A small British team of 25 athletes descended on Glasgow's Commonwealth Arena this weekend to complete in the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, giving us an exciting glimpse at Team GB's medal-winning potential as we look to this summer's Paris Olympics.
While some of Britain's key talent – including Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Keely Hodgkinson and Zharnel Hughes – weren't present at the home championships, instead choosing to hone their focus on preparing for Paris, the reduced squad still put in some noteworthy performances to pick up four medals and finish fifth overall in the medal table.
The USA picked up the most medals – 20 in total – and saw a thrilling one-two in the men's sprint final as domestic rivals Noah Lyes and Christian Coleman battled for glory.
Lets look back at some of the highlights Femke Bol London Marathon announces new Good For Age times.
Let's look back at some of the highlights.
Kerr takes 3,000m victory
On the same track he used to train on as a boy, Scottish 1500m World Champion Josh Kerr picked up his second global title in the 3,000m in front of a buoyant home crowd. His decision to come over from the USA, where he is wavering, to compete in Scotland was last minute, as he had to persuade his coach that the trip would be worthwhile. After all, the Olympics – his primary focus for the year – is just around the corner.
Although he admitted it wasn't the cleanest of races, Kerr's strategy of 'sending it with 400m to go' certainly paid off, as he pulled away from Ethiopia's Selemon Barega on the back straight to finish first in 7:42.98.
Jemma Reekie claims first major medal in the 800m
Fellow Scot Jemma Reekie also delivered in front of a Glasgow crowd as she clinched silver in the 800m. Despite it being her first senior medal, her disappointment at the result was evident – after the race, she told BBC Sport that she had 'stood on that track and didn't want anything but the win'.
She also said, however, that she felt she'd learned 'a good lesson' going into the Olympics, having being edged out of first place by Ethiopia's Tsige Dugum.
GB take women's 4x400m relay bronze
Great Britain's 4x100m women's relay team set a new national record of 3:26.36 to claim a bronze medal. The team, comprising Laviai Nielsen, twin sister Lina Nielsen, Ama Pipi and Jessie Knight, finished behind the Netherlands and the United States. It's the first time that the Nielsen twins have represented their country together on the same relay team, which is something the pair have always dreamed of.
Femke Bol breaks her own world record to win the 400m
Dutch sensation Femke Bol clocked 49.17 seconds to take gold in the 400m – and improve her own world record. Compatriot Lieke Klaver finished behind her in 50.16, with Alexis Holmes of the USA completing the podium with 50.24. The 25-year-old is in fine form going into the Olympics this summer, revealing after: 'My coach said to me, "You can run faster", but to be honest I just wanted to win. It gives me a confidence boost – it gives me some new ideas on what's going well.'
Noah Lyes and Christian Coleman battle for 60m glory
Having recently being denied of 60m gold by domestic rival Noah Lyes at the US Indoor Championships, Christian Coleman came into the World Indoors keen to cement his status as 'the greatest 60m runner ever'. Getting out of the blocks fast, he commanded the race from start to finish, clocking 6.41 seconds to edge out reigning 100m and 200m World Champion Lyles. Afterwards he told the Guardian: 'I think I am the greatest 60m runner ever, 100%. But the exciting part is that I feel like my ceiling is so much higher.'
US athlete Elle St. Pierre wins 3000m a year after giving birth
Elle St. Pierre of the USA made a stunning postpartum comeback, winning the women’s 3,000m to break the American record. Making her move to the front at the bell, the 29-year-old passed two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay on the home straight to clock a national record of 8:20.87. Pierre gave birth to her son just shy of one year ago, and instead of racing much last summer focused on gradually building up her mileage. 'Having a baby has only made me stronger,' she said after.
