If the race went to plan, Ethiopia's Freweyni Hailu would have blasted to the front and ran the legs off the rest of the field to defend her World Indoor 3000m title. But they run the race for a reason.

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It began tactically, as expected. But as time went on, it seemed nobody wanted to take charge as the pack got wider and bumps became more common.

Halfway through the race, disaster strikes as Spain's Marta Garcia causes a chain reaction that knocks over defending champion Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia. Luckily the pace wasn't too hot early on, so she was able to get up and recover.

It was a tactical battle up front all the way through 7 minutes into the race. The pole position was constantly changing, with Australia's Jess Hull and Italy's Nadia Battocletti content to share the lead 2500m in. 

With two laps to go, US champion Emily Mackay sat in 3rd place and was able to tuck in behind Hull and Battocletti. Can she pick up the silver or gold?

It's a tight race with a fading Hull and charging Mackay up to the line! Battocletti takes gold, and Mackay barely cinches the silver! It'll add nicely to her bronze in the 1500m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships.

The winning time of 8:57.64 is the slowest winning time in more than 20 years. It's expected that a protest may be filed due to the contact, but the results as of race completion are as follows:

1. Nadia BATTOCLETTI (ITA), 8:57.64
2. Emily MACKAY (USA), 8:58.12
3. Jessica HULL (AUS), 8:58.18
4. Aleshign BAWEKE (ETH), 9:00.26
5. Şilan AYYILDIZ (TUR), 9:02.11
6. Freweyni HAILU (ETH), 9:02.41
7. Vera SJÖBERG (SWE), 9:03.57
8. Marta GARCÍA (ESP), 9:03.61
9. Katie SNOWDEN (GBR), 9:03.79
10. Hannah NUTTALL (GBR), 9:04.20
11. Norah JERUTO (KAZ), 9:04.22
12. Micol MAJORI (ITA), 9:04.39
13. Linden HALL (AUS), 9:04.83
14. Nozomi TANAKA (JPN), 9:07.77
15. Margot APPLETON (USA), 9:12.57

World Indoor Track And Field Championships Schedule 2026 (CT)

Friday, March 20 - World Indoor Championship Schedule (All Times CT)

Morning Session

• 4:05 AM: Men's 60 Meters- Heptathlon
• 4:20 AM: Men's 60 Meters Round 1
• 4:53 AM: Men's Long Jump- Heptathlon
• 5:08 AM: Women's 400 Meters Round 1
• 5:39 AM: Women's High Jump Final
• 5:56 AM: Men's 400 Meters Round 1
• 6:38 AM: Women's 800 Meters Round 1
• 6:47 AM: Men's Shot Put- Heptathlon
• 7:21 AM: Men's 800 Meters Round 1

Evening Session

• 12:10 PM: Women's Shot Put Final
• 12:16 PM: Men's High Jump- Heptathlon
• 12:22 PM: Women's 1500 Meters Round 1
• 12:54 PM: Men's 1500 Meters Round 1
• 1:35 PM: Men's Triple Jump Final
• 1:42 PM: Women's 400 Meters Semi-Final
• 2:16 PM: Men's 60 Meters Semi-Final
• 2:44 PM: Men's 400 Meters Semi-Final
• 3:22 PM: Men's 60 Meters Final

Saturday, March 21 - World Indoor Championship Schedule

Morning Session

• 4:05 AM: Men's 60 Meter Hurdles- Heptathlon
• 4:20 AM: Men's 60 Meter Hurdles Round 1
• 5:05 AM: Women's 60 Meters
• 5:10 AM: Men's Pole Vault- Heptathlon
• 6:00 AM: Mixed 4x400 Meter Relay Final
• 6:15 AM: Men's High Jump Final
• 6:22 AM: Women's 800 Meters Semi-Final
• 7:08 AM: Men's 800 Meters Semi-Final

Evening Session:

• 12:25 PM: Men's Pole Vault Final
• 12:34 PM: Men's 400 Meters
• 12:52 PM: Men's 1000 Meters- Heptathlon
• 1:04 PM: Women's 3000 Meters Final
• 1:22 PM: Men's 3000 Meters Final
• 1:38 PM: Women's Triple Jump Final
• 1:48 PM: Men's 60 Meter Hurdles Semi-Final
• 2:14 PM: Women's 60 Meters Semi-Final
• 2:40 PM: Women's 400 Meters Final
• 3:02 PM: Men's 60 Meter Hurdles Final
• 3:20 PM: Women's 60 Meters Final

Sunday, March 22 - World Indoor Championship Schedule

Morning Session

• 4:05 AM: Women's 60 Meter Hurdles- Pentathlon
• 4:20 AM: Women's Long Jump Final
• 4:43 AM: Women's High Jump- Pentathlon
• 4:48 AM: Men's 4x400 Meter Relay Round 1
• 5:23 AM: Men's Shot Put Final
• 6:05 AM: Women's 4x400 Meter Relay Round 1
• 6:55 AM: Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Round 1

Evening Session

• 11:40 AM: Women's Long Jump- Pentathlon
• 11:45 AM: Women's Pole Vault Final
• 12:38 PM: Men's 1500 Meters Final
• 12:51 PM: Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Semi-Final
• 1:12 PM: Men's Long Jump Final
• 1:22 PM: Women's 1500 Meters Final
• 1:38 PM: Men's 800 Meters Final
• 1:53 PM: Women's 800 Meters Final
• 2:03 PM: Women's 800 Meters- Pentathlon
• 2:13 PM: Women's 60 Meter Hurdles Final
• 2:26 PM: Men's 4x400 Meter Relay Final
• 2:47 PM: Women's 4x400 Meter Relay Final

How To Watch The World Indoor Track And Field Championships?

The 2026 World Indoor Track and Field Championships will air live this weekend on Peacock. Additional coverage may be available on NBC and CNBC.

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