By A Correspondent
On an eventful eighth day of the World Athletics Championships at Budapest on Saturday, Kenyan Faith Kipyegon completed the unprecedented double of 1500m and 5,000m while Asia added a silver in men’s pole vault through Filipino John Obiena, and a bronze in women’s shot put through Chinese legend Gong Lijiao who was claiming her eighth medal.
The day also saw the peerless Swede, Armando Duplantis, extending his hold over the World pole vault title while Canadian LePage converted his silver from the last edition in the decathlon to gold this time.
It was a profitable day for Canada, as Marco Arop took the gold in the men’s 800m with a measured kick from 220 metres out to outsmart favourite Wanyoni.
The Americans swept the gold in the 4x100m relay with the women, anchored by the individual champion SháCarri Richardson clocking a championship record while the men, anchored by the confident showman, Noah Lyles, leaving little to chance after a slight mix-up on the second exchange.
There was, however, disappointment for the Americans as their women’s 4x400m team was disqualified for a zone violation even as the men won in style to go through to Sunday’s final. Behind them, to the surprise of many, the Indians posted a new Asian record of 2:59.05 taking the overall second-best time in the semifinals.
Kipyegon does not have much experience in having run the 5000 metres. Yet, she ran like a veteran at that distance against someone who is the 5000-10,00m double gold winner from the Tokyo Olympics and had won the London marathon title in April last. But the 29-year-old Kenyan had the reputation and the tag of the favourite. She had clocked a world record in the distance (14:05.20) in Paris in June and had the better finishing speed being the 1500m specialist.
Till the final lap, the two closest rivals kept close to each other allowing the other Kenyans and Ethiopians to take turns to lead. By the “bell”, however, Kipyegon took over control. Through the backstraight they fought hard and once past the penultimate bend, the Kenyan stepped up a little more with Hassan in hot pursuit.
The two were engaged in one of the most memorable duels over the finishing straight in a distance event at the global stage. Kipyegon was unrelenting while Hassan never gave up. As the two reached half-way on the straight, the Kenyan found that extra endurance and pace to romp home in 14:53.88. Hassan’s silver came in 14:54.11 while Kenyan Beatrice Chebet, silver medallist last time and the World cross-country champion in 2023, took the bronze in 14:54.33.
The battle on the track over, the gold and silver winners embraced each other perhaps whispering in acknowledgement of each other’s ability, while there were congratulations from all around for a race so bitterly contested.
“This has been an amazing year for me,” said Kipyegon. “Making history today, winning two gold medals in a championship is what I was dreaming for this season. I have been patient.”
“The race was a tactical one, but I am mentally stable and have managed to push myself, “the Kenyan said,
Hassan had a silver to add to the bronze she won earlier in the 1500m. She had fallen close to the finish in the 10,000m to start her unprecedented treble on a disappointing note.
The Dutchwoman said she would be better prepared next time for the shorter events. “These championships have given me more confidence because I moved to the marathon this year and for two years, I have hardly done any speed work at all. How I was able to sprint at the end, I do not know. I really felt amazing on the last lap, and it was only in the last 20 metres I couldn’t hold on. Faith was stronger than me today, but I know where I am at and I am excited.”
Duplantis had his second World title sewn up at 6.10m after Obiena had one attempt, his last, at that height and failed. The Filipino had two attempts at 6.05m and finally settled for the silver at 6.00m.
Duplantis after having ensured his gold medal, went for a world record of 6.23m and failed. The 23-year-old Swede was at his majestic self through the competition and cleared every height on his first attempt, having entered at 5.55m.
Obiena, who set his Asian record of 6.00m at Bergen, Norway, last June, equalled that mark while taking the silver, a place better than the third he claimed in the Oregon World championships. The Asian champion registered his country’s highest ever finish with this second place. He has had a smooth run through the season coming into these championships on the back of a 5.91m at the Asian meet at Bangkok and 5.82m for the second place at the Herculis meet at Monaco in July. Chris Nilsen who shared the bronze on Saturday with Australian Kurtis Marschall at 5.95m, had won the gold at Monaco with 5.95m.
