This week in athletics, we have huge results in Valencia, as well as updates on the format of some major World Athletics Championships.

Alex Yee writes history in Valencia

Following his impressive marathon debut in London, Olympic champion Triathlete Alex Yee looked to close out the year with a headline-grabbing performance at the Valencia marathon. And that's exactly what he did.

Coming home in an incredible 2:05:11, Yee's 7th-place finish records the second-fastest time by a British Athlete in history, only behind four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah. 

Third on the all-time list is now Emile Cairess, who paced Yee for 21 miles before crossing the line in 2:06:46.

The title was taken by Kenya's John Korir in 2:02:24, with Germany's Amanal Petros 1min 39secs behind in second and Norway's Awet Kibrab a further 21 seconds back in third.

Joyciline Jepkosgei won the women's race in 2:14:00, the fastest time of the year.

NCAA cross country medallist Jane Hedengren clocked a new short-track world lead and a collegiate record (US U20 indoor record and 2nd best U20 indoor) of 14:44.79 PB to win the 5000m. Via Dyestat

World Indoor 400m Final format to change

Ahead of next year's World Athletics Indoor World Championships in Torun, Poland, the sports governing body has announced major changes.

Following the end-of-year council meeting, World Athletics has confirmed that the 400m finals at the World Indoors will now be contested over two heats of four athletes, rather than the previous format, which saw six athletes compete in a single race. 

Britain’s Amber Anning won the 2025 women's World indoor title as she pipped American Alexis Holmes on the line in a six-athlete final, with American Christopher Bailey taking the men’s title.

The first running of the format will take place at the next edition of the Championships in Kujawy Pomorskie, Poland, from the 20th to the 22nd March 2026.

Alongside this, World Athletics announced it would begin limiting the number of substitutions allowed in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Only two substitutions will now be allowed. 

Finally, the governing body announced they would scrap the controversial 'take off zone', which they were looking to introduce to the long jump. The take-off zone would replace the traditional board to reduce the number of failed jumps, but has had outspoken condemnation from the majority of the event's leading athletes. Via World Athletics

Jakob Ingerbritgsen to miss Euro Cross

8-time European Cross Country Champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen will no longer compete in this year's Championships, set for Lagoa, Portugal, on December 14th. 

In a statement, Norwegian Athletics Association Sporting Director Erlend Slokvik said, “Jakob has had a very good training period at altitude in recent weeks, and has decided to skip the European Cross Country Championships to focus fully on the 2026 season. We support the decision and look forward to the upcoming season,” via European Athletics

Mondo Duplantis announced for the London Diamond League

Swedish Pole Vault icon Mondo Duplantis is the first major name secured for the 2026 London Diamond League 

The 14-time world record holder will return to the world's biggest single-day athletics meet on July 18th, 2026 

Following the announcement, Duplantis said:

“It’s been too long since I last competed in London,” 

“My first ever World Championships was at the Olympic Stadium in 2017 and although I was still pretty inexperienced, I could appreciate the incredible atmosphere, so it means a lot to me to go back.There’s just something about that place. Every year I see athletes raise their game in the London Diamond League so I’m excited to get out there and use that crowd noise to my advantage. I’ve never won in London, so obviously that’s the main goal.” via British Athletics