The Novuna Great Britain & Northern Ireland delivered a record‑breaking finale to the World Athletics Indoor Championships, storming to three world titles in just 30 minutes.
Molly Caudery (Thames Valley, Scott Simpson) soared to pole vault gold, Georgia Hunter Bell (Belgrave Harriers, Trevor Painter) claimed the 1500m crown, and Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh, Trevor Painter) dominated the 800m final—before a legendary quartet of British women closed the championships in the 4x400m relay finishing fifth.
Their golds lifted the Novuna GB & NI team to second in the medal table, a position they last saw at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.
Molly Caudery produced a near‑flawless series of vaults, clearing each height on her first attempt and setting a season’s best on the way to 4.80m. Only Slovenia’s Tina Šutej remained with her at that point. Both athletes missed their first attempts at 4.85m, but Caudery composed herself, attacked the bar, and cleared it cleanly—smiling as she hit the mat and securing her second World Indoor title.
“It means so much. The last two years have been quite rough; I’ve not had a good run at things. I’ve got a great team around me and that makes a huge difference. Coming back from Tokyo was hard, not just physically but mentally. I was just happy to be at 4.80 with Tina, but it was great to get the outright win. Today, to come here and do this, means more than anyone knows. After Paris, after Tokyo, after last year, it’s just a relief.”
The 1500m final opened with a shock surge from Ethiopian, Birke Haylom, who blasted away from the gun. Hunter Bell was left to marshal the pack behind with Australia’s Jess Hull shadowing her. But the Briton stayed calm, reeled Haylom in perfectly as the bell rang, and then launched her decisive move. Only Hull attempted to follow, but Hunter Bell powered away to win in 3:58.53, a British record and her first World Indoor title.
“It is so sweet and such a relief. I knew I was in good physical shape, but the area I needed to grow in was mentally handling being the favourite. I’m so happy I could do that today. I stayed calm and composed all day. This time two years ago I was working in tech sales, and now I’m world champion. I hope people can take something from the fact I gave up as a kid and came back as an adult. The first team I made, I was 30. You can go for anything.”
In the 800m, Keely Hodgkinson delivered a performance of total control. Running her own race from the gun, she moved clear of the field with ease, crossing the line in 1:55.30—breaking a 27‑year‑old Championship record and becoming the first British woman ever to win the World Indoor 800m title.
“When I saw Molly walk out and do her lap of honour I thought I’ve got to get the third Gold, I’m so proud of the girls, I think women in sport in the UK right now is amazing and I’m happy to be a part of it.
“I felt really good with the shape I am in, I had a clean winter with no interruptions and if someone wants to beat me you have to work hard I never go down without a fight. Happy to have finished it, finally come to a Championship as favourite and finish on top as I haven’t done that since Paris and my first world title as well.”
There was barely time to celebrate as she was whisked away to prepare for an appearance in the 4x400m relay.
Hodgkinson wasn’t the only new addition to the relay team as Dina Asher‑Smith (Blackheath & Bromley, Michael J Ford) joined debutantes Tess McHugh (Sale Harriers Manchester, Stephen Ball) and Louisa Stoney, (Belgrave Harriers, Marvin Rowe). The lineup couldn’t quite match the experience of the USA and Spain, but all four athletes delivered a solid performance, Hodgkinson closing with the fastest split of the entire final, a blistering 50.1. They wrapped up a remarkable championship for British Athletics with a season’s best of 3:28.09.
Speaking on her call up to the relay 24 hours after breaking the British record in the 60m Asher-Smith said; “When your nation asks you, you go out there and give it your best shot. I’ve enjoyed running alongside these talented ladies and it’s been a really fun day, and I tried to do everyone proud.
“We saw it as an opportunity, indoors is phenomenal and GB has had an incredible championship with four golds but we also saw it as an opportunity to try something new.”
Ellen Barber (Wells City Harriers, John Lane) capped her senior debut with a superb third place and a personal best in the 800m, plus an overall pentathlon PB. She finished tenth overall and left with her confidence sky‑high.
“I’m just so happy to be here and experience a world stage for the first time, and to come away with personal bests, season’s bests, and indoor bests. I performed as well as I could have. The hurdles were the highlight with my PB, and then the 800m with another PB and an overall pentathlon PB.”
The Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team medals from the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships;
Men’s 3000m Josh Kerr – Gold
Women’s 1500m Georgia Hunter Bell – Gold
Women’s 800m Keely Hodgkinson – Gold
Women’s Pole Vault Molly Caudery – Gold
