6 min readFrom Friday March 18 to Sunday March 20, the 2022 indoor track and field season reaches its peak at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
After an entertaining indoor season that saw great performances at the Millrose Games, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Boston University Valentine Invitational, and other meets, the world’s best athletes will duke it out in Belgrade, Serbia to determine the next world indoor champions.
Here’s everything you need to know about the event, from schedule to streaming information to previews and more.
How to Watch the World Athletics Indoor Championships
WHAT: World Athletics Indoor Championships
WHERE: Belgrade, Serbia
WHEN: Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20. The events begin at 4:30 a.m. EDT on Friday, 4:30 a.m. EDT on Saturday, and 5 a.m. EDT on Sunday. The full schedule and results are here.
HOW: The meet will broadcast on CNBC and NBC, and streamed on Peacock.
Full Streaming and Broadcast Schedule
- Friday, March 18 morning session: 4:30 a.m. EDT to 8:35 a.m. EDT on Peacock
- Friday , March 18 evening session: 12:30 p.m. EDT to 4:30 p.m. EDT on Peacock.
- Saturday, March 19 morning session: 4:30 a.m. EDT to 7:30 a.m. EDT on Peacock. 7 a.m. EDT to 10 a.m. EDT on CNBC.
- Saturday, March 19 evening session: 12:30 p.m. EDT to 5:15 p.m. EDT on Peacock. 12:00 p.m. EDT to 1:00 p.m. on NBC. 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on CNBC.
- Sunday, March 20 morning session: 5:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. on Peacock.
- Sunday, March 20 evening session: 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Peacock. 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on CNBC.
Storylines to Watch at the World Athletics Indoor Championships
World record-holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen favored in men’s 1500 meters
- Prelims: Saturday, March 19 at 7:15 a.m. EDT.
- Finals: Sunday, March 20 at 1:35 p.m. EDT.
Earlier this indoor season, 21-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen added a world record in the 1500 meters to his already stellar resume. The Olympic gold medalist ran 3:30.60 in Lievin, France on February 17, to chop nearly a half-second off the existing record.
As a result, Ingebrigtsen is far and away the favorite for the men’s 1500-meter race. Previous indoor world record-holder and 2018 indoor world champion Samuel Tefera of Ethiopia aims to topple the Norwegian.
Behind them, numerous athletes who have run great races on the U.S. indoor circuit look to earn a medal. Keep eyes on Wanamaker Mile champion Ollie Hoare of Australia. American medal hopes rest on the shoulders of Josh Thompson and Sam Prakel.
World record-holder Gudaf Tsegay leads women’s 1500-meter field
- Prelims: Friday, March 18 at 7:30 a.m. EDT.
- Finals: Saturday, March 19 at 3:35 p.m. EDT.
Gudaf Tsegay is undefeated this season, winning a pair of 1500-meter races in Torun, Poland and Madrid, Spain and the mile in Lievin, France after falling early in the race. She owns the fastest season best in the field with a 3:54.77, seven seconds under the second-ranked competitor and just under two seconds slower than her own world record of 3:53.09 from 2021. Two of her countrymates—Axumawit Embaye and Hirut Meshesha—hope to sweep the medals for Ethiopia.
U.S. indoor championships winner Heather MacLean comes in with the seventh fastest seed. U.S. runner-up Josette Norris has set multiple personal bests this season and looks to make the most out of her first senior world team experience.
Podium spots open in men’s 800 meters
- Prelims: Friday, March 18 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
- Finals: Saturday, March 19 at 2:10 p.m. EDT.
With Donavan Brazier opting for the 4 x 400-meter relay, the 800-meter victory is wide open. Seven men in the field have run under 1:46. However, Mariano Garcia of Spain has the fastest season best and has already beaten the second fastest seed at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix—Bryce Hoppel of the U.S.
Hoppel placed 4th in the 800 at the 2019 world championships, which could make a case for him taking the gold medal in Belgrade. Other notables in the race include Collins Kipruto of Kenya, Marco Arop of Canada, and Elliott Giles of Great Britain, who all own 1:43 personal bests. 2017 world championships qualifier Isaiah Harris will also compete for the U.S.
Can Ajee’ Wilson finally win gold?
- Prelims: Saturday, March 19 at 6:40 a.m. EDT.
- Finals: Sunday, March 20 at 1:05 p.m. EDT.
Ajee’ Wilson has been second twice at the world indoor championships, in 2016 and 2018. Can she win gold in her fourth appearance at the meet? She has won all of her 800-meter races this season, despite coming in with a season best of only 2:01.38.
Four women who have run under the two-minute barrier this season—each setting a respective national record—may stop her: Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britian, Natoya Goule of Jamaica, Haliman Nakaayi of Uganda, and Catriona Bisset of Australia.
Olivia Baker of the U.S. makes her senior championship debut after running a season best of 2:00.33 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
Men’s 3,000 is a who's who of Ethiopian talent
- Prelims: Friday, March 18 at 8:30 a.m. EDT.
- Finals: Sunday, March 20 at 7:05 a.m. EDT.
On January 28 in Karlsruhe, Germany, Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi scared Daniel Komen’s legendary 3,000-meter world record of 7:24.90 from 2004. Aregawi ran solo to run 7:26.20, the fifth-fastest 3,000 of all time. No one else has come within four seconds of Komen’s record since it was set.
Aregawi is rightfully the favorite, after also setting a road 5K world record in Barcelona, Spain on New Year’s Eve with a 12:49. But two of his countrymates, Lamecha Girma and Selemon Barega, could also challenge for the victory. Girma and Barega both own outdoor personal bests under 7:30 and Olympic medals—Barega with the 10,000-meter gold and Girma the 3,000-meter steeplechase silver. Dillon Maggard is the sole U.S. competitor, coming in with a personal best of 7:49.05.
Ethiopian women hope to retain 3,000-meter title from rising North American stars
- Finals: Friday, March 18 at 3:30 p.m. EDT
The U.S. indoor circuit has produced some fast times in this event. Gabriela Debues-Stafford of Canada notched a win and Canadian record at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix as well as a Canadian record in the 5,000 meters in Boston. Elle Purrier St. Pierre won the U.S. indoor 3,000-meter title and Alicia Monson won the Millrose Games 3,000 meters, so each are primed to race well.
But Ethiopian-born women have won eight of the previous nine world indoor 3,000-meter titles. The country’s two entrants, Dawit Seyaum and Ejgayehu Taye, have run significantly faster than the rest of the field, owning 8:23.24 and 8:26.77 personal bests respectively. If they work together to make it fast from the gun, expect them to take the first two spots. But if the pace lags at all, watch for the North Americans to surprise.
Big sprint races across the board
Many of the men’s sprint races are highlighted by favorites. Christian Coleman is expected to regain his world title after being banned for whereabouts failures—but Olympic 100-meter champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy might stop him. World record-holder Grant Holloway is expected to win the 60-meter hurdles gold. However, the 400-meter crown is for the taking, as five men come in with sub-46 personal bests, including Trevor Bassitt of the U.S.
On the women’s side, Ewa Swoboda of Poland is favored to take the 60-meter title over Marybeth Sant-Price of the U.S. Gabriela Cunningham of the U.S. looks to break up the top-seeded Jamaican pair of Danielle Williams and Britany Anderson in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. Meanwhile, in the women’s 400, Olympic bronze medalist Femke Bol of the Netherlands is the favorite in front of a pair of Polish athletes.
Chris Hatler is the Deputy Editor of Esquire. He previously served as the Senior Editor of Men’s Journal and Features Editor of Popular Mechanics.
