What if I told you that over the course of around 72 hours, five world records were broken or tied around the world on the track and in the field at various meets?
Believe it.
All over the world, athletes showcased their elite skills on the track and in the field, and they gave fans of the sport something to look forward to as the season progresses, and more importantly, as we inch closer to the Paris Olympic Games.
Daniel Haugh was a man on a mission in the men’s weight throw at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque. The former Alabama Crimson Tide standout broke the weight throw world record on his fourth attempt of the competition, recording a mark of 26.35m. Crushing the previous mark by nearly a half meter, which had stood since 1995.
“New American Record and the farthest weight throw of all-time,” he said on Instagram. “New PB of 26.35m (86 ‘5”). Just the beginning to an electric 2024 Olympic season.”
Grant Holloway only needed the preliminary round to make history in the men’s 60m hurdles. The sensational athlete broke his own world record in the event, running 7.27 seconds at the USATF Indoor Championships. He has dominated the men’s 60m hurdles throughout his career, and his win in those heats at last weekend marked his 60th consecutive win in the event. He would then opt out of the final later that evening, and title was won by Trey Cunningham.
Tia Jones would not be denied in the women’s 60m hurdles at the USATF Indoor Championships last weekend. The talented hurdler tied the world record, running 7.67 seconds in the women’s 60m hurdles preliminary round. The record in the event was set a week prior by Devynne Charlton at the Millrose Games. Jones went on to run 7.68s in the finals to take home the indoor title.
Femke Bol did what she does best: run fast times and win. At the Dutch Indoor Championships, she broke her own indoor 400m world record that she set last season with her time of 49.24 seconds, winning the national title in the process.
Letslie Tobogo is still young in the sport, but he made a big statement with a monster performance at the Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out. Tobogo ran 30.69 seconds in the men’s 300m, which broke Wayde Van Niekerk’s world record time of 30.81s in the event.
While these performances are worthy of all the respect and excitement that they’ve generated, there’s two performances in particular that caught Dom’s eye, especially as the outdoor season quickly approaches. Check out the latest episode of Track Talk to hear more.
