Athletes compete in the women's 5,000m final of the 2026 National Athletics Championships. [Photo/Tide News]

The 2026 National Athletics Championships opened at the Quzhou Sports Center Stadium in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, on Aug 12, bringing together 1,136 athletes from across China to compete in 44 events.

On the first day, the women's 5,000m final was held, with He Wuxia winning gold and Xia Yuyu and Luo Xia claiming the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

As a top-level national athletics event in China, the championships mark the final competition of the 2026 national track and field season and serve as an important precursor event for the national team ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

This year's championships have been extended from three to five days, with relay events returning to the schedule. The mixed 4x100m relay will make its debut at the national championships, alongside the men's and women's 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Asian Games qualifiers Lin Yuwei and Wu Yanni, along with several national record holders, will compete. Zhejiang sprinter Xie Zhenye will also take part in the men's 100m.

The championships run through Aug 16 and will be livestreamed across multiple platforms.