The race for the 2026 World Athlete of the Year award is officially under way, with World Athletics naming 10 men in contention for one of the sport’s biggest individual honours.

The nominees were announced on Tuesday, October 6, ahead of the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on November 29. The shortlist brings together world-record holders, major championship winners and athletes who produced outstanding seasons across sprinting, middle-distance running, hurdles, field events and the marathon.

Among the nominees is Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, whose breakthrough javelin season gives South Asian athletics a strong presence in the global award race.

Voting is now open and will close on October 17 at midnight CEST.

2026 Men’s World Athlete of the Year Nominees

World Athletics said the nominees were selected by an eight-member panel of statisticians, with two members from World Athletics and one representative from each of the six continental area associations.

Kenneth Bednarek – USA

Kenneth Bednarek produced one of the standout sprint seasons of 2026.

He completed a sprint double at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, winning the 100m in 9.85 seconds and the 200m in a world-leading personal best of 19.52.

Bednarek also won the Diamond League 200m title in 19.62.

Kristjan Čeh – Slovenia

Discus thrower Kristjan Čeh retained his European title and set a championship record of 72.51m.

He also won the Diamond League title with a meeting record of 71.29m, adding another major achievement to his season.

Andy Díaz Hernández – Italy

Andy Díaz Hernández completed a major championship sweep in the triple jump, winning the world indoor, Diamond League and European titles.

His best jump of 18.15m moved him to fourth on the world all-time list.

Alison dos Santos – Brazil

One of the defining performances of the season came from Alison dos Santos, who broke the men’s 400m hurdles world record with a time of 45.80 seconds.

The Brazilian also won the Ultimate Championship title in 45.98 and remained unbeaten across 11 hurdles races during the season.

Mondo Duplantis – Sweden

Mondo Duplantis once again rewrote the pole vault record books in 2026.

The Swedish star raised his own world record to 6.31m and also won the Ultimate Championship, World Indoor Championship and European Championship titles.

His continued dominance makes him one of the leading contenders for the award.

Collen Kebinatshipi – Botswana

Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi enjoyed a breakthrough season over 400m.

He won the Ultimate Championship in 43.39 seconds, moving to fifth on the world all-time list.

Kebinatshipi also won the Diamond League title and improved the Diamond League record three times during the season.

Josh Kerr – Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Josh Kerr produced a historic middle-distance season, highlighted by a world mile record of 3:42.66.

He also recorded a world-leading 1500m time of 3:27.62 for his split and won the Ultimate 1500m title, world indoor 3000m title and Commonwealth Games mile title.

Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage – Sri Lanka

South Asia’s Standout Nominee

Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage is one of the most notable names on the shortlist for Asian athletics fans.

The Sri Lankan javelin thrower produced a 92.62m national record, which World Athletics lists as the world-leading mark for the season.

Pathirage won four major titles in 2026:

• Ultimate Championship
• Diamond League
• Asian Games
• Commonwealth Games

He won 13 of his 14 competitions during the season, making his nomination one of the strongest achievements in Sri Lankan athletics.

Sabastian Sawe – Kenya

Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe made marathon history in London.

He ran 1:59:30, becoming the first man to break two hours in a record-eligible marathon.

The performance was recognised as a world record and gives Sawe one of the most extraordinary achievements among this year’s nominees.

Ja’Kobe Tharp – USA

American hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp set a world record of 12.75 seconds in the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Championships.

He also won the Ultimate Championship and Diamond League titles and broke 13 seconds six times during the season.

Who Should Win the 2026 World Athlete of the Year Award?

The 10-man shortlist contains several athletes with genuine world-record credentials.

Duplantis raised the pole vault world record and won three major titles. Dos Santos broke the 400m hurdles world record, while Sawe became the first man to break two hours in a record-eligible marathon.

Pathirage combined a 92.62m national record with four major titles, while Kerr produced a world mile record.

Bednarek, Čeh, Díaz Hernández, Kebinatshipi and Tharp also arrive with major titles and exceptional performances of their own.

The result is a shortlist in which extraordinary performances are the standard rather than the exception.

How Does the World Athlete of the Year Vote Work?

The 2026 World Athlete of the Year awards have a new voting system.

Unlike previous years, World Athletics is no longer separating the main Athlete of the Year awards into track, field and out-of-stadium categories.

