World Masters Championships Review
(24th June 2026)
Reina Poren Arena, Spain
Storm clouds swept across the Reina Poren Arena throughout the day, creating challenging conditions for athletes competing at the World Masters Championships. Despite the weather, competitors produced a series of outstanding performances, with British clubs heavily involved in the medal battles across the track, field and road disciplines.
| G | S | B | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 12 | 11 | 10 | 33 |
| 2 | Poland | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| 3 | Spain | 4 | 8 | 5 | 17 |
| 4 | Ireland | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | Germany | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| 6 | Great Britain | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 7 | United States | 3 | 3 |
One of the highlights for British clubs came from Tilly McWilliam of Bumble Bees AC, who captured gold in the Women's 20km Walk with an outstanding winning time of 1:47:36.40. The victory adds another major international title to an already distinguished career and ensured the Bumble Bees were represented on the top step of the podium.
There was further gold for British clubs courtesy of Oscar Strachan of Weymouth Bay Sharks, who dominated the Men's 10km Walk in 50:06.04. His victory was one of several strong performances from British endurance athletes during the championships.
The distance events proved particularly fruitful. Ashleigh Donald of Iron Road Runners stormed to victory in the Women's 10,000 metres, clocking 35:04.19 to secure a world title in impressive fashion. Meanwhile Zachary Shrubb of Quemerford Harriers claimed bronze in the Men's 20km Walk with 1:37:22.19, while club-mate Adam Innes delivered another strong championship performance in the Men's 5,000 metres.
Quemerford Harriers were among the most visible British clubs throughout the meeting. Jason Flavell secured silver in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase with 12:00.77, while Jane Pacheco earned a bronze medal in the Women's 100 metres after running 12.24. Amy Bradshaw added a fourth-place finish in the Women's 800 metres, while Brandon Morrison finished fourth in the Men's Discus with 64.98 metres. The club's medal haul was further strengthened by Traiko Ljamcevski, who claimed marathon silver in 2:13:40.06.
Hacksaws once again demonstrated their remarkable depth across multiple disciplines. Enya Heiß produced one of the standout combined-events performances of the championships, winning the Women's Pentathlon with 4089 points before adding silver in the Heptathlon with 5989 points. The club also celebrated medals from Andreia Peralta, who secured silver in both the Women's Shot Put (20.71m) and Women's Discus (65.75m). In the Men's Long Jump, Alfonso Santos soared to gold with 7.58 metres, one of the finest field-event performances of the meeting.
Kingstonians also returned home with silverware. Krizia Raggioli secured silver in the Women's 800 metres, while Amelia McMillan recorded an excellent sixth-place finish in a highly competitive Women's 5,000 metres. The results underlined the continuing strength of the club's middle-distance programme.
Iron Road Runners supplemented Donald's gold medal with silver in the Men's 4x400m relay. The club also received valuable contributions from Aaron Durie, who finished fourth in the Pentathlon and tenth in the Decathlon, while Jay McQueen placed fifteenth in the Men's 400 metres.
Catalytical AC enjoyed a productive championships despite narrowly missing out on several medals. Morgan Nicholson finished fifth in the Men's 800 metres, Danielle Ward was fifth in the Women's 400m Hurdles, and Stuart Slater came agonisingly close to a marathon silver medal before ultimately taking bronze behind Ljamcevski.
Elsewhere, Daniel Liddell of Pineapple AC reached the top ten in the Men's 100 metres, Gregorio Bergara of Reading Palm Faces claimed bronze in the Men's 110m Hurdles, and Harley Shields of Risca Harriers AAC represented his club strongly in the Men's 400m Hurdles.
Several British clubs left Spain with reasons to celebrate. Bumble Bees AC, Weymouth Bay Sharks, Iron Road Runners, Hacksaws and Quemerford Harriers all featured prominently among the medals, while clubs such as Kingstonians, Catalytical AC, Pineapple AC, Reading Palm Faces and Risca Harriers AAC added further depth to the British challenge.
As the championships concluded beneath stormy Spanish skies, British clubs could reflect on a successful day of international competition. World titles, relay medals, podium finishes and numerous top-eight performances demonstrated once again the strength and depth of British masters athletics on the world stage.
By Lars Pettersson, European Athletics Correspondent