KENYANS LOST GROUND
Athletics powerhouse Kenya have failed to defend their three titles in first five days, most remarkable one was in steeplechase. Morocco's Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali defeated 2019 world champion Conseslus Kipruto and his team mates once again in their national event. Kipruto, who won fifth World medal in this event since 2013, barely secured the podium place and saved Kenyan honour with escaping no steeplechase medal in 35 years. No Kenyan finished in top five in 1500 metres men as well as they lost in both marathon races to arch-rivals, Ethiopia.
FIRST-TIMERS
Several athletes competing in Hayward Field have debuted on international athletics podium at highest level in the World Championships, even some of them are not professional as contesting still 'amateur status' in NCAA circuit. Here are the athletes have no international medal of any kind before their top three achievement in Eugene:
Mohamed Katir (ESP), 24 year-old - 1500m bronze
Trey Cunningham (USA), 24 year-old - 110h silver
Josh Awotunde (USA), 27 year-old, SP bronze
Judith Korir (KEN), 26 year-old, Marathon silver
Janee' Kassanavoid (USA), 27 year-old, HT bronze
Kennedy Simon (USA), 22 year-old, 4x400 mixed bronze
MARGINAL WIN
Triple jump super hero Yulimar Rojas has leapt another marginal victory over the rivals in a global championships. She added seventh consecutive international title of her account, this time produced 15.47m for secure 'easy' gold by distancing 58 centimetres from Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica. Venezuelan world record holder has expressed 'not fully satisfied to her own performance' as missing championships record by three centimetres. In fact, she has landed to sand pit technically longer than Inessa Kravets' 15.50m championship record, because she lost 10.2 and 34.6 centimetres in her two best legal jumps (15.47 and 15.39). Rojas' final attempt - just like her amazing 15.74 WR performance in Belgrade - measured 15.73m including with the gap in the take-off board.
COMPARING WITH UNTOUCHABLE
Brazilian Alison dos Santos probably produced most memorable win in first half of the championships with clocking amazing 46.29 championships record in 400m hurdles by beating Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin. The season leader Dos Santos ran such a dominant race in full at Hayward Field' packed stands. He fired up with Karsten for the first bend, then stabilised to his rhythm in remaining part of the final. His 300 metres split was 33.55 - better than Warholm's 33.87 in the last year WR - but came to finish line with just 0.35 slower than Norwegian's 45.94 secs in Tokyo. Just noticed a remarkable detail on splits in Eugene final: All of these three hurdlers, Dos Santos (33.55), Benjamin (33.67) and Warholm (33.75) were on the lead from world record in that specific point!
DEPTH OF 200 METRES WOMEN
According to qualifying times in semi finals, women's 200 metres was one of the best ever in terms of quality. Previously, the best mark which did not made a final in same event was 22.52 (Hurtis in Seville 1999). In Eugene, Jenna Prandini clocked 22.08 in semi final but still couldn't get a spot for the final. Talented Brazilian Vitoria Rosa also clocked 22.47 South American record while out of final, too. Fastest in semis, the race favourite Shericka Jackson produced stunning 21.67 - just inches shy from Dafne Schippers' CR (21.63) as seven of eight finalists have run under 22 seconds in this season. The only finalist who did not made sub-22 yet is Mujinga Kambundji who establish 22.05 Swiss record!
