BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, August 14 —
WOMEN’S 800: The most eagerly-awaited race of the night had been saved for last. Many observers questioned whether world leader Audrey Werro, one of three Swiss in the 10-woman final, had recovered from falling hard in the semis the day before.
No worries. The 22-year-old moved immediately to share the lead with rival Keely Hodgkinson for the first turn before easing into sole ownership of the front. Driving the pace hard, she led through 400 in 56.35, with Hodgkinson off her shoulder. Femke Broeders-Bol and Jemma Reekie shared 3rd and the rest of the field was already out of contention.
The relentless pace continued on the backstretch, with Reekie letting go as Werro passed 600 in 1:25.67. Hodgkinson kept battling, gritting her teeth coming off the turn for the final clash.
Werro, never wavering, continued to fly, and soon she had a solid lead. She hit the line in 1:54.81, shattering the 1:55.41 meet record that Russia’s Olga Mineyeva set 44 years ago. Hodgkinson never eased up and took silver in 1:55.01. Tying her Dutch record of 1:55.54, Broeders-Bol earned bronze in her first season at 2 laps.
MEN’S 400 HURDLES: “It’s always about the big moment,” declared Karsten Warholm, after vanquishing all challengers in a brilliant and dominating run to his fourth gold medal in his specialty. The Norseman showed no hesitation in bursting to the lead from lane 6, seizing a clear and commanding lead at even the first hurdle. He continued to hammer the backstretch, with Emil Agyekum a lane to his right, keeping pace down the straight. But entering the turn, Warholm shifted and left the German far behind.
On the final stretch, fans had to swivel their heads between watching Warholm’s magnificence and the battle for the remaining medals. The winner crossed the line in 46.63, demolishing the meet record of 46.98 that he set 2 years ago. Agyekum held on for silver in 47.87, with Turkey’s Ismail Nezir bronze in 48.26.
“Honestly, this is the reason I do it,” added Warholm, “to come out here in front of people and to repeat the title.”
WOMEN’S 10,000: Nadia Battocletti made it a double for the second championships in a row, easily outkicking the other two athletes who survived to the bell lap. She finished off her 31:41.17 with a 61.1 final lap, and a sizzling 28.2 for the final 200. Maureen Koster of the Netherlands got silver in 31:45.76 and Jana van Lent of Belgium bronze in 31:47.81.
MEN’S HIGH JUMP: Gianmarco Tamberi, sporting his classic half-beard, scored his fourth gold medal on the basis of a perfect second-attempt clearance at 7-7¼ (2.32). Even though he was defending his title, the jump surprised many, as the Italian has struggled throughout the season and had a best of only 7-3¾ (2.23).
Oleh Doroshchuk pressed hardest, maintaining a clean slate through 7-6½ (2.30), but he couldn’t manage the next bar.
Tamberi dedicated his gold to his daughter — it’s her birthday. “I used my mind, my power to try to do my best when it really mattered. I really needed everyone’s support tonight. I can tell you, it was not easy to come and fight, when you are not ready to fight.”
WOMEN’S DISCUS: Still riding a high after her silver in the shot, Jorinde van Klinken ended the battle before it started, reaching her winning 222-0 (67.67) on the initial throw of the competition. That was nearly 2 meters better than the best from silver winner Shanice Craft of Germany, who hit 215-7 (65.72) in round 3.
MEN’S 200: Not a banner field in the half-lap sprint, with only Zharnel Hughes having broken 20 seconds as a lifetime best. Hughes stood in lane 7, defending champion Timothé Mumenthaler in 4. Italy’s Eseosa Fostine Desalu, who led the semis at 20.08, was in 8. Mumenthaler and Hughes both ran the turn well and looked even at the top of the straight. That’s when Germany’s Owen Ansah, in 6, flew past them. Riding a 2.5 wind he maintained to the finish in 19.95, with Hughes at 20.16. The battle for bronze was one for the judges, as both Desalu and Mumenthaler clocked identical times to the thousandth, 20.251. The Italian got the nod.
“I hope everyone will know my name now,” said Ansah.
HEPTATHLON: A spirited battle so far on Day 1, with Poland’s Adrianna Sułek-Schubert on top with 3968 points, after hurdling 13.29, high jumping 6-1¼ (1.86), throwing 48-¾ (14.65) and sprinting 23.84. Sofie Dokter of the Netherlands, who led the 200 at 23.05, is sitting just 24 points back with 3944. Ireland’s Kate O’Connor has 3926 for 3rd.
In the morning qualifying, Leonie Hügli led the javelin with a Swiss record 204-6 (62.33).
Italy led the men’s 4×4 heats with a 2:58.10 championship record as Belgium also broke 3:00 with a 2:59.35.
Great Britain led the women’s 4×4 heats at 3:22.25, well ahead of the Netherlands’ 3:25.00.
Britain’s Jake Heyward had the fastest time in 1500 qualifying at 3:35.49. Jake Wightman led the second heat at 3:41.57, as all the top names made it through.
RESULTS COMING SOON.
