The British runner opens her 2026 campaign with a world-leading time of 4:00.04 in the 1500m in Karlsruhe.
While all eyes were on Femke Bol’s 800m debut at Metznearly an hour later and 200km away in Karlsruhe, the world 800m silver medalist was running a world-leading 1500m of 4:00.04.
The British middle distance runner led the final stages of her race at the INIT indoor meet in the German city before pulling away from Ethiopia’s Birke Hailom.
The paceman had led through 800m in 2:08.60, but Hunter Bell clearly had plenty to spare as he clocked the final lap in 28.82.
Hailom finished runner-up in 4:00.88, while European indoor champion Agathe Guillemeau set a French record of 4:02.12 in third place.
Given this, Laura Muir’s UK indoor record of 3:59.58 looks at risk in the coming weeks.
“I was trying to look at the screen to see what was going on, but I wanted to try to lead the whole race,” Hunter Bell said. “When the pacemaker went out, I just tried to hold that position.
“I’m getting used to running in front, it’s something new for me. I wanted to practice something different. I wanted to win the world number one, I wanted to try to break into the top four and win. So I got to two out of three. I won and became the world leader.”
The World Indoor Tour Golden Meet also saw victory for high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchych, who cleared 2.01m on her second attempt before failing at 2.04m, with Ukraine’s Yulia Levchenko second at 1.96m.
“I’m glad I jumped two meters again, but of course I wanted to clear 2.04m,” Mahuchich said. “It was so close, especially the third try. But I’m happy to be back at international level and start my season in Europe. I know I’m in really good shape, so I’m ready to fight at the World Indoor Championships in Poland.”
Elsewhere, Canada’s Gabriela Debues-Stafford was a convincing winner in the women’s 3000m in 8:35.94 as Britain’s Muir was fifth in 8:40.44 and Innes Fitzgerald sixth in 8:40.92.
In the women’s long jump, Larisa Iapicchino won with a result of 6.84 m, over Hilary Kpatcha of France with 6.73 m, and former world and Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo of Germany was fourth with 6.45 m.
France’s Azedin Habz started his indoor season in fine form with a 3:33.36 win in the men’s 1500m.