“I’m really happy about all these consecutive golds,” he said. “I don’t know where this one ranks, but I’m happy to keep winning. This was maybe the craziest atmosphere I have ever competed in, so it meant a lot to be able to turn on a pole vault show for them. There were so many Swedish supporters here, it almost felt like I was in the Stockholm stadium, Duplantis said.
“I’ll be ready for Paris and the Olympics but right now I want to live in the moment and enjoy these World Championships and this title,” he added. “I’ll celebrate this, then think about Paris.”
Chase Ealey defends shot put tile
Gong Lijiao, who was looking for her third World title in shot put, had to be satisfied with the bronze behind defending champion Chase Ealey (20.43m) of the US and Canadian Sarah Mitton (20.08m). The Chinese, in her ninth straight World championships could manage only 19.69m. She had crossed 20 metres only once this season, that at the trials for these championships.
Last year also, Ealey had stopped the Chinese’s hat-trick attempt at gold in the Oregon Worlds. This season, however, Ealey had not been in great form. After having reached 20.06m in May, Ealey had a slide up to these championships including a fourth-place finish at the US Nationals with only 18.62m in the Nationals at Eugene. Being the defending champion, she had a wild card entry in these championships. On Saturday, the 29-year-old American had three throws over 20.00m.
“I have been training well, and I was confident. I wanted to set a good early mark and set the pace. She started with 20.35m and that clinched the argument about the gold.
“I risked this gold because I changed my technique to get better for Paris and the Olympics. That was what the change of technique was for. So hopefully in the future I will have more consistent throws like tonight,” said Ealey.
Chinese Song Jiayuan finished at 11th place with 18.90s.
Canadian Marco Arop took the men’s 800m gold in 1:44.24 to add to the bronze he had in this event last year.
The Canadian timed his kick nicely, and then came up with an extra gear on the finishing straight to hold off Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyoni (1:44.53), the 19-year-old World junior champion in 2021.
“This means everything to me. I am so glad to finally be able to do this on the world stage,” said Arop.
“I do not want to be known as the guy who can only run one way. I tried to be patient tonight and put myself in a position where I could attack,” said the Canadian.
Lyles take his third gold
Powered by a superb anchor by Lyles, the Americans took the men’s 4x100m gold in a world-leading 37.38s. Former world champions Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley, who failed to make the 100m final at Budapest, and Brandon Carnes were the other members of the victorious team.
It was Lyles’s third gold of the championships and as he crossed the line, he held up three fingers on his right hand as though to announce, “I told you I will win three, now I have three.”
Their joy knew no bounds as the women, anchored by the brilliant Richardson clocked championships record to win the other short relay title, in 41.03s, making light of the challenge posed by Jamaica. The men just swarmed Richardson as she finished.
“This is the third gold for me here.” Lyles said. “It’s sensational, amazing. You cannot do better. It is out of control.
“I love Team USA because everybody is coming here thinking ‘I’m going to win’. We were able to put that into a team effort and then we’re unstoppable.”
Japan came fifth in 37.83s.
India stunned the world in the qualification round of the men’s 4x400m relay with an Asian record of 2:59.05s while coming second to the US. The quartet of Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob, Mohammed Afzal and Rajesh Ramesh almost managed to the US, but they did finish ahead of Britain and Botswana. Japan, which had two runners who were sub-45 in the individual event, came a disappointing fifth in 3:00.39. Japan had held the previous Asian record at 2:59.51 at the Eugene World championships.
Photo 1 Credit: https://images.app.goo.gl/Wf3F9VdZPNTAmCPT6
Photo 2 Credit: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/26/sports/noah-lyles-shacarri-richardson-anchor-us-sweep-4×100-meter-relays-world-championships/
Photo 3 Credit: https://images.app.goo.gl/MMPLoyVJEuGwiWAW6
Photo 4 Credit: https://images.app.goo.gl/ZezAecdZS8HUnEwHA
Photo 5 Credit: https://images.app.goo.gl/WaCLDFLuetBozpuB6
