Deji’s Doodles. Karalis, Jackson and Lutkenhaus showed class in their various indoor championships
Indoor season reached its peak this weekend. From national records to tactical master classes, the 2026 celebration is already being set. Emmanuel Karalis showed the gap is closing in the vault, the sprint hierarchy is adjusting, the 800m has a new tactic, Nigeria’s sprint future looks sharper than ever and Chase Jackson is gaining momentum at just the right time.
Here are some of the conversations from the weekend.
Karalis might just give Mondo Duplantis a run for his money this year
Undoubtedly, the biggest action of the weekend came at the Greek Indoor Championships. The opening months of 2026 have already transformed the feel of men’s pole vaulting, with an unusual number of athletes running six meters before the season is fully established, and at these championships, that momentum found a decisive performance Emmanuel Caralis. Competing at home, she had little trouble securing the national title, but the real intrigue centered on the height gain and composure she displayed in each attempt, rather than the medal itself.
At 5.90m, she moved with control and rhythm, climbing through plant and swing phase with a balance that offered a new level of efficiency, clearing the bar without visible strain and landing with the calm confidence of an athlete who knows she’s performing within herself. As the bar moved to 6.07m, just shy of her personal best, the opening required more control in her hips and chest, but technique held and the bar stayed, marking another step forward in a season that already hinted at something bigger.
The decision to move to 6.17 meters had real consequences, as it represented a nine-centimetre leap, surpassing his lifetime best. That shutout moved him into second place on the all-time list and, more importantly, showed that the gap to the summit is narrowing through tangible progress rather than hopeful projections.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether he can challenge the goat of the sport, Mondo Duplantis. I know it may seem like a no-brainer at this point, but Duplantis still belongs at the highest level of the sport, with the greatest heights and an unprecedented record when championship medals are on the line. Karalis, however, calmly closed the gap and that 6.17m break proved he now lives within touching distance of 6.20m territory. If Duplantis produces one of his usual flawless contests, he remains the favorite. But if the bar stops between 6.10 and 6.15 a little off day, Karalis is no longer chasing from afar; he’s right there, ready to take it.
Noah Lyles vs Jordan Anthony wasn’t even a game
let’s be honest Noah Lyles there was no force of nature on the indoor 60m. Despite this, Noah continues to perform despite never having defined the race, and that willingness to step inside the line adds something real to the sport. He understands the stage, he understands the fans and he competes because he enjoys it. Only that presence elevates the field.
This weekend though Jordan Anthony made it clear that he was no longer just a promising name. He ran 6.45 to claim his first US title as a professional, not Trayvon Bromell and finishing before Lyles. The performance felt controlled and deliberate, especially considering he entered the meet as the fastest man in the world over 60m this season. After a few early races that didn’t reflect his standards, Anthony looked like an athlete back into himself.
There was a visible confidence in him. He talked about rediscovering his edge, and the race reflected that mindset from the start. Training alongside Lyles seems to have sharpened him, and their competitive banter brings an energy that feels genuine rather than forced.
This result seems a natural step forward. Anthony has already proven himself at the collegiate level and this title suggests he is ready to carry that form into the senior ranks. If this is the tone he sets in March, the outdoor season has real potential to change the conversation.
Lutkenhaus has learned to win at all costs
Cooper Lutkenhaus The first season as a pro couldn’t have gotten off to a cleaner start. Five races, five wins, and not one that hangs in the balance. It makes the range he has already shown even more impressive. At the start of the year, he reminded everyone why he built his reputation in the first place, closing down fast setups and running away from fields in races designed to push the pace from the gun. Those front-loaded efforts are common on the pro circuit, and he rode them with confidence.
In the US, however, the scenario has changed. A championship race over 800 meters is rarely generous and this final demanded awareness. The opening 200 moved in 25.46, fast but controlled, and Lutkenhaus settled for third rather than forcing the issue. When the second lap got a little off, he felt it right away and took off before the bell, hitting the 400 in 53.18 and taking over the race. From there, he did not catch on violently. He pressed. The splits home, 26.92 and 26.59, were about someone pushing the pace on their rivals rather than chasing it.
Sean Dolan ran well for second, although his world qualification remains uncertain, meanwhile Isaiah Harris season best keeps him in a strong position. Lutkenhaus, meanwhile, looks like an athlete who already understands how to win in many ways. That’s a promising sign this early in a professional career.
Ajay arrives at the right time
It always felt like this moment was coming Candle killer. Since arriving in the NCAA two years ago and settling into Auburn’s system, he has developed steadily and quietly, sharpening every phase of his race without demanding attention. Last season he reached the final of the 100 meters at the World Championships and showed that he can challenge the best without batting an eye. At Texas at the SEC Indoor Championships, progress was just a series.
Ajayi clocked 6.45 in the 60m, tying the African record that had stood since 1999 and rewriting Nigeria’s own record of 6.48 in the process. The race itself was clean and decisive, the kind of start and transition that leaves little debate. He had already hinted at something serious with the controlled 6.52 in the pre-final, and in the final he tightened the screws and finished correctly.
Kanyinsola Ajayi (Auburn) tied the college record with a 6.45 in the men’s freestyle. #60 m Final 🇺🇸 SEC Championship (#NCAATF conferences).#Athletics #TrackandField 🇺🇸 #College Station #TX: @NCAATrackField pic.twitter.com/mJyoQYOSgd
— Athletics Central (@Athletics_Cntrl) February 28, 2026
The mark ranks him with the fastest men in college history and obliterates the SEC record along the way. Israel Okon ran well for number two and Adekanu Fakorede added depth to Nigeria’s strong presence, but the spotlight fell on Ajayi. With no World Championships or Olympics on the calendar this year, the focus shifts to the Commonwealth Games and African Championships. Right now, Ajayi is carrying himself like Nigeria’s leading sprint hope and the trajectory suggests he is just beginning to explore his ceiling.
Jackson is peaking at the right time
Chase Jackson Has the look of an athlete who understands timing. At the USATF Indoor Championships, she entered the circuit and added another layer to her resume, breaking her own American record with a throw of 20.44m.
His series was about serenity. The opening breach didn’t last long as he followed up with 18.75m and then gradually picked up the pace with throws of 19.10 and 19.27. By the fifth round, he had found a balance between aggression and patience, and the 20.44mm launch carried the kind of authority elite throwers rely on when the stakes are high. Securing a fourth straight US title says a lot about consistency, but what’s even more impressive is how repeatable his technique is under pressure.
Eugene, Oregon, USA, photo by Kevin Morris
July 31 – August 3, 2025
Abria Smith and Jaida Ross added depth with another solid podium performance, making the domestic landscape even healthier and more competitive. Even with that drive behind him, Jackson remains the standard. He enters the World Indoor Championships positioned among the top contenders in the world, and the form he is building week after week suggests he is not chasing the distance. He defines it.
