Day 5 Highlights from the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023
The fifth day of the World Athletics Championships in the captivating city of Budapest delivered an electrifying showcase of talent and determination, featuring an array of four gripping finals. With the spotlight shining on the men's 1500m, men's 400m hurdles, women's pole vault, and women's 400m events, athletes from across the globe converged to compete at the highest level.
Karsten Warholm won a historic third world gold medal in the men’s 400 metres hurdles in 46.89, his fourth fastest time this season. Warholm had claimed his previous two world titles in London 2017 and Doha 2019.
Karsten Warholm: “I feel like the gold medal is back where it belongs. It was the perfect run for me. I was able to keep my form in the first 250m and I know that the guys were running their assess off and would be very tired. It was just left for me to turn on the tables over the last 100m and the race was mine. They wen out super hard but I knew they were going to get it tough in the end. I knew I would have the most left on the home stretch. Every gold medal means a lot to me, but this one is extra special because I lost it last year. I had an injury and a tough season, so it’s a good little comeback story. I learned a lot from a lot too. I love racing. I put everything in my life into this and having an injury is tough but it motivated me to come back and get the gold back again”.
Kyron McMaster claimed silver medal in 47.34 missing his seasonal best by eighth hundredth of a second.
Raj Benjamin finished third in 47.56 reaching the podium for the third time at the World Championships after winning two silver medals in Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022.
Women’s 400 metres:
Marileidy Paulino from Dominican Republic won the gold medal in the women’s 400 metres in a national record of 48.76 following her silver medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 behind Shaunae Miller Uibo. Paulino became the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win an individual gold medal and the second individual world champion after two-time 400 metres hurdles champion Felix Sanchez.
Paulino improved her previous PB by 22 hundredths of a second. She had already claimed gold medals in the 4x400 mixed relay at the World Championships in Eugene and in the 400 metres at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Marileidy Paulino: "A lot of emotions are rushing through me. It is always a bit difficult as I am here without my trainer. And even if he is far away now, he managed to help me. He was here with me in my mind and in my heart. I have also prepared mentally for this situation. Whenever I was competing in Europe, I had to come without my trainer, so I also trained for these situations. This national record means a lot to me. It is really incredible. But I have been preparing for this for a long time, working hard to achieve a goal like this."
Natalia Kaczmarek from Poland came through in the final 100 metres to win the silver medal in 49.57. The Polish athlete had already improved her PB to 49.48 at the Diamond League meeting in Chorzow.
Last year’s Commonwealth Games champion Sada Williams won the bronze medal in 49.60 holding off NCAA champion Rhasidat Adeleke from Irealnd (50.13). Williams set a national record of 49.56 in the semifinal.
Cynthia Bolingo from Belgium and Lieke Klaver from the Netherlands finished fifth and sixth with the same time of 50.33. Candice McLeod from Jamaica finished seventh in 51.08 ahead of USA’s Talitha Diggs (51.25).
Women’s pole Vault final:
Olympic champion Katie Moon and Nina Kennedy shared the world gold medal with 4.90m in the women’s pole vault. Wilma Murto from Finland won the bronze medal with 4.80m. They both made three attempts to clear 4.95m. Six pole vaulters cleared 4.75m.
Both Moon and Kennedy equalled the world seasonal lead on their third attempt and tied the lead after failing one attempt each at earlier heights. They agreed to share the gold medal following the example of Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi in the men’s high jump at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Nina Kennedy: “I jumped out of my skin tonight. It was super crazy. I felt like the whole stadium was watching every single jump. To win a gold medal. It is just a dream come true. I knew I could get on the podium, but it was a miracle to get the gold. So I think a miracle happened tonight”.
Katie Moon: “When the final started, I didn’t think sharing a gold medal would work for me, but I am completely satisfied. What a battle it was”.
Wilma Murto from Finland equalled her seasonal best at 4.80m to win the bronze medal on countback over Tina Sutej from Slovenia.
Kennedy, Moon, Murto, Sandi Morris, Tina Sutej and Molly Caudery from Great Britain cleared 4.50m and 4.65m on their first attempts.
Murto was the only athlete to clear 4.75m on her first attempt. Moon decided to pass at this height. Sutej and Kennedy cleared this height on her second attempt.
Caudery and this year’s World University Games champion Angelica Moser cleared 4.75m on their third attempt. Caudery improved her previous PBby 4 cm, while Moser equalled her PB.
Sutej, Kennedy and Murto cleared 4.80m. Moon passed at 4.75m before clearing 4.80m on her second attempt.
Moser failed three attempt at 4.80m. Caudery made one failure at this height and passed to the next height at 4.85m, but she failed her two remaining attempts. Caudery and Moser shared the fifth place.
Sutej was not able to clear her three attempts at 4.85 and Murto claimed the bronze medal on countback after winning gold medals at the European outdoor Championships in Munich 2022 and the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul last March.
Sutej finished fourth for the second consecutive edition of the World Championships repeating the same result in Eugene last year.
Men’s 1500 metres final:
Olympic bronze medallist Josh Kerr took an upset win edging Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men’s 1500 metres.
Kerr went to the front with 200 metres to go, using the same tactic as that of his compatriot Jake Wightman, who beat Insebrigtsen in Eugene last year. Wightman was sidelined by an injury problem this year.
Kerr and Ingebrigtsen ran neck and neck in the home straight. The British athlete held off Ingebrigtsen in a thrilling final stages in 3:29.38. Ingebrigtsen had to settle with the silver medal in 3:29.65.
Ingebrigtsen’s compatriot Narve Gilje Nordas won the bronze medal in 3:29.68 missing his PB by 0.21. Abel Kipsang also broke the 3:30 seconds barrier finishing fourth with 3:29.89.
