Following team announcements from nations including Great Britain and Kenya, Ireland has named a squad led by Kate O'Connor, while Canada selected 13 athletes headlined by Sarah Mitton and Christopher Morales Williams, for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, March 20-22. Both aim for medals at the event.
Ireland's team features world silver medallist Kate O'Connor, who took pentathlon silver at last year's championships in Nanjing and heptathlon silver at the outdoor World Championships in Tokyo. She also won gold at the University Games and bronze at the European Indoor Championships. Nick Griggs and Andrew Coscoran race the 3,000m, Mark English headlines the men's 800m, Sarah Lavin competes in the women's 60m hurdles, Bori Akinola and Lauren Roy in the 60m sprints, and Maeve O'Neill debuts in the women's 800m. Provisional picks include Ciara Neville (women's 60m), Emma Moore (women's 800m), James Gormley (men's 1,500m), and Elizabeth Ndudi (women's long jump).
Athletics Ireland high performance director Paul McNamara called it "an exciting team with real prospects for medal success," noting O'Connor's Nanjing result sets a high bar and highlighting emerging talent.
Canada's squad is led by two-time world indoor shot put champion Sarah Mitton. Olympians Christopher Morales Williams (two of the season's 10 fastest 400m times, fifth in Nanjing), Sade McCreath (Canadian indoor 60m champion, 7.12s PB), and Audrey Leduc feature prominently. Debutants include Avery Pearson (women's 800m), Tyrell Davis, and Travis Campbell (men's 60m). Coverage airs live on CBC Sports and CBC Gem.
