MEN’S MARATHON
The last title on the road was given in men’s marathon which was held on a hot Sunday morning in Budapest. Uganda’s Victor Kiplangat led the race for around 30 kilometres and finished the race in 2:08:53. He became the second Ugandan marathon winner at the World Champs after Stephen Kiprotich’s 2013 victory. Israel’s European medallist Maru Teferi showed good strength in the final parts of the race to finish 19 seconds behind Kiplangat. Israel secured its second marathon medal after Lonah Salpeter's success in women’s race last year.
WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Ukrainian high jump queen, won her first World title in Budapest, edging past two Aussie rivals. 21-year-old talent failed once in 1.94 but cleared 1.97 and 1.99 at the first attempt. Australia’s 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson jumped 1.99 as well in her first try, but failed to progress beyond two metres after missing 2.01m, like her compatriot Nicola Olyslagers. Mahuchikh, who guaranteed the gold in her second jump at 2.01m, then tried to clear a 2.07m personal best, but did not capitalise it.
MEN’S JAVELIN THROW
A historic competition was held in javelin that saw two sporting rivals’ pure clash. India’s Olympic hero Neeraj Chopra went up to the lead with his second try which landed at 88.17 metres. Consequently, he released two more 86+ throws, even though they did not make further improvement on his mark, which was enough to clinch the gold medal. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who is frequently compared with Neeraj due to political rivalry between neighbouring countries, displayed a brilliant contest too. He sent his javelin to 87.82 metres – which brought Pakistan first ever World medal, beating the previous record of fifth place at the championships again by Nadeem. The Czech Jakub Vadlech improved to 86.67 in round five as he claimed yet another medal at the Worlds, adding to his previous silver and bronze.
MEN’S 5000 METRES
The defending champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen completed his account with a gold in Budapest. The skilled distance ace Ingebrigtsen has allowed his rivals to keep a good pace before taking the command to finish it up. Spain’s Mo Katir started to kick in a well-placed position and entered the last 100 metres in the lead. However Ingerightsen’s supreme finishing power mode came on and just edged him on the finish by 0.14 seconds. Kenya’s Jacob Krop took an expected bronze behind the rivalling duo, just ahead of Guatemala’s Luis Grijalva, who claimed a precious fourth place.
WOMEN’S 800 METRES
Kenya’s super fast Mary Moraa danced into the victory after stunning the Olympic champion Athing Mu in women's 800 metres final. The final started very quickly as the athletes turned a 56-second opening lap, then Mu climbed into the first position. But Kenyan chaser Mary Moraa came strong in the final bend to extend it until the finish line despite strong attacks coming after her. Moraa renewed her personal best in 1:56.03, just ahead of Keely Hodgkinson and Athing Mu.
WOMEN’S 3000M STEEPLECHASE
Bahrain’s only medal came within the last hour in the Championships. Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Mutile Yavi clocked an 8:54.29 world-lead in the steeplechase final. World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech stayed in the lead until the last 300 metres but did not reply to Bahraini’s acceleration. Six women got under 9:10 in the race where Frenchwomen Alice Finot (9:06.15) and Marusa Mismas of Slovenia (9:06.37) broke their own national records, while finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
MEN’S 4x400M RELAY
United States secured its second consecutive 4x4 gold in Budapest with hurdler Rai Benjamin anchoring the team as their mark 2:57.31 has topped the table this season. French team secured a classy silver in the very end of the championships – their only one – by clocking 2:58.35 national record. Their previous record was set in Paris 2003, where the team clinched a historic World championship. The bronze medal went to Britain despite Matthew Hudson-Smith's absence in the team.
WOMEN’S 4x400 RELAY
Netherlands’s star Femke Bol has opened the championships with a disaster, but compensated it in a very unique way of finishing. The Netherlands started the race relatively weak, then stayed on course in Lieke Klaver’s turn. Staying in touch with Jamaica and Great Britain, the Dutch team all trusted in the anchor leg of Femke. She received the baton three metres behind Stacy-Ann Williams of Jamaica. Jamaica retained the position in the last 50 metres where Bol kicked up amazingly to breeze past two rivals to get historic gold for the team. Bol’s absolutely mesmerizing 48.7 turn gave the Netherlands an overwhelming joy and a national record.
