2026 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix: Five Take Aways from the opening meet of World Indoor Tour Gold!

The 2026 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix was held on January 24, 2026. The NBIGP is now in its 31rst year, and has been sponsored by New Balance since 2011. Since 2023, the NB Indoor GP was held at TRACK at New Balance. Here are my five takeaways from the 31rst New Balance Indoor GP, held in Boston, MA:

1. Josh Hoey breaks 28 year-old world record of Wilson Kipketer! Josh Hoey, who set the 600 meter WR of 1:12.84, on December 6, 2025, came to Boston with the desire to challenge the record of Wilson Kipketer, DEN, who ran 1:42.67 on March 9, 1997 in Paris, France. Josh Hoey had his training partner, and brother, Jaxon Hoey, take him through the 400 meters, in 50.87. Hoey was on his own from there and battled the iconic record, setting a new WR of 1:42.50 and delighting the crowd. The World Indoor Champion from Nanjing 2025 is showing great fitness. He will now have to battle an energized American 800 meter event and a world event that is both fast and competitive!

   

2. Hobbs Kessler sets new World record (and AR) at the 2000 meters! A fantastic race in The TRACK at New Balance on January 24. The sell out crowd of five thousand, on a very cold day, witnessed a real race. Davis Bove (mile PB then, of 3:56), took the field through the  800m in 1:54.16, 1000m in 2:23.57, 1,200m in 2:53.17, and was passed by Grant Fisher at the 1600m (3:52.67) with Bove at 3:52.96, before Bove stopped running. After 1,600m it was Fisher behing pursued by Hobbs Kessler. Hobbs Kessler took over from Grant Fisher (AR at 10,000m, WR holder at 3,000m and 5,000m short track). Hobbs Kessler was all in as he pushed himself to a new place, and the record of Kenenisa Bekele, ETH, (4:49.99, 2007,) was no more. Hobbs Kessler ran 4:48.79 WR/NR, Grant Fisher ran 4:49.46, also under Bekele. Pieter Sisk, BEL, ran 4:52.41 ER/NR, Jake Wightman, GB, NR record of 4:53.69, Foster Malleck, CAN, NR of 4:54.08, Romain Mornet, FRA, NR of 4:55.54. A distance that is not run often, but is terribly difficult to race well.

   

3. Epic 3,000 meters for women, with Elle St. Pierre, Jess Hull and Linden Hull. In January 2024, Jess Hull and Elle St. Pierre battled to the finish, where Jess Hull won in Australian NR of 8:24.93, and Elle St. Pierre in 8:25.25. In 2026, Elle St. Pierre was just back from having her second son, and this was her first race. Jess Hull faltered with three laps to go, and fellow Australian World cross gold medalist (mixed relay) Linden Hall battled Elle, who was revitalized. Hall lead until the last hundred meters, when Elle St. Pierre, the 2024 World Indoor Champ, 2022 World Indoor silver, both at 3000 meters, went to the front and won in 8:26.54, with Linden Hall (AUS), 8:27.03 and Jess Hull (AUS), 8;36.03. Elle St. Pierre is back to world class fitness!

   

4. Roisin Willis opens meet with WL! Roisin Willis wins the 800 meters in 1:59.59 PB which is also the WL! Roissin won the NCAA titles in 2025, plus USA titles! Isabelle Boffey, GB ran to second in PB of 2:00.14 and Victoria Bossong, USA, who was passed by Boffey, takes third in PB of 2:00.PB. Roisin pushed herself in this race, to the point, she suffered from stomach distress post event. A week later, the places were turned at BU Indoor, with Boffey and Willis both under 1:58, Willis setting a new AR!

   

5. Men’s 300 meters with Jereem Richards over Noah Lyles. One of the key moments that this writer looks for is HOW the event is ended. During my decade of visiting all British Indoor meetings, thanks to Ian Stewart, then at Fast Track as elite coordinator, I was fascinated in how Ian and then, Spencer Barden, would highlight a fave British athlete on the last event, like Mo Farah, Laura Muir, Jemma Reekie. In Boston, it was Noah Lyles, who is hugely popular at this meet. Jereem Richards, who holds the MR at 300m, and a WC silver medalist at 400 meters, plus Vernon Norwood and Trayvon Bromell, rounded out a sparkling field. The entrance of Noah Lyles had the fans on their feet, and the close win by Jereem Richards had fans leaving, talking about the meet. I suggest, that NB open ticket sales the very next day so that they could sell out much earlier!

   

Special thanks to Global Athletics & Marketing, Lenox Hotel and New Balance for their support of our travels. 

Complete Results of New Balance Indoor Grand Prix from World Athletics 
The Track at New Balance, Boston, MA, USA – 24 January 2026

Men’s 60m indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 Ackeem BLAKE                    JAM        6.53  10
2 Eloy BENITEZ                    PUR        6.56   7
3 Jordan ANTHONY                  USA        6.57   5
4 Terrence JONES                  BAH        6.60   3
5 Udodi Chudi ONWUZURIKE          NGR        6.68
6 Cravont CHARLESTON              USA        6.70

Men’s 300m indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Jereem RICHARDS                 TTO       32.14
2 Noah LYLES                      USA       32.15
3 Vernon NORWOOD                  USA       32.38
4 Trayvon BROMELL                 USA       35.36

Men’s 400m indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Khaleb MCRAE                    USA       45.38
2 Quincy WILSON                   USA       45.96
3 Elija GODWIN                    USA       46.43
4 Johnnie BLOCKBURGER             USA       46.66

