Mitton and McRae Impress in Beijing as Athletes Wrap Up Continental Tour Gold Season Ahead of Tokyo
The 2025 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold season concluded in Beijing on Sunday (7) with standout performances from world-class athletes fine-tuning their form for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. Canada’s Sarah Mitton dominated the shot put with two throws beyond 19.70m, while USA’s Khaleb McRae surged to a 400m victory in 44.64, both leaving the Chinese capital on a winning note. The meet delivered a string of personal bests, meeting records, and thrilling finishes, providing a final confidence boost for Tokyo-bound stars.
Women's Shot Put:
Sarah Mitton, double world indoor champion and last year’s Diamond League winner, clinched the win in the women’s shot put with a third-round effort of 19.81m. Mitton backed up this result with a second best mark of 19.72m. Olympic finalist Fanny Roos from Sweden took second place with a throw of 19.35m in the fifth round ahead of Linru Zhang from China (19.05m). Olympic silver medallist Maddison Lee Wesche from New Zealand took fourth place with 18.79m.
Men’s 400 metres:
Khaleb McRea won the men’s 400 metres in 44.64 holding off his compatriot Bryce Deadmon (44.78) and Belgium’s Dylan Borlée (45.15). McRea set a PB of 43.91 and finished second at the US Championships in Eugene this year qualifying for the World Championships in Tokyo.
Men’s 800 metres:
Double European bronze medallist and Irish record holder Mark English continued his good period of form by winning the men’s 800 metres in 1:44.67 ahead of Spain’s Pablo Sanchez Valladares (1:44.79) and double Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal (1:44.86).
Men’s 110 metres hurdles:
World University Games champion Tatsuki Abe from Japan took a very close win in the men’s 110 metres hurdles in 13.22 edging Xu Zhuhoyi (13.23). Abe will not compete at the World Championships in Tokyo. Chen Yuanjiang from China took third place in 13.27.
Women’s javelin throw:
World under 20 champion and record holder Yan Ziyi improved her PB to 64.46m to win the women’s javelin throw by more than two metres ahead of Asian champion Su Lingdan, who threw 62.39m in the sixth round.
Men’s 100 metres:
Ali Al Balushi from Oman stormed to win the men’s 100 metres in a PB of 10.09 ahead of USA’s Brandon Hicklin (10.12) and 2021 Olympic 200 metres champion André De Grasse (10.16).
Women’s 100 metres:
USA’s Maia McCoy won the women’s 100 metres in 11.20 edging Liberia’s Destiny Smith Barnett (11.28) and USA ‘s Celera Barnes (11.32).
Men’s pole vault:
China’s Zao Thong cleared 5.75m on his first attempt to win the men’s pole vault beating USA’s Cole Walsh on countback. Double world medallist Ernest John Obiena from the Philippines shared third place with China’s Huang Bokai at 5.65m.
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
Anna Toth from Hungary claimed the win in the 100 metres hurdles in 12.83 ahead of USA’s Rayniah Jones (13.00) and Riicarda Lobe from Germany (13.15).
Women’s 400 metres hurdles:
Kristina Halonen from Finland won the women’s 400 metres hurdles in 55.46 ahead of Chinese hurdler Yingying Kong, who a set a PB of 55.54. Mo Jiadie took third place in 56.31.
Women’s 1500 metres:
USA’s Helen Schlachtenhaufen won the women’s 1500 metres in 4:06.95 holding off USA’s Christina Aragon (4:07.20) and France’s Adele Gay (4:07.21).
Women’s 3000 metres:
China’s Tiantian Liang improved her PB to 8:57.65 to win the women’s 3000 metres ahead of British middle distance runners Eloise Walker (8:58.02) and Cari Hughes (9:00.49).
Men’s long jump:
Filip Pravdica won a very narrow men’s long jump competition with 7.88m beating Norway’s Henryk Flatnes on countback thanks to a second best mark of 7.84m.
Men’s high jump:
China’s Li Jialun won the men’s high jump with 2.20m beating Zhen Wang and Wu Giaobao on countback.
