IT WAS A NIGHT OF FIRSTS for Chase Ealey: first individual U.S. medal of the ’22 WC; first American woman to win the WC shot; first woman to win the world title on her first throw; first spinner to win Outdoor gold.
When she uncorked a 67-2¾ (20.49), it was the longest first-rounder since Germany’s Astrid Kumbernuss reached 67-11½ (20.71) in ’97.
After that, the gold wasn’t a foregone conclusion, but it had a feeling of inevitability about it.
Only Olympic champion Lijiao Gong of China would pose a threat. In fact, Gong had more throws over 20m than Ealey (three versus two). In the third round Gong hit 66-4½ (20.23), and then became really menacing in the fifth with a 66-10¾ (20.39). But her last chance fell harmlessly at 65-3¼ (19.89) and Ealey could celebrate.
“When I saw that I was first in the order, my coach and I decided to just go for it and really set the tone,” Ealey said. “We didn’t want to do a nice, easy throw and build. We wanted to show what I had. This was good to ‘one and done’ it.
“I’m really proud, especially to bring home the first gold. It is so surreal. It feels so amazing, especially because I have done it on home soil. Every throw was absolutely big. I do not think I can describe the atmosphere at the stadium today. But since the moment I walked out I felt this day was so important and the cheering and the support of the fans was unforgettable. It will stay deep in my heart.”
For Gong, the silver capped a bit of an off year — she came into the meet with a season’s best of only 64-¼ (19.51). Nonetheless, it added a seventh medal to her World Outdoor collection, matching Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi in the men’s steeple for the most in a single event.
“My current season wasn’t good enough,” Gong said. “I felt I was able to do better — even over 20.50. That is why I’m not so satisfied with this silver medal. I fulfilled all the work we had planned before and expected more.”
The battle for bronze was about as tight as it could be, with both Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder and Canadian Sarah Mitton reaching 64-10½ (19.77). The tiebreaker was that Schilder did it twice, in the second and fifth rounds. The mark set a Dutch Record and the best finish for that nation in the event since Leija Tunks-Koeman’s 9th in ’05. It was her second World bronze of the year, as she also did it indoors.
“I hope this will change my life,” Ealey said. “To be the world champion, as an athlete, is the thing that everyone wants to do once in a lifetime. I feel like I’m just getting started.”
Asked about her trademark elaborate eye makeup, the emotion-filled 27-year-old said, “I always do the makeup, it’s a cool thing.”
But then she laughed, “I don’t always cry it off into oblivion.”
WOMEN’S SHOT RESULTS
FINAL (July 16)
(temperature 73F/23C; humidity 66%)
1. Chase Ealey (US) 67-2¾ (20.49) (x, 3 A)
(67-2¾, 65-½, f, 65-10¼, 64-5¾, f) (20.49, 19.82, f, 20.07, 19.65, f);
2. Lijiao Gong (Chn) 66-10¾ (20.39)
(64-3, 65-1¼, 66-4½, 65-10½, 66-10¾, 65-3¼) (19.58, 19.84, 20.23, 20.08, 20.39, 19.89);
3. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 64-10½ (19.77) NR
(f, 64-10½, f, 64-1, 64-10½, f) (f, 19.77, f, 19.53, 19.77, f);
4. Sarah Mitton (Can) 64-10½ (19.77)
(61-7½, 62-11¼, 62-5¾, f, 62-6½, 64-10½) (18.78, 19.18, 19.04, f, 19.06, 19.77);
5. Auriol Dongmo (Por) 64-4½ (19.62)
(63-9½, 64-4½, 63-7, f, 63-7½, 64-1¼) (19.44, 19.62, 19.38, f, 19.39, 19.54);
6. Jiayuan Song (Chn) 64-2½ (19.57)
(63-¼, 62-6½, f, 63-11½, 64-2½, f) (19.21, 19.06, f, 19.49, 19.57, f);
7. Maddi Wesche (NZ) 63-11¾ (19.50) PR
(60-1¼, 62-7¾, 60-10¾, 61-8½, 60-3, 63-11¾) (18.32, 19.09, 18.56, 18.81, 18.36, 19.50);
8. Jessica Woodard (US) 61-3 (18.67)
(f, f, 61-3, f, 61-1½, f) (f, f, 18.67, f, 18.63, f);
9. Maggie Ewen (US) 61-2 (18.64)
(59-4, 59-11, 61-2) (18.08, 18.26, 18.64);
10. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 60-¼ (18.29)
(f, 60-¼, f) (f, 18.29, f);
11. Fanny Roos (Swe) 59-11¼ (18.27)
(59-11¼, 59-9½, f) (18.27, 18.22, f);
12. Axelina Johansson (Swe) 57-9 (17.60)
(56-5¾, 57-9, 56-7¼) (17.21, 17.60, 17.25).
