Lyles, Davis-Woodhall withdraw from Ultimate Championships

The entry list for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest was released on Monday, but the three-day meeting will proceed without several star athletes. U.S. Sprint star Noah Lyles, U.S. Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall, and Kenya's reigning 800m world champion Lilian Odira have all withdrawn from the season-ending event due to injury and illness.

Two star women out

Tara Davis-Woodhall's season ended after a serious concussion sustained in a head-on car collision in August. The hurdler and long jumper initially held hope for competing in Budapest but ultimately decided to prioritize her health. "After careful consideration with my team, we have decided to end the 2026 season," Davis-Woodhall said on Instagram. "This one hurts."

Lilian Odira is another major withdrawal from the women's 800m, an event described as one of the most exciting in track this season. She will miss both the Ultimate Championships and the Athlos meet in London on September 18, citing an ongoing illness that has prevented her from returning to training. "I have yet to fully recover from the illness I had," Odira stated on Instagram, expressing heartbreak at missing the competition.

More star power gone

Their absences follow Noah Lyles's announcement on Saturday that he would not race again this season. Lyles has been managing an injury since the USA Track and Field Championships in July, where he pulled up during the men's 200m final. What was initially described as a muscle cramp was later revealed to be a minor hamstring strain.

Lyles explained on Instagram that the strain caused additional problems, making consistent training difficult. He has not raced since that July final. Before the injury, he was in top form, equalling his personal best with a world-leading 9.79 seconds to win the 100m title at the U.S. Championships.

A speculative drop for Ingebrigtsen

While those withdrawals are confirmed, the participation of Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 1500m is now in question. He remains on the official start list for both the 1500m and 5000m. World Athletics had even altered its rules to allow both Ingebrigtsen and rival Josh Kerr of Great Britain to compete in the 1500m, setting up a headline rivalry.

However, a report from Norwegian outlet Dagbladet suggests Ingebrigtsen will skip the 1500m and only run the 5000m. The report, based on an interview with Ingebrigtsen's brother and manager Henrik, is described as speculative. It did not include a direct quote from the athlete confirming the withdrawal.

The Ultimate Championships begin on September 11 and feature the largest prize purse in track and field history, totalling $10 million.