There are now 10 nominees for the men’s award and 10 for the women’s award.

Four voting groups will each contribute 25% to the final result:

• World Athletics fans
• Athletes who competed at World Athletics Series events in 2026
• Accredited media and content creators
• World Athletics Family

The voting will determine the finalists, with the top three men and top three women advancing to the final stage.

When Will the Winner Be Announced?

The key dates for the 2026 award are:

• October 6, 2026: Nominees announced
• October 17: Voting closes
• November 10–11: Six finalists announced
• November 29: World Athletics Awards in Monaco

The men’s and women’s World Athletes of the Year will be announced live at the Monaco ceremony.

AthleticsIndia Reader Poll

Who Is Your Pick for Men’s World Athlete of the Year 2026?

• Mondo Duplantis
• Alison dos Santos
• Sabastian Sawe
• Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage
• Josh Kerr
• Kenneth Bednarek
• Collen Kebinatshipi
• Kristjan Čeh
• Andy Díaz Hernández
• Ja’Kobe Tharp

Follow the World Athlete of the Year Race

AthleticsIndia will continue to track the 2026 World Athlete of the Year race, including the voting, finalists and eventual winners.

The next major update will come on November 10 and 11, when the six finalists are announced.

The South Zone athletics 2026 results have a clear headline: Tamil Nadu won the overall title at the 37th South Zone Junior Athletics Championships in Puducherry, while Karnataka finished second. More than 1,500 athletes from seven states and union territories competed over three days at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.

However, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has not yet published the complete result sheets for this meet. This page therefore lists every result that published reports have confirmed so far, along with the source for each one. We will also add the full event-wise results here as soon as the official sheets are out.

South Zone athletics 2026 results: Tamil Nadu take the overall title

Tamil Nadu finished first in the overall standings, and Karnataka took second place. Dinamalar reported the result after the closing ceremony in Puducherry. However, the points table is not public yet, so the final scores of the seven teams are still unknown.

Karnataka’s challenge also came with records. For example, athletes from Alva’s in Moodbidri won 26 medals and set five meet records, according to Udayavani.

Meet records at the South Zone athletics 2026 championships

Four meet records are confirmed so far. Above all, two of them had stood for more than 20 years.

Tholem Sriteja breaks a 32-year-old heptathlon record

Tholem Sriteja of Telangana scored 4,965 points in the U20 women’s heptathlon. As a result, she broke the record of 4,817 points that Sumavathi of Karnataka had set in 1994. Sriteja is 19 and comes from Bhadrachalam. She also won the heptathlon gold at the 2025 National Junior Championships, according to Telangana Today.

Salim throws 64.09m in the hammer

Salim, from Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, won the U20 men’s hammer throw with 64.09m. That throw beat a South Zone record of 62.44m, which had stood since 2003.

Records for K. Swapna and J.V. Joshna

In addition, K. Swapna of Telangana set a meet record of 11:25.39 in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. J.V. Joshna of Tamil Nadu also won the U18 women’s javelin throw. In doing so, she broke a record that had stood for four years.

South Zone athletics 2026 results: confirmed medal winners

The table below lists every medal that published reports have confirmed. However, it is not the full result list, because AFI has not released the official sheets yet.

Tamil Nadu

Santhosh Krishnan won the U16 boys’ 80m hurdles in 10.50 seconds. He trains at the SDAT sports hostel in Madurai. In addition, three athletes from Coimbatore colleges won gold. Brinda A won the high jump and the 4x100m relay, while Amirtha J won the U20 women’s 3000m. Yuvan Sharavan also won the 400m, and then took silver in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay.

Telangana

Telangana athletes feature heavily in the confirmed results. Nallavelli Anandi won the U18 women’s 400m in 56.42 seconds, and then added bronze in the 200m in 25.66. Similarly, Uday Kiran won the long jump with 6.86m, while Sai Aditya won the 600m and a medley relay gold.

Karnataka

Sakshi Christina Karkada of Mangaluru won gold in the U18 medley relay as well as bronze in the U18 100m hurdles. She now plans to compete at the junior nationals in Chennai, according to Daijiworld.

Who competed: teams, age groups and rules

Seven teams make up the South Zone: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Each of them could enter two athletes per event in each age group. In addition, an athlete could take part in two individual events.

