Viewing guide: 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships

It may be taking place in another hemisphere in a different time zone, but you won’t miss any of the action from the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Eurosport (Channel 511) has live coverage across all day of the championships starting from 0500 AEDT on Friday but with no Australians competing in the day’s session, you can sleep in.

The heats of the women’s 60m hurdles get underway on day two, Saturday morning at 0505 AEDT. 

Australia boasts two competitors in the event, Sally Pearson (Qld) and Michelle Jenneke (NSW).

Pearson, clocked 7.73 to win the world indoor title in Istanbul in 2012 a performance that still ranks as the tenth-fastest of all time. Jenneke is making her second appearance at the world indoors, having made her debut in Portland in 2016. She narrowly missed a start in the final by .01s, clocking a PB of 8.10 in the heats.

Fast times are expected this weekend with US triple threat of Sharika Nelvis, Kendra Harrison and Christina Manning - Nelvis posting 7.70 to win her national championship last weekend. Harrison ran 7.72 in early February and Manning 7.73.

Later Saturday evening, night owls can tune in to the heats of the men’s 1500m, featuring an in-form Ryan Gregson (NSW) and the men’s shot put final where Damien Birkinhead (Vic) is on debut.

The 1500m heats get underway at 2215 AEDT and while the event will be missing US-based Kenyan, Edward Cheserek whose 3:33.76 is the best for the year to date, there’s still a stacked field.

2014 world indoor champion Ayanleh Souleiman (Dji) and 2012 winner Moroccan Abdalaati Iguider are the next fastest this year after Cheserek, so they’re on track. Samuel Terefa (Eth) set a new U20 indoor record of 3:36.05 to be fourth-fastest this year so will be another to watch.

Gregson has had two runs indoors in the lead up to Birmingham, including a victory in the mile event at the AIT International Grand Prix in Athlone, Ireland and then ran a tight third in 3:38.00 to Kenyan pair Bethwell Birgin and Vincent Kibet at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow early on Sunday.

At 2245 AEDT, Birkinhead will get a good look at his likely Commonwealth Games rival, New Zealand’s Tom Walsh reigning indoor and outdoor world champion. Czech Tomas Stanek will likely be the man to beat, his 22.17m a new indoor PB.

You’ll be able to get a few hours’ sleep before Nina Kennedy (WA) begins her Birmingham campaign at 0500 AEDT Sunday morning. American Katie Nageotte set a new world lead of 4.91 at the recent US Indoor Championships and will be joined by compatriot and reigning world champion, Jennifer Suhr.

All eyes will no doubt be on Katerina Stefanidi (Gre), unbeatable in her last 19 finals.

Kiwi Olympic bronze medallist, Eliza McCartney has been struggling with an Achilles injury and while Kennedy got her first taste of indoor competition on Sunday night at the All Star Perche meeting at Clermont-Ferrand she should feel confident that she’s been able to continuously rise to the challenge, reaching a new PB of 4.71 last month to qualify for Birmingham.

Sunday morning’s unmissable viewing continues at 0505 AEDT with the women’s 60m hurdles semi-finals and shortly after that, the heats of the men’s 60m hurdles get underway with Nick Hough (NSW) taking on the indoor distance for the first time.

Jarret Eaton (USA) is the fastest man in the field on form, clocking 7.43 at the US Indoor Championships. Jamaican Ronald Levy was equally impressive in his indoor debut last weekend, winning the Müller Indoor Grand Prix meet at 7.49.

Reigning world indoor champion Omar McLeod (Jam) returns to defend his title while two-time world indoor silver medallist, Frenchman Pascal Martinot-Lagarde will be hoping to go one better in 2018.

The final of the women’s 60m hurdles closes out the morning of competition for the Aussies and we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for both Pearson and Jenneke.

Set your alarms for 0200 AEDT Monday morning – that’s when Kurtis Marschall (SA) gets the final day of Birmingham 2018 underway for Australia in the men’s pole vault. It’s likely you won’t need caffeine to keep you awake with nine men within the field posting a season best of 5.88m or better.

Marschall is yet to vault indoors, but his outdoor PB of 5.80m set in late January holds him in great stead.

The action continues right through the morning with the men’s 60m hurdles semi-final (0205 AEDT), men’s 1500m final (0305 AEDT) and the men’s 60m hurdles final (0405 AEDT) so you may want to tell you’re boss you’ll be a little late into work.

Day 1 – March 1

No Aussies in action

Day 2 – March 2

Evening session:
1805 (Sat March 3 @ 0505) Women’s 60m hurdles heats – Sally Pearson, Michelle Jenneke

Day 3 – March 3

Morning session:
1115 (Sat March 3 @ 2215) Men’s 1500m heats – Ryan Gregson
1145 (2245) Men’s shot put final – Damien Birkinhead

Evening session:
1800 (Sun March 4 @ 0500) Women’s pole vault final – Nina Kennedy
1805 (0505) Women’s 60m hurdles semi-final
1830 (0530) Men’s 60m hurdles heats - Nick Hough
2055 (0755) Women’s 60m hurdles final

Day 4 – March 4

Day session:
1500 (Mon March 5 @ 0200) Men’s pole vault final – Kurtis Marschall
1505 (0205) Men’s 60m hurdles semi-final
1612 (0312) Men’s 1500m final
1700 (0400) Men’s 60m hurdles final

If you're on social media, Athletics Australia's twitter feed will keep you updated with live results as they happen and keep an eye on the website for daily updates.