The World Climbing Series Kraków 2026 continued with this season's inaugural Speed Relay qualification rounds. Originally scheduled at 12:30, the programme was brought forward due to forecasts of adverse weather, with records falling in both events.

CHINA LEADS MEN’S FIELD

China 1, represented by Long Jianguo and Chu Shouhong, topped the men’s qualification in 10.05 seconds, ahead of Indonesia’s Raharjati Nursamsa and Antasyafi Robby Al Hilmi in 10.23, and Team USA’s Samuel Watson and Zach Hammer in 10.26.

Ukraine 1’s Hryhorii Ilchyshyn and Yaroslav Tkach entered the record books, clocking 10.31 to establish a new European record.

Although they missed out on a place in the top 16, Australia’s Fin Luc Sandeck and Hayden Barton claimed the Oceania record with 14.37, taking the continental mark from New Zealand and closing in 28th position.

For the men’s Speed Relay qualification complete results click here.

POLISH TWINS SET WORLD RECORD

The women’s qualification belonged to home favourites Natalia and Aleksandra Kałucka, who thrilled the Kraków crowd by stopping the clock in 13.09 seconds. Their performance established a new world and European record, improving on the previous world best of 13.17, jointly held by China and Indonesia following the Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 in April.

China’s Zhou Yafei and Deng Lijuan qualified second in 13.23, while another Polish pair, Patrycja Chudziak and Aleksandra Mirosław, completed the top three with 13.41.

For the women’s Speed Relay qualification complete results click here.

NEXT UP

The World Climbing Series 2026 now moves to Chamonix, France, for the eighth stop of the season, where Lead and Speed competitions will take place from 10 to 12 July.

News and updates about all World Climbing events will be available on the World Climbing website, and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.