The 2026 Elite Indoor Track Miramas Meeting, held on January 30 at the Stadium Miramas Métropole in Miramas, France, delivered an electrifying evening of athletics as part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver series. Streamed live by European Athletics, the event showcased a mix of international talent, surprise victories, and personal bests that kept fans on the edge of their seats. With upsets in middle-distance races stealing the spotlight, the meeting highlighted the unpredictable nature of indoor track and field. Here’s a comprehensive recap of the key moments and results.
Middle-Distance Magic: Surprises in the 800m and 1500m
The women’s 800m was the talk of the night, featuring a stunning upset by France’s Charlotte Dumas. Expected to be a duel between European indoor 1500m champion Agathe Guillemot and French indoor record-holder Clara Liberman (the European indoor 800m silver medallist), the race took a dramatic turn in the final 200 meters. Dumas surged past Liberman with a slight jostle and then overtook Guillemot, who couldn’t respond. Dumas crossed the line in a meeting record and lifetime best of 2:00.26, securing the win and qualifying for the World Indoor Championships minima set by the French Athletics Federation (FFA).
Guillemot finished a close second in 2:00.30, also a personal best and minima-qualifying time, while Liberman took third in 2:01.69. Spain’s Marta Mitjans rounded out a strong field with a fifth-place finish in 2:02.62, marking a personal best and a Catalan U23 record, just 0.10 seconds shy of the Spanish U23 national record.
Reflecting on her victory, Dumas said, “The Miramas track suits me. Last year, I finished second in the ‘Elite’ here. Honestly, I didn’t think it would come out tonight given that I had a catastrophic week of training on return from camp in Kenya. As you can see, you shouldn’t rely on feelings and go for it!” Guillemot added, “The 800m is work for the 1500m. I’m super happy to have done this time on return, plus Charlotte does the minima!”
Not to be outdone, the men’s 1500m saw another French surprise from Anas Lagtiy-Chaoudar. The young athlete shattered the French U23 record with a winning time of 3:36.64, edging out Netherlands’ Samuel Chapple (3:36.65, season best) in a photo finish. Algeria’s Heithem Chenitef claimed third in 3:38.74, while Spain’s Ignacio Fontes finished fourth in 3:38.98, a season best that improved on his mark from the previous week.
Lagtiy-Chaoudar, representing S2A/ASPTTS, had just returned from intense training, making his victory even more impressive. This performance positions him as a rising star in French athletics.
Hurdles Heat Up: Fast Times in the 60mH
The hurdles events brought explosive speed to the track. In the women’s 60m hurdles final, American Alaysha Johnson dominated with a 7.98-second run, holding off France’s Sacha Alessandrini (8.01) and Laëticia Bapté (8.06) in a tightly contested race.
The men’s 60m hurdles featured a debut to remember for South Africa’s Franco Le Roux, who set a personal best of 7.60 in his first indoor meet, achieving the World Indoor standard. France’s Erwann Cinna was right behind in 7.61, equaling his personal best. India’s Tejas Shirse, the national record holder, clocked 7.95 in the heats to qualify for the B final, where he ran 8.03.
Sprints and Jumps: Global Talent Shines
The men’s 60m sprints saw fierce competition in the heats and finals. Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme led the prelims with 6.63 and finished fourth in the final with 6.61. Japan’s Ippei Takechi placed eighth in the A final with 6.67, after a 6.69 prelim. Compatriots Yuta Sekiguchi (6.75 prelim, 6.78 B final) and Shuhei Tada (6.70 prelim, 6.73 B final) also competed strongly. Argentina’s Franco Florio opened his season with 6.85 in the heats.
In the men’s triple jump, Senegal’s Amath Faye took gold, followed by Algeria’s Yasser Mohammed Triki with a 16.70m leap for silver. Brazil’s Almir Dos Santos (also known as Almir Júnior) earned bronze with 16.52m in a hard-fought battle.
The men’s pole vault highlighted Spanish athletes, with Juan Luis Bravo clearing 5.56m for second place (season best) and Artur Coll reaching 5.41m for fourth (season best).
Inclusion and Broader Impact
Beyond the elite competitions, the meeting emphasized inclusion, with para-athletics events integrated into the program. This focus on diversity added to the event’s appeal, aligning with World Athletics’ goals for broader participation.
Looking Ahead
With 24,349 views on the live stream as of January 31, the Miramas Meeting continues to grow in popularity. Performances like those from Dumas and Lagtiy-Chaoudar not only set new benchmarks but also build momentum toward the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland. Fans can catch replays on the European Athletics YouTube channel and follow updates on their social media platforms.
This event underscores why indoor athletics captivates audiences: raw talent, unexpected twists, and the pursuit of excellence. Stay tuned for more from the World Athletics Indoor Tour!
