Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim reacts during the men’s high jump final. AFP
Budapest: Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi won the men's world high jump title in Budapest yesterday.
The reigning Olympic champion jumped a world lead of 2.36 metres to claim gold, with the USA's JuVaughn Harrison finishing second on countback despite clearing the same height.
Third place and the bronze medal went to Qatar's Mutaz Barshim, who failed his three attempts to clear 2.36. This is the first time Barshim has not been crowned champion at a major championship since he finished second at Rio 2016.
Despite being Olympic champion, Tamberi has never tasted victory in a World Championships, finishing fourth in his last outing at Oregon 22.
Gold winner Gianmarco Tamberi (right) celebrates with third-placed Mutaz Barshim and his son after the final. AFP
And while the day belonged to the Italian, he still had time for his good friend Barshim, with whom he shared Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, embracing him warmly after the latter exited the competition.
Kenya’s Kipyegon wins third world women’s 1500m title
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon produced a devastating last lap to win an unprecedented third world women’s 1500m title. The double Olympic champion, who previously won world golds in 2017 and last year in Eugene, led from gun to tape in a magisterial display of running.
She kicked at the bell for the final lap to outstrip a loaded field to win in 3min 54.87sec.
Ethiopian Diribe Welteji took silver in 3:55.69, with Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands claiming bronze (3:56.00).
It was another remarkable result for the irrepressible Kipyegon in a stunning season in which she has set three world records.
She is hailed as the world’s best-ever runner over 1500m and it is easy to see why.
She remains unbeaten over the distance since June 2021. On that occasion at the Florence Diamond League meet she was beaten by Hassan.
The bronze for Hassan capped a brave comeback after a dramatic fall metres from the finish of the 10,000m which put paid to her bid for a treble.
Kipyegon and Hassan will again face off in the 5,000m on Saturday.
In sultry conditions at the National Athletics Centre, Kipyegon raced into the lead, with Welteji on her shoulder, Hassan in her customary early position at the back of the pack.
Kipyegon went through 800m in 2:11.78, the field resisting a surge to stay close.
(From left) Men’s high jump gold medallist Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, winner of the men’s 3000m steeplechase Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali and bronze medallist in the men’s 1500m Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot celebrate in the steeplechase water jump during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, yesterday. AFP
At the bell, the Kenyan accelerated and Hassan made her move down the far stretch.
Kipeyegon hit 200 metres well out ahead and looked to have gold in the bag. One last push saw the chasing Welteji and Hassan kick down the final 100 metres in pursuit, but they had left it too late and Kipyegon came through the line with arms raised for a historic third title in the distance.
El Bakkali defends steeplechase title
Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali defended his world 3000m steeplechase title, easing to the line comfortably ahead of world record holder Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia.
Olympic champion El Bakkali, 27, timed 8min 03.53sec with Girma clocking 8:05.44.
Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot recovered from falling at the first obstacle on the final lap to take bronze (8:11.79).
Tausaga takes surprise discus gold
Laulauga Tausaga pulled off a surprise win in the women’s discus final, dashing her fellow American Valarie Allman’s hopes of adding gold to her Olympic crown.
The 25-year-old won with an effort of 69.49m, improving her personal best by more than four metres, with Allman taking silver (69.23m).
Defending champion Feng Bin of China had to settle for bronze (68.20m).