| first 3 rounds | |||
| Ealey | 20.49*¶ | 19.82 | f |
| Thomas-Dodd | f | 18.29¶ | f |
| Wesche | 18.32 | 19.09 | 18.56 |
| Ewen | 18.08 | 18.26 | 18.64¶ |
| Gong | 19.58 | 19.84 | 20.23 |
| Johansson | 17.21 | 17.60¶ | 17.25 |
| Dongmo | 19.44 | 19.62¶ | 19.38 |
| Schilder | f | 19.77¶ | f |
| Mitton | 18.78 | 19.18 | 19.04 |
| Song | 19.21 | 19.06 | f |
| Roos | 18.27¶ | 18.22 | f |
| Woodard | f | f | 18.67¶ |
| rounds 4 & 5 | |||
| Schilder | 19.53 | 19.77 | |
| Woodard | f | 18.63 | |
| Wesche | 18.81 | 18.36 | |
| Mitton | f | 19.06 | |
| Song | 19.49 | 19.57¶ | |
| Dongmo | f | 19.39 | |
| Gong | 20.08 | 20.39¶ | |
| Ealey | 20.07 | 19.65 | |
| last round | |||
| Woodard | f | ||
| Wesche | 19.50¶ | ||
| Mitton | 19.77¶ | ||
| Schilder | f | ||
| Song | f | ||
| Dongmo | 19.54 | ||
| Gong | 19.89 | ||
| Ealey | f | ||
QUALIFYING
(July 15; auto-qualifier 62-¼/18.90)
Qualifiers: Gong 64-¼ (19.51), Mitton 63-7 (19.38), Dongmo 63-7 (19.38), Schilder 62-10½ (19.16), Thomas-Dodd 62-7¾ (19.09), Song 62-7¼ (19.08), Woodard 62-7¼ (19.08), Wesche 62-2½ (18.96), Ewen 62-2½ (18.96), Ealey 62-2½ (18.96), Roos 61-5 (18.72), Johansson 60-11¼ (18.57) PR;
Non-Qualifiers: Katharina Maisch (Ger) 60-11¼ (18.57), Adelaide Aquilla (US) 60-1¾ (18.33), Julia Ritter (Ger) 59-9½ (18.22), Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 59-8¼ (18.19), Jessica Inchude (Por) 59-1¼ (18.01), Lloydricia Cameron (Jam) 57-11 (17.65), Linru Zhang (Chn) 57-6½ (17.54), Benthe König (Neth) 57-5½ (17.51), María Belén Toimil (Spa) 57-4¼ (17.48), Amelia Strickler (GB) 57-1 (17.40), Sophie McKinna (GB) 56-5¾ (17.21), Dimitriana Bezede (Mol) 55-9 (16.99), Portious Warren (Tri) 54-7½ (16.65), Ana da Silva (Bra) 54-4¾ (16.58), Ivana Gallardo (Chl) 53-1¾ (16.20), Livia Avancini (Bra) 52-11 (16.13), Ischke Senekal (SA) 50-6¼ (15.40).
