.82 [3:41.26], 29.85 [4:11.11], 30.19 [4:41.30], 30.14 [5:11.44], 29.99 [5:41.43], 29.78 [6:11.21], 29.30 [6:40.51], 28.71 [7:09.22], 26.34);
2. Cole Hocker (US) 7:35.70 (12.76, 26.04, 55.09);
3. Yann Schrub (Fra) 7:35.71 (12.98, 26.23, 54.92);
4. Jacob Krop (Ken) 7:36.76 (13.55, 27.03, 55.39);
5. Yared Nuguse (US) 7:37.08 (13.57, 27.67, 56.67);
6. Valentin Soca (Uru) 7:37.10;
7. Luan Munnik (SA) 7:37.94 PR; 8. Addisu Yihune (Eth) 7:38.60; 9. Nick Griggs (Ire) 7:39.03; 10. Pol Oriach (Spa) 7:39.78; 11. Azeddine Habz (Fra) 7:39.87; 12. Getnet Wale (Eth) 7:40.21; 13. Andrew Coscoran (Ire) 7:43.89; 14. Geordie Beamish (NZ) 7:45.05; 15. Alexander Tesfay (Eri) 7:48.24 PR.
MEN’S 60 HURDLES RESULTS
(March 21)
1. Jakub Szymański (Pol) 7.40
2. Enrique Llopis (Spa) 7.42 NR
3. Trey Cunningham (US) 7.43
4. Demario Prince (Jam) 7.43 PR
5. Wilhem Belocian (Fra) 7.45
6. Shusei Nomoto (Jpn) 7.49 =NR
7. Franco Le Roux (SA) 7.51
8. Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli (Ita) 7.52
… dnc—Dylan Beard (US).
(lanes: 1. Nomoto; 2. Llopis; 3. Belocian; 4. Cunningham; 5. Szymanski; 6. Le Roux; 7. Prince; 8. Simonelli)
(reaction times: 0.132 Llopis, 0.141 Nomoto, 0.142 Belocian, 0.146 Simonelli, 0.149 Cunningham, 0.150 Prince, 0.156 Le Roux, 0.162 Szymanski)
SEMIS (March 21)
I–1. Belocian 7.42 =PR; 2. Beard 7.46; 3. Simonelli 7.53; 4. Damian Czykier (Pol) 7.57; 5. Asier Martínez (Spa) 7.62; 6. Michael Obasuyi (Bel) 7.62; 7. Mondray Barnard (SA) 7.68;… dq—Jerome Campbell (Jam).
II–1. Cunningham 7.35 PR (5, x W; 3, =9 A);
2. Prince 7.53; 3. Liu 7.57; 4. Jonáš Kolomazník (CzR) ) 7.61 =PR; 5. Romain Lecoeur (Fra) 7.63; 6. Louis François Mendy (Sen) 7.74; 7. Elmo Lakka (Fin) 7.74;… dq—Milan Trajkovic (Cyp) .
III–1. Szymański 7.42; 2. Llopis 7.46; 3. Nomoto 7.49 =NR; 4. Le Roux 7.55; 5. Yuanjiang Chen (Chn 7.59 PR; 6. Marcos Herrera (Ecu) 7.65; 7. Saguirou Badamassi (Nig) 7.67; 8. Thiago Dos Santos (Bra) 7.68.
MEN’S 4 x 400 RESULTS
(March 22)
1. United States 3:01.52 (7 W; 3 A)
(Justin Robinson 46.15, Chris Robinson 45.16, Demarius Smith 45.56, Khaleb McRae 44.65);
2. Belgium 3:03.29
(Jonathan Sacoor 45.83, Christian Iguacel 46.57, Julien Watrin 45.38, Alexander Doom 45.51);
3. Jamaica 3:05.99
(Reheem Hayles 47.60, Delano Kennedy 46.57, Tyrice Taylor 46.11, Kimar Farquharson 45.54);
4. Netherlands 3:06.05
(Eugene Omalla 47.18, Keenan Blake 46.08, Liemarvin Bonevacia 47.00, Tony van Diepen 45.79);
5. Portugal 3:08.34
(Pedro Afonso 47.74, Ericsson Tavares 48.14, Omar Elkhatib 46.40, João Ricardo Coelho 46.06);
6. Hungary 3:09.51
(Árpád Kovács 48.18, Zoltán Wahl 47.03, Ernő Steigerwald 47.37, Csanád Csahóczi 46.93).
HEATS (March 21)
I–1. Netherlands 3:04.66; 2. Portugal 3:04.75 NR; 3. United States 3:04.85 (Godwin 47.11, Smith 45.85, J. Robinson 45.91, Tomlyanovich 45.98); 4. Poland 3:06.30; 5. Venezuela 3:07.05 NR.
II–1. Belgium 3:05.25; 2. Hungary 3:05.67 NR; 3. Jamaica 3:05.68; 4. Czechia 3:07.53.
MIXED 4 x 400 RESULTS
(March 21)
1. Belgium 3:15.60
(Jonathan Sacoor 46.16, Ilana Hanssens 52.18, Julien Watrin 46.11, Helena Ponette 51.15);
2. Spain 3:16.96
(Markel Fernandez 47.76, Paula Sevilla 52.05, David García 46.09, Blanca Hervas 51.06);
3. Poland 3:17.44
(Kajetan Duszyński 47.22, Anna Maria Gryc 52.60, Marcin Karolewski 46.68, Justyna Święty-Ersetic 50.94);
4. Netherlands 3:20.14 (Blake 47.63, Van Der Schoot 55.03, van Diepen 45.87, Saalberg 51.61);
5. United States 3:21.35
(O’Bryant 47.13, Reifenrath 56.15 [fell at exchange], McElroy 46.13, Shelby 51.94);
… dq[zone]—Jamaica (47.18, 52.64, 46.02).
(lanes: 1. Spain; 2. Jamaica; 3. Belgium; 4. Poland; 5. United States; 6. Netherlands)
