In a thrilling display of athletic prowess at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Ethan Katzberg and Faith Kipyegon reaffirmed their dominance in their respective events, successfully defending their titles.
Katzberg, the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s hammer throw, commenced the competition with an impressive opening throw of 82.66 meters. However, it was Germany’s Merlin Hummel who took the early lead with a throw of 82.77 meters. Undeterred, Katzberg elevated his performance in the second round, launching the hammer to an extraordinary distance of 84.70 meters. This remarkable throw not only broke the championship record but was also the longest throw seen in two decades, surpassing his own North American record. With this achievement, Katzberg secured his third global title in as many years. Hummel ultimately finished in second place, followed by Hungary’s Bence Halasz, who achieved a throw of 82.69 meters, marking a historic moment where four athletes surpassed the 82-meter mark in a single hammer competition.
In the women’s 1500 meters, Faith Kipyegon showcased her continued excellence, clinching her fourth world title at the distance. The three-time Olympic champion from Kenya clocked in at 3:52.15, finishing significantly ahead of her compatriot Dorcus Ewoi, who set a personal best with her time of 3:54.92. Australia’s Jess Hull claimed the bronze medal with a time of 3:55.16. Kipyegon’s victory places her among the elite in the sport, as she becomes only the second woman to win four world titles in the same track event, following Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s five titles in the 100 meters.
In the men’s high jump, New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr completed his collection of global gold medals. After tying with the world indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok up to a height of 2.28 meters, Woo managed to clear 2.31 meters but fell short of succeeding in his attempts at higher heights. A flawless jump at 2.36 meters by Kerr secured him the championship, with Czechia’s Jan Stefela and Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk sharing the bronze position at 2.31 meters.
In the men’s 110-meter hurdles, American Cordell Tinch capitalized on his training and potential by winning his first world title. Competing in a fiercely contested final where few could be considered favorites due to the absence of defending champion Grant Holloway, Tinch surged to an early lead and completed the race in 12.99 seconds. He was trailed by Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason, who both achieved personal bests, crossing the line in 13.08 and 13.12 seconds, respectively.
The semifinals in the women’s 400 meters saw standout performances, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, known for her prowess in the hurdles, setting a new US record of 48.29 seconds. This performance places her seventh on the all-time world list. Defending champion Marileidy Paulino and 2019 winner Nalwa Eid Naser also advanced with respectable times.
Surprises emerged from the men’s 400 meters as Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi secured his semifinal with a national record of 43.61 seconds. Despite a disappointing outing for Olympic medallists like Matt Hudson-Smith and Muzala Samukonga, Japan’s Yuki Joseph Nakajima proceeded to the next round, eliciting excitement from local fans.
Yulimar Rojas, the four-time world champion in the triple jump, made her return to competition after a two-year hiatus, qualifying for the finals with an impressive first jump of 14.49 meters. Meanwhile, key contenders in the men’s 800 meters, including Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Donavan Brazier, and Mohamed Attaoui, all successfully advanced to the finals, setting the stage for an exhilarating day of competition ahead.
