World Indoors open in Toruń: Jordan Anthony wins the 60 m, the distance heats shake out

The World Athletics Indoor Championships opened on Friday at the Arena Toruń in northern Poland, three days of racing on a 200 m banked track. The first running final went to Jordan Anthony of the United States, who won the 60 m in 6.41, the fastest time in the world this year, in his first global championship. Behind him the photo had to separate Jamaica's Kishane Thompson, 6.447, from Trayvon Bromell, 6.448, for silver and bronze. Jeremiah Azu of Britain was fourth, a hundredth further back.

The field events gave the day its other medals. Italy's Andy Díaz defended the triple jump with a world-leading 17.47 m. Chase Jackson of the United States won the shot put with 20.14 m, then told the television crew she was retiring from indoor competition. Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine won the high jump at 2.01 m. Switzerland's Simon Ehammer led the heptathlon after four events on 3,698 points.

The distance programme was all qualifying. Mariano García of Spain ran the fastest men's 1500 m heat in 3:38.19 and Ethiopia's Birke Haylom the fastest women's in 4:10.66. Eliott Crestan of Belgium led the men's 800 m heats in 1:45.51 and Italy's Eloisa Coiro the women's in 1:59.87. Among those going home early were Jemma Reekie in the women's 1500 m and Luke Houser in the men's.

Czech sprinter Tomáš Horák, 18, became the youngest man to reach a world indoor semi-final by running 45.89 in the 400 m heats. After one day the United States led the medal table with two golds.

Day one is for sorting. The 3000 m finals and the heptathlon's end came next, and the 800 m and 1500 m would wait for Sunday.

Sources: FloTrack; RunBlogRun.