The programme covered track events, field events, combined events and relays, so every age group had its own set of events. You can still see the timetable on the AFI page for the meet.

What comes next after the South Zone athletics 2026 meet

The junior season now moves to the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships. Chennai will host that meet at the JN Stadium from 23 to 27 October 2026. Online entries close on 9 October, and every athlete needs the AFI entry standard for the event. Therefore, athletes and coaches should check their South Zone marks against the entry standards in the AFI circular before the deadline.

Meanwhile, senior athletes are in action this week at the National Open Athletics Championships 2026 in New Delhi.

Official South Zone athletics 2026 result sheets: current status

As of 5 October 2026, the AFI results archive has the North Zone Junior results. However, it does not yet have the South, East or West Zone results. Until AFI publishes them, these links are the most useful:

Last year: South Zone 2025 in Guntur

Guntur hosted the 36th edition from 23 to 25 September 2025. Neil Samraj of Tamil Nadu won the U18 100m there in 10.86 seconds. Since then, he has broken the U18 100m national record twice in one day. Similarly, Mohammed Ashfaq of Kerala won the U20 400m in 47.31 seconds.

That is why the South Zone meet matters. It is often the first place where the next national record holder wins a title.

The 65th National Open Athletics Championships 2026 will take place from 8 to 11 October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Over four days, India’s senior athletes will contest 48 finals, from the men’s pole vault on Thursday afternoon to the men’s 4x400m relay on Sunday night.

This page has the full day-wise schedule with timings in IST, as well as the time of every final, the entry standards and the rules for athletes. We will also add results here after each session, so athletes, coaches and families can follow the whole meet in one place.

National Open Athletics Championships 2026 schedule: how the four days break down

The programme builds towards the weekend. Thursday has seven finals, Friday has 14 and Saturday has 11, while Sunday closes the meet with 16. Each day runs in two sessions: a short morning session for the combined events and race walks, and then a long evening session under lights for the track and field finals.

When is each final? Timings for every event

If you are following one athlete or one event, this is the table you need. All timings are in IST and come from the official schedule (version 1.0, dated 30 September 2026).

Track finals

Field events, race walks, relays and combined events

In addition, the two mixed relays are on separate nights: the 4x100m mixed relay final is on Fri 9 Oct, 8:00 pm and the 4x400m mixed relay final is on Sat 10 Oct, 8:00 pm.

National Open Athletics Championships 2026: full day-wise schedule

Rows marked FINAL decide medals. Everything else is either a heat, a qualification round or a combined-event discipline.

Day 1: Thursday 8 October 2026 (7 finals)

The meet opens with the decathlon 100m at 7:30 am. After that, the men’s pole vault decides the first medals from 4:25 pm. In addition, the women’s 100m has its heats and its final on the same evening.

Day 2: Friday 9 October 2026 (14 finals)

The half marathon race walks start before sunrise. The evening has both 400m finals, the men’s 100m final and the last event of the decathlon.

Day 3: Saturday 10 October 2026 (11 finals)

The heptathlon begins in the morning. The evening has both 4x100m relays, the women’s 10,000m and the men’s 5000m, and ends with the 4x400m mixed relay.

Day 4: Sunday 11 October 2026 (16 finals)

The final day is the biggest: 16 finals, including the 200m, 800m, 400m hurdles, both steeplechases, the men’s javelin and the 4x400m relays.

Three points are worth noting from the schedule. To begin with, the schedule lists the men’s 110m hurdles and the women’s 800m as straight finals, with no heats. Similarly, the 200m has only one round before the final. Finally, the men’s discus is the only field event with a qualification round, held in two groups on Thursday morning with a qualifying mark of 58.50m.

The schedule is version 1.0. AFI can revise timings once it confirms the final entries, so check the latest version before you travel to the stadium.

National Open Athletics Championships 2026 results

Competition starts on Thursday 8 October. After that, we will add the results of every final to this section after each session, together with the official result sheets. Until then, results from every other AFI meet this season are on our Indian athletics results page.

Decathlon and heptathlon schedule

The men’s decathlon is on Thursday and Friday. It starts with the 100m at 7:30 am on 8 October and then finishes with the 1500m at 7:45 pm on 9 October. Similarly, the women’s heptathlon is on Saturday and Sunday. It starts with the 100m hurdles at 7:30 am on 10 October and then finishes with the 800m at 6:40 pm on 11 October.

