Published: 09:58, March 24, 2025
Charlton retains hurdles title, USA dominates 4x400m at Nanjing 2025
By Xinhua
(From left) Silver medalist Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, gold medalist Devynne Charlton of Bahamas and bronze medalist Ackera Nugent of Jamaica pose for photos during the awarding ceremony of the women's 60m hurdles final at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, March 23, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

NANJING, China - Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas retained the 60m hurdles title, while the United States dominated in both the men's and women's 4x400m relays as the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships drew to a close here on Sunday.

The United States topped the medal standings with an impressive haul of six gold, four silver and six bronze medals, followed by Norway with three golds, and Ethiopia with two golds and three silvers.

Charlton's victory was a nail-biting affair, as she crossed the line in 7.72 seconds. The race was one for the history books, with an unprecedented depth of competition. Prior to this final, the record for the most athletes finishing under 7.80 seconds in a single race was three. In Nanjing, however, the top six competitors all surpassed that mark, with Switzerland's Ditaji Kambundji securing silver in 7.73 and Jamaica's Ackera Nugent earning bronze in 7.74.

Ditaji Kambundji (third right) of Switzerland, Devynne Charlton (second right) of Bahamas, Ackera Nugent (first left) of Jamaica compete during the women's 60m hurdles final at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, March 23, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Although China's hurdler Wu Yanni did not make it to the final, her remarkable 8.01-second performance in the semifinals shattered a long-standing national record that had stood for 11 years.

In the men's 4x400m relay, Team USA produced a dominant performance, clinching gold with a time of 3:03.13. Chris Bailey, Brian Faust, and Jacory Patterson teamed up with Elija Godwin to storm to victory, finishing nearly two seconds ahead of Jamaica. China, which had been in third place for several laps, saw Hungary's Attila Molnar surge ahead to secure the bronze with a national record of 3:06.03. China finished fourth with a national record of 3:06.90.

(From left) Silver medalist Eliott Crestan of Belgium, gold medalist Josh Hoey of the United States and bronze medalist Elvin Josue Canales of Spain celebrate after the men's 800m final at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, March 23, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The USA continued its dominance in the women's 4x400m relay, with Quanera Hayes, Bailey Lear, Rosey Effiong, and Alexis Holmes combining to clock 3:27.45, securing an easy win. Poland followed with silver in 3:32.05, while Australia took the bronze in 3:32.65.

In a thrilling men's 800m final, American Josh Hoey narrowly edged out Belgium's Eliott Crestan and Spain's Elvin Canales to claim gold with a time of 1:44.77. Hoey surged to the front in the final stretch, but in a dramatic finish, he faded slightly, holding on just enough to win by a mere 0.04 seconds.

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Prudence Sekgodiso (front) of South Africa reacts during the women's 800m final at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, March 23, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

South Africa's Prudence Sekgodiso stunned the field in the women's 800m, setting a world-leading indoor personal best of 1:58.40 to secure her first global medal. Her impressive final surge allowed her to distance herself from Ethiopia's Nigist Getachew and Portugal's Patricia Silva, who finished in second and third, respectively.

Norwegian star Jakob Ingebrigtsen completed a remarkable distance double, following his gold in the 3,000m with another win in the 1,500m, clocking 3:38.79. Britain's Neil Gourley took silver in 3:39.07, while American Luke Houser claimed the bronze.

Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay continued to shine, improving her own championship record to 3:54.86 in the women's 1,500m. She led a 1-2 finish for Ethiopia, with Diribe Welteji taking silver in 3:59.30. Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell completed the podium with a personal best of 3:59.84.

Mattia Furlani of Italy competes during the men's long jump final at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, March 23, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Italy's Mattia Furlani soared to victory in the long jump with a winning leap of 8.30 meters. Jamaica's Wayne Pinnock followed closely behind with a fourth-round jump of 8.29 meters, while Australia's Liam Adcock, in his first indoor competition, earned bronze with 8.28 meters.

American Claire Bryant captured the women's long jump title in a sensational performance. In her major international debut, Bryant led from the first round and set a personal best of 6.96 meters in the fifth round, securing gold. Switzerland's Annik Kalin earned silver, while Spain's Fatima Diame claimed bronze.

In the high jump, Australia's Nicola Olyslagers successfully defended her title with a clearance of 1.97 meters, edging out her teammate Eleanor Patterson. Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh took the bronze with 1.95 meters.

New Zealand's Tom Walsh claimed his third shot put title, launching a season's best of 21.65 meters to secure gold by a narrow three-centimeter margin over Sweden's Roger Steen. American Adrian Piperi took bronze with a throw of 21.48 meters.

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Norwegian Sander Skotheim added another triumph to his collection, taking the heptathlon title with a score of 6,475 points, a remarkable feat just weeks after his European indoor title. Estonia's Johannes Erm earned silver with a national record of 6,437 points, while Germany's Till Steinforth took bronze with 6,275 points.