Josh Kerr: “This is just reward for many years of hard work. I am extremely proud to be on top of the world. I just did what I always do, throw everything I have at if it breaks my way. As I came round the bend I thought I have to give everything I had. I did not worry about what was going on earlier in the race”
Jakob Ingebrigtsen: "All credits to Josh , he had a good race but I feel a little bit unlucky not being able to do what I have been doing the whole season, especially as it is the world championships final. It is what it is, of course I am disappointed. I tried to give 100 per cent but it is not easy when you are not feeling 100 per cent. I had been on training camp for three, almost four months, with a minimum of social life and contact with the rest of the world but in the warm-up today and in the semi-final I was a little bit dry in my throat. It got worse the last two days and then a little bit better when I woke up this morning."
Women’s 100 metres hurdles heats:
Kendra Harrison won the first seminal of the women’s 100 metres hurdles in 12.33 one day after clocking 12.24 in the heats. Devynne Charlton took second place with 12.49 edging Ditaji Kambundji, who reached the final as the fastest non-automatic qualifier with 12.50.
World record holder Tobi Amusan from Nigeria won the second heat in 12.56 ahead of Ackera Nugent (12.60) and Nadine Visser (12.62).
Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho Quinn claimed the third semifinal in 12.41 ahead of Nia Ali (12.49) and Danielle Williams (12.51).
Men’s 200 metres heats:
European champion Zharnel Hughes dipped under the 20 seconds in 19.99 beating Aaron Brown (20.08).
World 100 metres champion Noah Lyles won the second heat in 20.05 easing up in the final metres beating Andrew Hudson from Jamaica (20.25).
World silver medalist Letsile Tebogo cruised through to a comfortable win in his heat with 20.21 ahead of Joseph Fahnbulleh from Liberia (20.42).
Erriyon Knighton took a comfortable win in the sixth heat in 20.17 holding off André De Grasse (20.26).
Kenny Bednarek clinched the win in the seventh heat in 20.01.
Women’s 200 metres heats:
Antonique Strachan from the Bahamas claimed the win in the first heat in 22.31 beating Darryil Neita (22.39).
World 100 metres champion Sha’Carri Richardson won her first heat in 22.16 easing down in the final metres. Marie Josée Ta Lou finished second in 22.28. Olivia Fotopoulou from Cyprus took third place improving her PB to 22.65.
Defending champion Shericka Jackson cruised through to a win the third heat in 22.61. Veronica Shanti Pereira from Singapore set the national record with 22.67.
Julien Alfred from Santa Lucia clinched the win in the fourth heat in 22.31. Gabrielle Thomas set the second fastest overall time in 22.26. Former world champion Dina Asher Smith took a comfortable win in the sixth heat in 22.46 beating Maboundou Koné from Ivory Coast (22.55).
Men’s long jump qualifying round:
Wayde Pinnock from Jamaica set a world leading mark of 8.54m to lead the qualifying round in the men’s long jump. Janan Wang from China achieved the second best mark of 8.25m. Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou needed all three of his attempts in the qualifying round and finished third overall with 8.25m.
Women’s javelin qualifying round:
Lina Muze Sirma led the women’s javelin throw qualifying round with 63.50m on her third attempt ahead of Haruka Kitaguchi from Japan (63.27m) and Victoria Hudson from Austria (62.96m).
Men’s pole vault qualifying round:
Armand Duplantis, Christophoer Nilsen, Ernest John Obiena and Kurtis Marshall were the only four athletes, who jumped all heights until 5.75m in her first attempt.
Women’s 5000 metres:
Sifan Hassan held off Faith Kipyegon by three hundredths of a second in a final sprint to win the second 5000 metres heat in 14:32.29. Ejggayehu Taye took third place with 14:33.23 ahead Freweyni Hailu (14:34.18), Lilian Rengeruk (14:36.61. The other qualifiers were Nozomi Tanaka from Japan, who improved the national record with 14:37.98, and Nadia Battocletti from Italy (14:41.79).
Beatrice Chebet won the second heat in 14:57.70 beating Gudaf Tsegay (14:57.72) and Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (15:00.10). Agata Caune, European under 20 champion in the 3000 and 5000 metres in Jerusalem, led for most of the race with her front running tactic and qualified for the final with her first place in a PB of 15:00.48.
Women’s hammer throw qualifying round:
Hanna Skydan from Azerbajan led the women’s hammer throw qualifying round with 77.10m. The other throwers who managed to throw over the 73 metres were DeAnna Price (76.25m), Silja Kosonen (74.19m PB), Canadian record Camryn Rogers (73.95m), Bianca Ghelber (73.67m), Italian record holder Sara Fantini (73.28m seasonal best). Janee Kassanavoid reached the final with 72.70m. Three-time Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk and reigning world champion Brooke Andersen did not get through to the final.
Women’s 800 metres heats:
USA’s Nia Akins clocked the fastest time of the women’s 800 metres heats with 1:59.19. Jemma Reekie from Great Britain took second place with 1:59.71.
Habitam Alemu won the fourth heat in 1:59.08 holding off Jamaica’s Adelle Tracey (1:59.82).
European champion Keely Hodgkinson claimed the first heat in 1:59.53 ahead of Prudence Sekgodiso (1:59.72).
Athing Mu started her title defense with a win in the seventh heat in 1:59.59 edging Jamaican record holder Natoya Goule (1:59.64). World bronze medallist Mary Moraa started her campaign with a win in 1:59.89 ahead of Raevyn Rogers (2:00.08).
Women’s triple jump qualifying round:
Two-time world silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts from Jamaica led the qualifying round with a seasonal best of 14.67m. Thea Lafond from Dominica improved her national record to 14.62m. Yulimar Rojas qualified with the third best mark of 14.59m.