Who can compete at the National Open

Entries come from state and union territory athletics associations as well as from recognised sports boards and institutions. According to the AFI circular, an athlete must have achieved the entry standard and must also meet one of two conditions:

National Open 2026 entry standards

Athletes needed these marks in order to enter. They are also a useful benchmark for younger athletes who want to know what national senior level looks like.

Starting heights in the jumps

What athletes and families should know before travelling

The stadium also has its own stop on the Delhi Metro. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium station is on the Violet Line.

Why this National Open matters

The meet comes four days after the close of the Asian Games in Nagoya, where India won 24 athletics medals. On AFI’s 2026 calendar it is the last national championship for senior athletes, which makes it the final chance of the season to win a national title or improve a ranking mark.

It has also been a record-heavy year. Our count had 26 national records by mid-July, and more have fallen since. For athletes who missed selection for Nagoya, four days in Delhi are therefore an opportunity to end the season with a statement.

Last year: Ranchi 2025

Ranchi hosted the 64th National Open from 27 to 30 September 2025. Manikanta Hoblidhar won the men’s 100m, Rajesh Ramesh won the 400m, Samardeep Singh Gill beat Tajinderpal Singh Toor in the shot put, and Rishabh Nehra won the javelin with a throw beyond 80m.

Zhang Jiale won the women’s hammer throw at the Asian Games in Nagoya with a Games record of 78.27m. She defeated compatriot Zhao Jie in another closely contested Chinese rivalry.

Zhang Jiale Sets a New Asian Games Record

Zhang produced her winning throw in the fourth round at Paloma Mizuho Stadium. Zhao finished second with 74.83m. Japan’s Joy Iris McArthur claimed bronze with 68.42m.

The 78.27m throw broke the previous Asian Games record. It also highlighted Zhang’s impressive form during the 2026 season.

Before Nagoya, Zhang threw 78.64m on August 16. She later recorded a distance of 79.62m. Both performances were subject to the ratification process at the time.

A Breakthrough Season for the Young Chinese Thrower

Born in 2006, Zhang is only 19. However, she has already won major titles at junior and senior levels.

She is the reigning World U20 champion and Asian U20 champion in the hammer throw. Her 2026 campaign also included a World Championships bronze medal.

These achievements have established Zhang as one of the most promising young athletes in women’s hammer throwing.

Zhang Jiale Extends Her Winning Streak Against Zhao Jie

The Nagoya final continued the rivalry between Zhang and Zhao. Earlier in 2026, Zhao set the ratified Asian record with a throw of 78.22m.

Zhang had won their previous seven meetings that season. Her Asian Games victory extended that winning streak and secured another major title.

Zhang took control of the competition before delivering her decisive 78.27m throw in round four. Zhao’s best effort of 74.83m left her 3.44 metres behind.

China Continues Its Dominance in Women’s Hammer Throw

The result continued China’s strong record in the women’s hammer throw at the Asian Games. Zhang became the latest Chinese champion in an event that has produced several leading Asian athletes.

Although 78.27m was not Zhang’s longest throw of the season, it was enough to secure gold and set a new Games record.

What’s Next for Zhang Jiale?

Zhang has added an Asian Games gold medal to her World U20, Asian U20 and World Championships achievements. Her latest performance further strengthens her position among the next generation of elite women’s hammer throwers.

For more athletics news, records and competition updates, visit World Athletics.

As Zhang continues to develop, her rivalry with Zhao could remain a major storyline in international women’s hammer throwing.

Ernest John Obiena defended his Asian Games pole vault title in Nagoya. He cleared 5.91m to win gold and improve his own Games record by one centimetre.

Obiena Sets a New Asian Games Record

Obiena entered the competition as the defending champion. He had won gold in Hangzhou in 2023 with a record clearance of 5.90m.

In Nagoya, he cleared 5.91m to secure another title. China’s Yao Jie and Li Chenyang both cleared 5.70m to share the remaining podium positions.

The result gave Obiena his second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. It also established a new Games record in men’s pole vault.

