Big first day in Glasgow, Coleman, Crouser both take gold, Lyles takes silver, Jackson takes bronze

This is our report on Day 1 of the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. The Champs are being held on March 1-3, 2024. 

What a first day for the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland!

1. The Women’s shot put showed that there are always surprises in sports! Sarah Mitton of Canada overcame the huge 20.19m PB by Germany’s Yemisi OgunLeye, who threw a 60-centimeter PB to open the competition! Giving Canada its first gold in women’s shot put, Sarah Mitton improved to 20.22m, going 6-6 in indoor season. Outdoor world champ, 2022 silver indoor medalist Chase Jackson finished in bronze in 19.67m. Many had thought Chase would be the winner. Surprises abound in champs.

2. In the women’s pentathlon, Noor Vidts, BEL, took gold with 4,773 points. Noor is the defending champ. Noor hurdled 60m in 8.27, High jumped 1.79m, threw the shot 14.26m, leaped 6.50m, and ran the 800m in 2:12.99. In silver, Saga Vanninen, just 20 years of age, scored 4,677 points with 8.33 in 60, 1.79m in HJ, 15.01m in shot put, 6.41m in long jump, and 2:20.54 in 800m. Bronze medalist Sofia Dokter, NED, scored 4,571 points. Sofia hurdled 8.29, high jumped 1.76m, threw the shot 13.04m, leaped 6.20m LJ, and ran 2:11.89, taking the bronze by 20 points! Chari Hawkins, first US finisher, was 7th in 4,388 points.

3. What drama in the Women’s High Jump! Yaroslava Mahuchikh, UK cleared 1.92m, 1.95m, and 1.97m on first attempts, she was leading and expected to take gold. Nicola Olyslagers, AUS, cleared 1.88m, 1.92m, and 1.95m on the first attempts but two on 1.97m. Lia Apostolovski, SLO, had an excellent series, equalling her PB. Lia went 1.84m, 1.88m, 1.92m, 1.95m, all on her first attempts, she missed at 1.97, passed to 1.99, and retired from there, taking the bronze. On her last attempt, after Yaroslava Mahuhchikh missed 3 times at 1.99m, Nicola Olyslagers cleared 1.99m on her third attempt, giving Australia its first gold in the high jump, indoors, man or women! The Ukrainian star took the silver. Vashti Cunningham picked up a stomach bug in Glasgow and did not compete.