Men’s 600m indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Cian MCPHILLIPS                 IRL     1:16.37
2 Donavan BRAZIER                 USA     1:17.20
3 Bryce HOPPEL                    USA     1:17.24
4 Mehdi YANOURI                   USA     1:17.83
Marquis MILLER                  USA         DNF

Men’s 800m indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 Josh HOEY                       USA     1:42.50  13 WR
2 Filip OSTROWSKI                 POL     1:44.68   7
3 Ryan CLARKE                     NED     1:44.72   5
4 Hiroki MINAMOTO                 JPN     1:52.08   3
Jaxson HOEY                     USA         DNF

Men’s 2000m indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Hobbs KESSLER                   USA     4:48.79
2 Grant FISHER                    USA     4:49.48
3 Pieter SISK                     BEL     4:52.41
4 Jake WIGHTMAN                   GBR     4:53.69
5 Foster MALLECK                  CAN     4:54.08
6 Romain MORNET                   FRA     4:55.54
7 Sam GILMAN                      USA     5:09.36
8 Luke HOUSER                     USA     5:13.22
Davis BOVE                      USA         DNF

Men’s 3000m indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 Cameron MYERS                   AUS     7:27.57  10
2 Andrew COSCORAN                 IRL     7:30.97   7
3 Graham BLANKS                   USA     7:31.97   5
4 Nicholas GRIGGS                 IRL     7:32.79   3
5 Marco LANGON                    USA     7:34.56
6 Matthew WILKINSON               USA     7:37.36
7 Morgan BEADLESCOMB              USA     7:38.59
8 Kasey KNEVELBAARD               USA     7:41.88
9 Mahadi ABDI ALI                 NED     7:42.06
10 Brian FAY                       IRL     7:42.58
11 Adam FOGG                       GBR     7:50.14
12 Derek JOHNSON                   USA     7:56.12
James DUNNE                     IRL         DNF

Men’s 60mH indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Trey CUNNINGHAM                 USA        7.48
2 Connor SCHULMAN                 USA        7.51
3 Jamal BRITT                     USA        7.54
4 Dylan BEARD                     USA        7.58
5 Cordell TINCH                   USA        7.62
6 Daniel ROBERTS                  USA        7.66

Men’s Triple Jump indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 James CARTER                    USA       16.32
2 Olorunfemi AKINDURO             CAN       16.09
3 Emmanuel IHEMEJE                ITA       15.65

Women’s 60m indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Dina ASHER-SMITH                GBR        7.08
2 Brianna LYSTON                  JAM        7.11
3 Leah BERTRAND                   TTO        7.32
4 Jada MOWATT                     USA        7.33
5 Destiny SMITH-BARNETT           LBR        7.39
6 Gina LÜCKENKEMPER               GER        7.43

Women’s 400m indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 Nicole YEARGIN                  GBR       52.63  10
2 Anna HALL                       USA       52.77   7
3 Paris PEOPLES                   USA       53.30   5
4 Amy PICCOLO                     USA       56.68   3

Women’s 800m indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Roisin WILLIS                   USA     1:59.59
2 Isabelle BOFFEY                 GBR     2:00.14
3 Victoria BOSSONG                USA     2:00.36
4 Ellie BAKER                     GBR     2:02.85
5 Samantha WATSON                 USA     2:03.02
6 Alexandra CARLSON               USA     2:03.54
7 Helen SCHLACHTENHAUFEN          USA     2:05.72

Women’s 1500m indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 Dorcus EWOI                     KEN     4:01.22  10
2 Sinclaire JOHNSON               USA     4:01.30   7
3 Klaudia KAZIMIERSKA             POL     4:01.78   5
4 Sarah BILLINGS                  AUS     4:01.79   3
5 Gracie MORRIS                   USA     4:02.12
6 Gabija GALVYDYTĖ                LTU     4:03.44
7 Danielle JONES                  USA     4:03.54
8 Elsabet AMARE                   ETH     4:05.38
9 Sarah CALVERT                   GBR     4:12.16
10 Nozomi TANAKA                   JPN     4:13.90
11 Shannon FLOCKHART               GBR     4:13.95
Isabelle BOFFEY                 GBR         DNF

Women’s 3000m indoor – Indoor Meeting
Final                         
1 Elle ST. PIERRE                 USA     8:26.54
2 Linden HALL                     AUS     8:27.03
3 Jessica HULL                    AUS     8:36.03
4 Emily MACKAY                    USA     8:38.57
5 Hannah NUTTALL                  GBR     8:38.96
6 Margot APPLETON                 USA     8:39.79
7 Elise THORNER                   GBR     8:39.87
8 Şilan AYYILDIZ                  TUR     8:42.29
9 Amina MAATOUG                   NED     8:45.60
10 Alexandra MILLARD               GBR     8:48.69
11 Amaris TYYNISMAA                USA     9:01.09
Hollie PARKER                   GBR         DNF

Women’s 60mH indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 Danielle WILLIAMS               JAM        7.87  10
2 Devynne CHARLTON                BAH        7.92   7
3 Christina CLEMONS               USA        7.94   5
4 Gabriele CUNNINGHAM             USA        8.14   3
5 Emma NWOFOR                     GBR        8.20
6 Megan SIMMONDS                  JAM        8.21

Women’s Long Jump indoor – World Athletics Indoor Tour
Final                         
1 Monae’ NICHOLS                  USA        6.64  10
2 Jasmine MOORE                   USA        6.57   7
3 Claire BRYANT                   USA        6.51   5
4 Tionna TOBIAS                   USA        6.35   3
5 Anna HALL                       USA        5.99
6 Ruth USORO                      NGR        5.93