A Leading Figure in International Pole Vault

The Filipino athlete holds the Asian record in pole vault. He has also become one of the world’s leading competitors in the event.

Obiena has won two World Championships medals. He claimed bronze at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene. A year later, he earned silver at the 2023 championships in Budapest.

He also competed at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. On both occasions, he reached the Olympic final.

Obiena’s Journey to the Six-Metre Mark

Obiena’s rise has included several national and continental records. His 5.91m clearance in Nagoya was not his personal best.

His Philippine national record stands at 6.00m, achieved in 2023. He became the first Filipino vaulter to clear six metres.

Since then, Obiena has continued to push the national record to new heights. His performances have helped raise the profile of Philippine athletics on the international stage.

Rainy Conditions Do Not Stop Obiena

The Nagoya final took place in rainy conditions on the final evening of athletics. Despite the weather, Obiena cleared 5.91m to secure the gold medal.

He finished the competition with the Games record intact. His performance demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure at a major championship.

The Philippines Celebrates Another Pole Vault Triumph

Obiena’s victory extended the Philippines’ success in men’s pole vault at the Asian Games. His Hangzhou gold in 2023 was the country’s first title in the event since 1958.

Now, he has secured two consecutive Asian Games championships. His latest victory further strengthens his position as one of the Philippines’ most accomplished track and field athletes.

China’s Yao Jie and Li Chenyang shared the other podium positions after both cleared 5.70m. Obiena’s 5.91m stood alone as the highest clearance of the competition.

What’s Next for Ernest John Obiena?

At 30, Obiena leaves Nagoya with two Asian Games gold medals and two World Championships medals. His career also includes a historic six-metre clearance.

His continued success could inspire more young athletes in the Philippines to pursue pole vault and other field events.

For official results, athlete profiles and international athletics updates, visit World Athletics.

Obiena’s latest victory adds another milestone to a career that has placed Philippine pole vault among the world’s best.

Ko Ochiai won the men’s 800m at the Asian Games in Nagoya in 1:44.48. He set a new Games record as Japan completed a sweep of the men’s middle-distance titles.

Ochiai Sets a New Asian Games Record

Ochiai took the lead early and maintained his position through the final straight. He finished ahead of Iran’s Ali Amirian, who clocked 1:45.10.

Qatar’s Abdalla Abubaker claimed bronze in 1:45.25. Ochiai’s winning time of 1:44.48 became the fastest in Asian Games history.

A Rapid Rise in Japanese Athletics

Born in Shiga Prefecture in 2006, Ochiai attends Komazawa University. He has quickly emerged as one of Japan’s most promising 800m runners.

Before entering the senior ranks, he won the 800m at the 2024 Asian U20 Championships. He also claimed bronze at the 2024 World U20 Championships.

Ochiai won the Japanese national 800m title in both 2024 and 2025. These victories established him as a leading domestic competitor before turning 20.

Ochiai Breaks Japan’s 800m National Record

Ochiai made significant progress during the 2026 season. He lowered the Japanese national record several times before running 1:43.45 on May 30.

He achieved that time at the Middle Distance Circuit in Japan. The performance made him the first Japanese man to break the 1:44 barrier in the event.

His record also strengthened his position among Asia’s leading 800m runners.

From World Championships to Asian Games Gold

Ochiai represented Japan in the 800m at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. He also won silver at the 2026 Asian Indoor Championships.

His Asian Games performance came several months after his national record. Although he did not set a personal best in Nagoya, he secured a major senior title and a new Games record.

His personal best remains 1:43.45, the Japanese national record he set earlier in 2026.

Japan Completes a Middle-Distance Sweep

Ochiai’s victory helped Japan complete a sweep of the men’s middle-distance titles on the final day of athletics.

His performance highlighted Japan’s growing strength in the 800m. It also added another major achievement to Ochiai’s rapidly developing career.

What’s Next for Ko Ochiai?

At 20, Ochiai leaves Nagoya with an Asian Games gold medal and a Games record. He also holds Japan’s national 800m record.

His progress at junior and senior levels suggests a promising future in international athletics. Fans will be watching his performances as he targets further records and championship success.

For official athlete profiles, competition results and athletics updates, visit World Athletics.

Ochiai’s record-breaking victory in Nagoya marks another major milestone in his rise through Japanese and Asian athletics.