Deji’s Doodles: Karalis, Jackson, and Lutkenhaus showed class at their various Indoor championships

Deji’s Doodles: Karalis, Jackson, and Lutkenhaus showed class at their various Indoor championships

The indoor season reached its peak this weekend. From national records to tactical masterclasses, the tone for 2026 is already being set. Emmanouil Karalis showed that the gap is closing in the vault, the sprint hierarchy is adjusting, the 800m has a new tactician, Nigeria’s sprint future looks sharper than ever, and Chase Jackson is building momentum at the right time.

Here are some of the talking points from the weekend:

Karalis might just give Mondo Duplantis a run for his money this year

Undoubtedly, the biggest action over the weekend happened at the Greek Indoor Championships. The opening months of 2026 have already reshaped the feel of men’s pole vault, with an unusual number of athletes clearing six meters before the season has fully settled, and at these championships,  that momentum found a defining performance in Emmanouil Karalis. Competing at home, he had little trouble securing the national title, but the real intrigue centered on the height progression and the composure he carried into each attempt rather than the medal itself.

At 5.90 meters he moved with control and rhythm, rising through the plant and swing phase with a balance that suggested a new level of efficiency, clearing the bar without visible strain and landing with the quiet confidence of an athlete who knows he is operating within himself. When the bar shifted to 6.07 meters, just shy of his existing personal best, the clearance required more management at the hips and chest, yet the technique held together, and the bar stayed on, marking another step forward in a season that has already hinted at something larger.

The decision to move to 6.17 meters introduced real consequences, as it represented a nine-centimeter jump beyond his lifetime best. That clearance moved him to second on the all-time list and, more importantly, demonstrated that the gap separating him from the summit is narrowing through tangible progress rather than hopeful projection.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether he could challenge the G.O.A.T of the sport, Mondo Duplantis. I know it might seem far-fetched at the moment, but Duplantis still owns the very top of the sport, with the biggest heights and an unmatched record when championship medals are on the line. Karalis, though, has quietly closed the gap, and that 6.17m breakthrough proved he now lives within touching distance of 6.20m territory. If Duplantis produces one of his usual flawless competitions, he remains the favorite. But if the bar stalls around 6.10 to 6.15 on a slightly off day, Karalis is no longer chasing from afar; he is right there, ready to take it.

Noah Lyles vs Jordan Anthony wasn’t even a match

Let’s be honest, Noah Lyles hasn’t been a force of nature over the indoor 60m. Despite that,  Noah continues to show up even though it has never been the race that defines him, and that willingness to step onto the line indoors adds something real to the sport. He understands the stage, he understands the fans, and he competes because he enjoys it. That presence alone elevates the field.

This weekend, however, Jordan Anthony made it clear that he is no longer just a promising name. He ran 6.45 to claim his first U.S. indoor title as a professional, holding off Trayvon Bromell and finishing ahead of Lyles in the process. The performance felt controlled and intentional, especially considering he entered the meet as the fastest man in the world this season over 60m. After a few early races that did not reflect his standard, Anthony looked like an athlete who had settled back into himself.

There was a visible confidence about him. He spoke about rediscovering his edge, and the race reflected that mentality from the start. Training alongside Lyles appears to have sharpened him, and their competitive banter brings an energy that feels authentic rather than forced.

This result feels like a natural step forward. Anthony has already proven himself at the collegiate level, and this title suggests he is ready to carry that form into the senior ranks. If this is the tone he is setting in March, the outdoor season has real potential to shift conversations.

Lutkenhaus has learnt to win every way

Cooper Lutkenhaus’ first season as a professional could not have started much cleaner. Five races, five wins, and not the kind that leave questions hanging. What makes it more impressive is the range he has already shown. Early in the year he reminded everyone why he built his reputation in the first place, closing hard off fast setups and running away from fields in races that were designed to stretch the pace from the gun. Those front-loaded efforts are common on the pro circuit, and he handled them with confidence.

At USAs, though, the script shifted. Championship racing at 800 meters is rarely generous, and this final demanded awareness. The opening 200 moved in 25.46, quick but controlled, and Lutkenhaus settled into third rather than forcing the issue. When the second lap drifted slightly, he sensed it immediately and moved before the bell, hitting 400 in 53.18 and taking ownership of the race. From there he did not surge wildly. He applied pressure. The splits home, 26.92 and 26.59, told the story of someone squeezing rhythm out of his rivals rather than chasing it.

Sean Dolan ran well for second, though his global qualification remains uncertain, while Isaiah Harris’ season best keeps him in a strong position. Lutkenhaus, meanwhile, looks like an athlete who already understands how to win in multiple ways. That is a promising sign this early in a pro career.

Ajayi Arrives Right on Time

It always felt like this moment was coming for Kanyinsola Ajayi. Since arriving in the NCAA and settling into Auburn’s system two years ago, he has developed steadily and quietly, sharpening every phase of his race without demanding attention. The flashes were there last season when he reached the World Championships 100m final and showed he could line up against the best without blinking. At the SEC Indoor Championships in Texas, the breakthrough simply took a number.

Ajayi powered to 6.45 in the 60 meters, equaling the African record that had stood since 1999 and rewriting his own Nigerian record of 6.48 in the process. The race itself was clean and decisive, the kind of start and transition that leaves little debate. He had already hinted at something serious with a controlled 6.52 in the prelims, and in the final he tightened the screws and finished it properly.

Kanyinsola Ajayi (Auburn) equals the Collegiate Record with 6.45 in the Men’s #60m Final at 🇺🇸 SEC Championships (#NCAATF Conferences).#Athletics #TrackandField 🇺🇸 #CollegeStation #TX @NCAATrackField pic.twitter.com/mJyoQYOSgd

— Athletics Central (@Athletics_Cntrl) February 28, 2026

The mark places him level with the fastest men in collegiate history and erases the SEC meet record along the way. Israel Okon ran well for second, and Adekanu Fakorede added depth to a strong Nigerian presence, yet the spotlight rested squarely on Ajayi. With no World Championships or Olympic Games on this year’s calendar, attention shifts toward the Commonwealth Games and African Championships. Right now, Ajayi carries himself like Nigeria’s leading sprint hope, and the trajectory suggests he is only beginning to explore his ceiling.

Jackson is peaking at the right time

Chase Jackson looks exactly like an athlete who understands timing. At the USATF Indoor Championships, she stepped into the circle and added another layer to her résumé, breaking her own American indoor record with a 20.44m throw.

Her series told the story of composure. An opening foul did not linger for long, as she followed with 18.75m and then gradually sharpened the rhythm through throws of 19.10 and 19.27. By the fifth round, she had found the balance between aggression and patience, and the 20.44-mm release carried the kind of authority that elite throwers rely on when the stakes rise. Securing a fourth straight U.S. indoor title says plenty about consistency, yet the more impressive takeaway is how repeatable her technique looks under pressure.

Abria Smith and Jaida Ross added depth with another solid podium performance, which makes the domestic landscape healthier and more competitive. Even with that push behind her, Jackson remains the standard. She enters the World Indoor Championships positioned among the very top contenders globally, and the way she is building week by week suggests she is not chasing distance. She is setting it.