By Yavuz Yavuz in Tokyo National Stadium
When the women’s marathon race was coming to an end, it all seemed to have come down to the last two holders of the women-only world record. Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, who became the first woman ever to dip under 2:16 in April when winning the London marathon in 2:15:50, began her final kick on the tracks of Japan National Stadium against Peres Jepchirchir. But the Kenyan still had one final trick up her sleeve. Attacking into the final 200 metres, former Olympic champion edged her rival in 2:24:43. The two seconds separating the two athletes marked the second closest world championships final of the event ever (the first being in Beijing 2015).
Julia Paternain of Uruguay, who picked up marathon running only last year and set national records in both marathon and half marathon this season, won the bronze medal in 2:27:23 and became the country's first ever medallist in world championships. She was the final qualifier in the line-up having ran her Uruguay record of 2:27:09 in March, and carved her name into history.
Another highlight of the women’s marathon was Fionnuala McCormack, who at the age of 40 was running in his first ever world championships marathon race. Irish distance runner managed to obtain her best ever global result coming in ninth with a time of 2:30:16.
The morning session of the second day also saw several upsets, with Jakob Ingebrigtsen, former silver medallist who struggled with injuries throughout the outdoor season this year, failed to make it out of the men’s 1500m heats. Azzedine Habz of France was also eliminated, as well as Phanuel Koech who suffered a fall in his heat, depriving the semi-finals of the two fastest men this year in the distance.
Brooke Andersen, who threw to 79.79m this year had an inconsistent record in the build-up to the championships, and she fouled out, missing out on the women’s hammer throw final.
FRENCH FLAIR FOR MEN’S 10,000
The first final to conclude in the night session was the women’s discus throw, where two-time Olympic champion Valarie Allman finally added a gold to her world championships medal collection which included a bronze in Eugene 2022 and a silver in Budapest 2023. She began with a 67.63m throw, which was never bested, and ended with 69.48. Jorinde Van Klinken of the Netherlands also began with a good attempt and at 67.50m, this was enough to seal the silver medal for her. Cuba’s Silinda Morales recorded a lifetime best of 67.25 and won the country’s first discus medal since Yaime Perez’s title in 2019.
While Vanessa Kamga broke a Swedish record with 66.61, Sandra Elkasevic, the qualifier with the best mark in the final settled for fifth place with a throw of 65.82 metres.
In women’s long jump, Olympic champion Tara Davis Woodhall leapt to an early lead with 7.08 in her first attempt, then comfortably extended it three jumps later to a world leading mark of 7.13. Malaika Mihambo, twice world champion, trailed behind the American once more after the Olympics with 6.99. Natalia Linares, with a bronze, brought Colombia the country’s first ever world medal in long jump.
Europeans took command of men’s 10,000 final, which was the stage for a chaotic finish. Jimmy Gressier, French cross legend, took down the Ethiopian and American trains in a shock kick in the last lap to win gold with a time of 28:55.77 and brought France its first ever world medal in the distance. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, European record holder in 5000m, won bronze. Silver went to Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.
SEVILLE STRIKES HISTORIC GOLD
Night session reached its climax with the 100m finals. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ran a championship record time of 10.61, winning gold and overtaking the record from her teammate Sha’carri Richardson. Jamaica’s former world junior champion Tina Clayton won silver and Olympic champion Julien Alfred had to settle for bronze.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 10-time world titlist who probably ran the last major individual final of her career, clocked an impressive 11.03 and came in sixth. Advancing to the last stage at the age of 38, she obtained a spectacular record of being present in every world final in women’s 100m since 2009 (except for London 2017 when she did not compete in the world championships).
On the men’s side, half of the final line-up comprised of African runners — a first in history. In a dramatic unfolding of events, defending silver-medallist Letsile Tebogo was disqualified for a false start. In the end, Jamaicans emerged triumphant over the Americans with Oblique Seville winning the country’s first men’s 100m gold since Usain Bolt in 2015 — who was present in the stadium to watch. To Seville’s 9.77, Kishane Thompson clocked 9.82 for silver while Noah Lyles was bumped down to bronze.
