Josh Hoey and Hobbs Kessler etched their names in history at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on January 24, 2026, by breaking longstanding world indoor records in the men's 800m and 2000m. Both athletes, seeking redemption after disappointing finishes at last year's USATF Outdoor Championships, delivered stunning performances paced by family and teammates. The meet also featured several world-leading marks across various events.
The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston delivered a series of record-breaking feats on January 24, 2026, with American stars Josh Hoey and Hobbs Kessler leading the charge. Hoey, who had promised a record-breaking run, shattered the 29-year-old world indoor 800m mark of 1:42.67 set by Denmark's Wilson Kipketer in 1997. Clocking 1:42.50, Hoey was paced by his brother Jaxson through 200m in 24.81 and 400m in 50.21, reaching 600m in 1:16.19 before a blistering 26.31 final lap. This victory came after Hoey's world indoor gold in March 2025 and a second-fastest-ever American time of 1:42.01 in Monaco, though he finished fourth at the nationals and missed the Tokyo World Championships.
In the men's 2000m, Kessler crushed Kenenisa Bekele's 2007 world best of around 4:50 by 1.2 seconds, finishing in 4:48.79. Paced by Davis Bove through the first kilometer in 2:23.57, Kessler stalked second-place Grant Fisher, who hit 1600m in 3:52.83. Kessler surged past Fisher on the final bend with a strong last lap to secure the win, also beating the pending American record of 4:52.92 set by Cole Hocker the night before in Virginia. Fisher took second in 4:49.48, while Belgium's Pieter Sisk was third in 4:52.41.
Other highlights included Elle St. Pierre's world-leading 8:26.54 in the women's 3000m, her triumphant return after giving birth in 2025, edging Australia's Linden Hall by 0.49 seconds. Jessica Hull led early through 2000m in 5:39.08, but St. Pierre's surge secured the fifth-fastest American performance ever. In the women's 1500m, Kenya's Dorcus Ewoi won in a world-leading 4:01.22, with Sinclaire Johnson setting a lifetime best of 4:01.30 for second and the No. 4 U.S. indoor mark. Gracie Morris ran 4:02.12 for fifth, entering the top five all-time.
The men's 3000m saw Australia's Cam Myers win in 7:27.57, the No. 10 world performance, after leading through 2000m in 5:01.51 with Graham Blanks. In hurdles, Jamaica's Danielle Williams took the women's 60m hurdles in a world-leading 7.87, ahead of Devynne Charlton's 7.94 in third for the top American. Roisin Willis lowered her women's 800m best to a world-leading 1:59.59. The men's 300m featured a tight finish, with Trinidad's Jereem Richards edging Noah Lyles 32.14 to 32.15. Trey Cunningham tied the world lead in men's 60m hurdles at 7.48.
Field events shone too: Monae' Nichols won women's long jump at 6.64m, Khaleb McRae the men's 400m in 45.38, and James Carter the men's triple jump at 16.32m. The meet underscored American depth ahead of the indoor season.
