Crouser, Coleman strike gold for Team USATF on Day 1 of World Indoor Championships

GLASGOW – Historic gold in the men's shot put and a sweep of the top two places in the men's 60 helped Team USATF to a four-medal Friday on day one of the World Athletics Indoor Championships at Emirates Arena.
 
Completing his collection of global championship gold medals, Ryan Crouser won his first World Indoor title in the men's shot put with a dominant performance. Crouser, a two-time Olympic champion and winner of the last two world outdoor crowns, put all five of his legal throws past the 22.00/72-2.25 mark and his best of 22.77/74-74-8.5 in round five set a Championships record. It was the third farthest throw in indoor history, and he also had the fifth-best undercover toss ever in round six with a 22.69/74-5.5. Roger Steen ended up 13th at 19.97/65-6.25.
 
Christian Coleman used his trademark stellar start to establish a lead that he wouldn't lose in the men's 60, capturing his second World Indoor title in a world-leading 6.41. Coleman, the gold medalist in 2018 and a silver medalist in 2022, blasted out of the blocks to put half a stride on Noah Lyles, who powered over the final 30 meters to snag the silver in 6.44. It is the first sweep of the top two podium spots for Team USATF since 2001.
 
Reigning world outdoor champion Chase Jackson had a solid series in the women's shot put, with all five of her legal throws going out past the 19.00/62-4 mark. Her best attempt came in round two when she hit 19.67/64-6.5, a distance that held up to earn her the bronze behind Canada's Sarah Mitton and Germany's Yemisi Ogunleye. Maggie Ewen placed seventh with a best of 18.96/62-2.5.
 
Chari Hawkins got off to a quick start in the women's pentathlon, zipping to an 8.16 in the 60 hurdles to sit second on the scoring table, but subpar performances in the high jump and shot put dropped her to third, and then she went to fifth after the long jump. A 2:24.04 in the 800 gave her a final tally of 4,388 points and put her seventh in the rankings.
 
In morning session qualifying, Coleman and Lyles were easy winners in the heats. Coleman had the fastest time overall with a 6.49, while Lyles took his section in 6.57. Coleman later tied Lyles' world-leading time of 6.43 to win the first semi, with Lyles taking the third in 6.47.
 
Bryce Hoppel won his men's 800 section in 1:46.15 to advance automatically to the semifinal with the third-fastest time overall, and Isaiah Harris also moved on after clocking 1:46.12 for second in his heat. Harris was the second fastest runner in the first round.
 
Talitha Diggs won the third section of the women's 400 in 52.17 to advance automatically to the semis, with U.S. champion Alexis Holmes a comfortable qualifier with her 52.53 for second in the final heat. Both women secured spots in the final as Diggs was second in semi one in 51.28 and Holmes matched that placing in semi two with a 50.99.
 
Missing advancement in the men's 400 by .002 seconds, Jacory Patterson's 47.04 left him on the outside looking in, and national champion Brian Faust was also a casualty with a 47.11 effort. Other non-qualifiers were Allie Wilson and Addison Wiley in the women's 800. Wilson placed fourth in her section at 2:01.66 and Wiley ran 2:02.69 in the final heat.
 
Both American women advanced to the final of the 1500, led by USATF indoor champion Nikki Hiltz. Hiltz won the second heat in 4:04.34 to move to No. 5 on the all-time U.S. indoor performer list. Emily Mackay easily advanced with a third-place 4:08.04 in the third section.
 
U.S. indoor champion Cole Hocker outsprinted two-time defending world indoor champion Samuel Tefera of Ethiopia in the first heat of the men's 1500, winning in 3:39.32 with a 26.33 final 200. World road mile champion Hobbs Kessler was second in the final heat to advance with a 3:39.07.
 
TEAM USATF MEDALS (4)
 
Gold (2)
Ryan Crouser, men's shot put (22.77/74-8.5 - Championships record)
Christian Coleman, men's 60 (6.41)
 
Silver (1)
Noah Lyles, men's 60 (6.44)
 
Bronze (1)
Chase Jackson, women's shot put (19.67/64-6.5)