Photo via Athletics Weekly

Day-by-day guide to the World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Track and field's elite gather in Budapest this Friday to launch the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, an innovative competition created by World Athletics head Sebastian Coe to eliminate empty years on the sporting schedule. The three-day event shifts away from traditional qualification rounds and medals in favor of direct finals, a darkened central arena showcasing single disciplines sequentially, and an overall $10 million purse that awards $150,000 to each winner while ensuring financial payouts for all 381 entrants.

Friday's opening programme begins with the mixed 4x100m final, where an American team and a British roster featuring Amy Hunt, Success Eduan, Romell Glave, Jeremiah Azu, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, and Elliot Jones seek to challenge season leaders Jamaica. Women's high jump action immediately follows as Nicola Olyslagers, Eleanor Patterson, and world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh meet, with the Ukrainian attempting to halt a three-meet losing streak.

Preliminary track rounds and field finals continue throughout the evening. 44 lifetime best tops the field, alongside Rai Benjamin and Jereem Richards.

In the men's hammer throw, local European champion Bence Halasz attempts to overcome Ethan Katzberg, who has maintained an undefeated record spanning past twelve months. Marileidy Paulino, beaten only once in over a year, lines up in the women's 400m heats against Yemi Mary John and rival Salwa Eid Naser.