By Sevket F. ERBAY in Budapest
As the World Athletics Championships is entering its final weekend, the tension is rising. Some of the biggest names in the sport have taken the stage on day seven finals.
WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP
One of the athletics’ superstars Yulimar Rojas has narrowly escaped a big shock in the triple jump final. Venezuelan queen opened her account with a clear foul, then landed 14.33 and 14.26 back to back. Rojas’s third attempt saved herself from elimination by just a “second best” rule to allow her to continue the final. The tall Venezuelan was looking worried about the victory after two back-to-back fouls later on. But she jumped 15.08 in the final round despite an almost 20-centimetre gap on the board and took the lead from Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk who was standing first by a leap of 15.00m. Ukrainian World Indoor medallist came for the last one, but didn’t manage to perform a valid jump and well-accepted her second place.
WOMEN’S JAVELIN THROW
It’s a Japanese miracle, though. The season's most improved thrower, Haruka Kitaguchi entered the contest as the favourite, but she struggled mildly while finding her rhythm. She improved in her first three attempts but managed to pull only enough to get the bronze. She even trailed behind the podium position before the final turn, but the 2022 World bronze medallist released a big one in the end: 66.73. She became the first female Japanese World champion in any event since 1997 – a historic ground-breaking for Japan. Flor Ruiz Hurtado got a well-deserved silver medal after her 65.47 South American record as Australia secured its third consecutive javelin medal taken by Mckenzie Little, although two-time defending champ Kelsey-Lee Barber failed to make the podium.
WOMEN’S 200 METRES
Jamaican star Shericka Williams stole the show in the evening with a magnificent sprint in the star-studded 200 metres final. Shericka defended her title on this distance with a stunning 21.41 – just 0.07 off of Flo-Jo’s untouchable world record from 1988. The 29-year-old sprint star from Saint Ann covered the flat part of the race in an amazing 10.36. She distanced 0.4 seconds from Gaby Thomas who clocked 21.81 to win her maiden World medal and ShaCarri Richardson completed the podium by running a personal best in 21.92. St. Lucia’s rising star Julien Alfred proudly finished fourth in 22.05 despite wasting her second medal chance in the championships. On another note, Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Africa’s best sprinter, has accepted the last place in 22.64 after running in the 4x100m relay heat instead of individual success.
MEN’S 200 METRES
United States’ Noah Lyles completed the sprint double at the World Championships to become the fifth man to do so. Lyles, started in lane six in his favorite event of 200m final, was slightly shaken in the curve. With some strong pushing up from side lanes, Noah remained on the lead and broke the tape in 19.52 – becoming the World champion for the third time in a row. World U20 record holder Erriyon Knighton finished second in 19.75 to take the silver, whereas Letsile Tebogo brought yet another medal for Botswana.
