Edition 282 | September 2026 |
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Looking ahead to Budapest and Copenhagen |
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September brings two major global championships as some of the world’s best athletes head first to Budapest and then Copenhagen in pursuit of world titles.
From 11-13 September, the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship will bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners and the year’s leading performers for three nights of high-stakes competition in the Hungarian capital. A total of 381 athletes from 65 federations will contest 28 disciplines, with a record US$10 million prize pot on offer as the 2026 track and field season reaches a spectacular conclusion.
Just one week later, attention turns to the roads for the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 on 19-20 September. Six world champions will be crowned across the mile, 5km and half marathon, as the world’s leading road runners race through the streets of the Danish capital alongside thousands of mass participants.
From the track and field in Budapest to the roads of Copenhagen, September promises two weekends of world-class athletics and championship drama. |
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The month ahead in athletics
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A summary of competitions and stories that will be covered on the World Athletics website and its social media channels. Publication dates can be subject to change. An extensive calendar of international events can be found on the World Athletics website.
Friday 4 - Saturday 5 September
• Wanda Diamond League Final, Brussels - results Friday 11 - Sunday 13 September
• World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26 Friday 18 - Saturday 19 September
• Decastar, Talence (Combined Events Tour Gold) Saturday 19 - Sunday 20 September
• World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26
Wednesday 23 - Tuesday 29 September
• Asian Games, Nagoya Saturday 26 September
• TCS Lidingoloppet, Lidingo (Cross Country Tour Gold) Sunday 27 September
• BMW Berlin Marathon (Platinum Label) |
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Increased underlying revenues, excluding the Olympic Dividend, and a continued focus on financial management allowed World Athletics to boost investment in athletes, grants and development and innovation while maintaining a strong cash position in 2025, according to the organisation’s Annual Report and Accounts. |
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World record watch (as at 6 September)
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- men's half marathon: 57:20 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) Lisbon, 8 Mar 26
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men's 110m hurdles: 12.75 Ja'Kobe Tharp (USA) Eugene, 10 Jun 26
- men's 1000m: 2:11.83 Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) Monaco, 10 Jul 26
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- men's distance medley relay: 9:14.58 United States (USA) Eugene, 19 Apr 24
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U20 men's 10,000m: 26:37.93 Biniam Mehary (ETH) Nerja, 14 Jun 24
- U20 women's 5000m short track: 14:44.79i Jane Hedengren (USA) Boston, 6 Dec 25
- women's 800m short track: 1:54.87i Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) Liévin, 19 Feb 26
- men's 5000m race walk short track: 17:54.48i Francesco Fortunato (ITA) Ancona, 28 Feb 26
- U20 men's 5000m race walk: 18:54.37 Nitin Gupta (IND) Bengaluru 25 Apr 26
- mixed 4x100m: 40.07 Canada (CAN) Gaborone, 2 May 26
- mixed 4x100m: 39.99 Jamaica (JAM) Gaborone, 2 May 26
- mixed 4x100m: 39.62 Jamaica (JAM) Gaborone, 3 May 26
- men's mile: 3:42.66 Josh Kerr (GBR) London, 18 Jul 26
- U20 mixed 4x100m: 41.64 Australia (AUS) Eugene 6 Aug 26
- U20 mixed 4x100m: 41.60 Great Britain & NI (GBR) Eugene 6 Aug 26
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U20 mixed 4x100m: 41.21 Italy (ITA) Eugene 6 Aug 26
- U20 men's 5000m race walk: 18:40.37 Isaac Beacroft (AUS) Eugene 8 Aug 26
- women's half marathon race walk: 1:30:06 Maria Perez (ESP) Birmingham 15 Aug 26
- women's marathon race walk: 3:15.11 Sofia Fiorini (ITA) Birmingham 15 Aug 26
- men's half marathon: 56:51 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) Buenos Aires 23 Aug 26
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men's 400m hurdles: Alison dos Santos (BRA) Zurich 27 Aug 26
- women's 100m hurdles: Masai Russell (USA) Zurich 27 Aug 26
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- U20 mixed 4x100m: 42.10 Fujian (CHN) Taizhou 24 May 26
(Reason: no application submitted)
- U20 mixed 4x100m: 41.75 Italy (ITA) Rome 5 Jun 26
(Reason: no application submitted)
- U20 men's long jump: 8.46m Jorge A Hodelín (CUB) Oullins, 13 Jun 26
(Reason: Doping control not conducted in compliance with the rules of World Athletics)
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Athletes sanctioned for a doping offence
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New member federation officers – recent elections / appointments
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| Member federation | President | General secretary |
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| SEY | Vincent Hoareau (re-elected) | Fabien Belle (appointed) | | DMA | Brendan Williams (re-elected) | Phillip White (re-elected) | | GRN | Johnell Mitchell (elected) | Desiree Stephen (re-elected) |
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The above information is supplied by the World Athletics governance, member and international relations department and represents member federation election results received since the last World Athletics newsletter. |
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Copyright © 2026 World Athletics. All rights reserved. |
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