World Athletics Championships day 7 highlights
Here are the highlights from the World Athletics Championships day 7, Thursday, July 21.
Noah Lyles successfully defended his world title setting the third fastest time in history with 19.31 in the 200 metres final.
It was the first US podium sweep at the World Championships since Helsinki 2005 when Justin Gatlin beat Wallace Spearmon and John Capel.
Lyles led the third US podium sweep at these championships. The 200m triumph came five days after Fred Kerley’s win in the 100m ahead of Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell. In the shot put Ryan Crouser won the gold medal ahead Joe Kovacs and Josh Awotunde.
The clock first showed the winning time as a championship record of 19.32. This time would have tied Michael Johnson’s US record from the 1996 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The time was later corrected to 19.31m moving Lyles into third in the world all-time list behind Usain Bolt (19.19) and Yohan Blake (19.26).
Lyles, who won the 200m world gold medal in Doha 2019, becomes the third US sprinter to win back-to back titles at these championships after Calvin Smith and Michael Johnson.
Noah Lyles: “I saw the time popped up and I tied Michael Johnson’s US record. I was like: ‘You are going to do that ?’. Then the number was changed from 19.32 to 19.31. My whole mood changed. I was true in form for a world record, but I am OK with the US record. I literally had nothing left after I crossed the finish-line. Everybody dreams about this day. Today is my day. I knew it was coming. It’s an immaculate feeling to be on the podium with two fellow Americans. When I remember in Doha, it was just me. I felt just lonely. I have got two people run just as fast. They are close behind me. We are a dominant force in America now. I felt I got the best start I could possibly ask for. The race was basically set up for me. I was given lane six, an outside lane. To be honest, every step was purposeful, going out with the intent to win. I have given my all. This is by far the most fun I have ever had at a track meet and we still have the 4x100 relay to do”.
Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek won the silver medal in 19.77.
Kenny Bednarek: “Now I have a silver medal again. I just try to be better. This is just amazing experience and I want to come stronger next year”.
Nineteen-year-old world under 20 record holder Erryion Knighton finished third in 19.80 becoming the youngest ever individual sprint medallist at the World Championships. This year’s NCAA champion Joseph Fahnbulleh finished fourth in 19.84. Alexander Ogando just missed his own national record finishing fifth in 19.93.
Erriyon Knighton: “It feels good to be so young and be on the podium. There is more to come. I gave it my all. From the blocks, I had a small mess-up and that threw my race off, but I got a medal. I cannot complain. I am only 18 and I have some time to get in the weight room. Noah Lyles will be one of the greatest in the sport. It feels good coming from him”.
Women’s 200 metres final:
Jamaica Shericka Jackson won the 200 metres final in 21.45 setting the second fastest time in history. Jackson smashed the previous championship record of 21.63 set by Dafne Schippers in Beijing and missed Florence Griffith Joyner’s world record of 21.34 by 0.11.
With her gold medal in the 200m Jackson has become the first sprinter to complete a full set of medals at the World Championships over three different sprint distances following her 100m silver in Eugene and bronze medals in the 400 metres in Beijing 2015 and Doha 2019. Jackson celebrated her 28th birthday on 16 July.
Fraser Pryce was slightly ahead of Jackson in the first 100 metres clocking 11.03 to 11.04. Jackson ran 10.41 to Fraser Pryce’s 10.81 in the second part of the the race in the home straight.
Jackson has become the third Jamaican sprinter to win a 200m world gold medal after Merlene Ottey (Stuttgart 1993 and Goteborg 1995), Veronica Campbell Brown (Daegu 2011).
Shericka Jackson: “I was feeling great once I came out and put on the show. The fastest woman alive, the national and championships record. I cannot complain. I know that Shelly Ann is one of the best curve sprinters, so I knew she was going to go hard. I knew that I wanted to get gold, I had to run as hard as possible. I know I am strong and fast in the home straight. I knew if I eventually caught up with her, I could take it”.
Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce won the silver medal in 21.81 following her fifth world gold medal in the 100m. Fraser Pryce missed her lifetime best by 0.02. The 35-year-old Jamaican sprint legend won her second medal at these championships after her world gold medal in Moscow 2013.
Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce: “I got off like nobody. I really tried my best to win it and I am so grateful for the gift that I got”.
Defending world champion Dina Asher Smith won the world bronze medal in 22.02 three years after her triumph in Doha.
Dina Asher Smith: “I am so happy to make the podium. I do not think we are going to see anything like that again. I knew I really had to run today”.
Aminatou Seyni from Niger placed fourth in 22.12. This year’s NCAA and US champion Abby Steiner finished fifth in 22.22 ahead of Tamara Clarke (22.32), Olympic champion Elaine Thompson Herah (22.39) and 2019 world bronze medallist Mujinga Kambundji (22.55). Steiner ran her 55th race of her busy season and won the US and NCAA Championships.
Men’s 800 metres semifinal:
Olympic champion won the first men’s 800 metres semifinal in 1:45.38 beating his compatriot Wycliffe Kyniamal (1:45.49). Olympic fourth placer Peter Bol from Australia advanced on time in 1:45.58.
Algeria’s Djemal Sedjati won the second semifinal in 1:45.44 holding off Olympic finalist Gabriel Tual (1:45.53).
Slimane Moula from Algeria clocked the fastest time of the three semifinals with 1:44.89 beating Marco Arop from Canada (1:45.12). Last year’s world under 20 champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi reached the final in third place as the fastest non-automatic qualifier with 1:45.42.
Women’s 800 metres heats:
Diribe Welteji from Ethiopia won the first 800 metres heat setting the fastest time with 1:58.63 beating Jemma Reekie (1:59.09) and Adelle Tracey, who set her PB with 1:59.20.
Olympic gold and silver medallists Athing Mu and Keely Hodgkinson won their respective heats clocking 2:00.88 and 2:01.30. Renelle Lamote won a very competitive fourth heat in 2:00.71 beating Freweyni Hailu (2:00.83) and Ajée Wilson (2:01.02).
Men’s triple jump qualifying round:
Olympic champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo led the qualifying round with 17.16m. World and Olympic bronze medallist Fabrice Zango set the automatic qualifying mark of 17.15m. Emmanuel Ihemeje from Italy, who won the NCAA title in 2021 and finished second at the Collegiate Championships in Hayward Field this year, qualified with the third best mark of 17.13m. Olympic silver medallist Yaming Zhu from China and world indoor champion Lazaro Martinez jumped over the 17 metres with 17.08m and 17.06m. The final will feature European Under 23 champion Andrea Dallavalle from Italy (16.86m) and US jumpers Will Claye (16.84m) and Chris Carter (16.70m). Four-time world champion Christian Taylor, who is on a comeback trail after rupturing his Achilles tendon last year, did not get through to the final with 16.48m.
Men’s javelin throw:
Reigning world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada came close to the 90 metres barrier to lead the qualifying round with 89.91m. Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra from India set the second best qualifying mark with 88.39m. The only other athletes to throw beyond the automatic qualifying mark were Julian Weber from Germany (87.28m) and Jakub Vadlejch from Czech Republic (85.23m).
Men’s 5000 metres heats:
Oscar Chelimo from Uganda won the first heat 13:24.24 ahead of US Grant Fisher and Selemon Barega, who clocked the same time of 13:24.44 in a very close finish in the first 5000m heat. Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei advanced to the final in fourth place with 13:24.47. Nicholas Kimeli was outside the five automatic qualifying spots in sixth place with 13:24.56, but he got through to the final by less than half a second.
Jacob Krop won the second heat in the fastest time of the two semifinals with 13:13.30 beating Olympic 1500m champion Jacob Ingebrigtsen (13:13.62). Luis Grijalva from Guatemala reached the final in third place with a seasonal best of 13:14.04 beating Mohamed Ahmed from Canada (13:15.17).
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