60 Meters: Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Italy) 6.41 WL
The pre-champs script suggested that the 60 was going to be a showdown between Italy’s Olympic 100 gold medalist Lamont Marcell Jacobs and defending WIC winner Christian Coleman and so it proved.
In an exhilarating race down the straight, both men were given the same time of 6.41 but Jacobs was finally accorded the verdict by a mere 0.003 after more than a minute of deliberation.
The American looked as though he might just edge out Jacobs and defend his title from 4 years ago after a strong middle third of the race, but he just slightly lost his form over the final 5m to allow Jacobs to claw back the small deficit.
Said the winner, who moved up to No. 4 on the all-time list and is now the fastest non-American ever, “Coming to the final, I knew it was going to be really, really difficult because Coleman and Bracy were running crazy fast. They are really good athletes and Coleman is the WR holder, but I believe in myself and my potential.”
“I thought I had it,” said Coleman, struggling to hide his disappointment. “I really did. He was two lanes away [Coleman 3, Jacobs 5 with Marvin Bracy between them] so I couldn’t see him that well. I knew we both dipped at the same time.
“Obviously, it was the smallest of margins because they took so long to put the result up there. It was a close thing. I can’t win them all. It’s a world-class event with a world-class field so to come out with a silver, I feel good about it. I can feel that I’m getting my rhythm back so I look forward to what I can do outdoors. At this level you’ve got to be perfect, and I just came up a little short.”
Behind the first two, ’14 silver medalist Bracy got on the podium for the second time when he ran a 6.44 PR, his second in Belgrade after leading the morning heats with a 6.46 outing. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
1. Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Ita) 6.41 NR (WL) (=4, =9 W);
2. Christian Coleman (US) 6.41 (AL, =WL) (x, =9 W; x, =9 A);
3. Marvin Bracy (US) 6.44 PR (=9, =20 W; 6, =16 A);
4. Karl Erik Nazarov (Est) 6.58;
5. Adam Thomas (GB) 6.60;
6. Jerod Elcock (Tri) 6.63;
7. Bolade Ajomale (Can) 6.63;
8. Arthur Gue Cissé (CI) 6.69.
HEATS
I–1. Coleman 6.51; 2. Aleksandar Askovic (Ger) 6.61 =PR; 3. Bernat Canet (Spa) 6.63; 4. Ján Volko (Svk) 6.66; 5. Aleksa Kijanović (Ser) 6.80; 6. Craig Gill (Gib) 7.10 PR;… fs—Umar Hameed (Pak).
II–1. Ferdinand Omurwa (Ken) 6.62; 2. Mario Burke (Bar) 6.64; 3. Nigel Ellis (Jam) 6.64 PR; 4. Israel Olatunde (Ire) 6.66; 5. Adrian Brzeziński (Pol) 6.69; 6. Erik Felipe Cardoso (Bra) 6.73; 7. Favoris Muzrapov (Tjk) 6.83 NR; 8. Mohamed Hassan Al-Noubi (UAE) 6.94 PR.
III–1. Cissé 6.55; 2. Shuhei Tada (Jpn) 6.57; 3. Lalu Muhammad Zohri (Ina) 6.58 NR; 4. Stephen Abosi (Bot) 6.62 =PR; 5. Andrew Robertson (GB) 6.62; 6. Dominik Illovszky (Hun) 6.67;… fs—Foday Kallon (SL).
IV–1. Bracy 6.46 PR (=16, x W; =9, x A);
2. Femi Ogunode (Qat) 6.52; 3. Nazarov 6.55 NR; 4. Carlos Nascimento (Por) 6.62 =PR; 5. Giovanni Galbieri (Ita) 6.66; 6. Mateo Vargas (Par) 7.08;… dq—Przemysław Słowikowski (Pol).
V–1. Jacobs 6.53; 2. Elcock 6.63; 3. Imran Rahman (Ban) 6.64 NR; 4. Markus Fuchs (Aut) 6.68; 5. Miles Lewis (PR) 6.69; 6. Hassan Saaid (MDV) 6.87.
VI–1. Travis Collins (Guy) 6.66; 2. Rikkoi Brathwaite (BVI) 6.66; 3. David Vivas (Ven) 6.69; 4. Ali Anwar Al-Balushi (Oma) 6.71; 5. Fabrice Dabla Kokoutse (Tog) 6.87.
VII–1. Ajomale 6.57 =PR; 2. Thomas 6.59; 3. Felipe dos Santos (Bra) 6.66; 4. Sean Safo-Antwi (Gha) 6.71; 5. Hassan Taftian (Irn) 6.75; 6. Benele Simphiwe Dlamini (Swa) 6.98 PR.
SEMIS
I–1. Bracy 6.51; 2. Elcock 6.63; 3. Robertson 6.64; 4. Omurwa 6.64; 5. Ellis 6.65; 6. Burke 6.67; 7. Collins 6.67;… dnf—Rahman.
II–1. Jacobs 6.45 NR (=WL) (=9, x W);
2. Thomas 6.57; 3. Nazarov 6.59; 4. Cissé 6.59; 5. Abosi 6.61 PR; 6. Vivas 6.79;… fs—Tada (Jpn); dnc—Zohri.
III–1. Coleman 6.51; 2. Ajomale 6.58; 3. Ogunode 6.60; 4. Askovic 6.62; 5. Nascimento 6.65; 6. dos Santos 6.67; 7. Canet 8.29;… dnc—Brathwaite.
400 Meters: Jereem Richards (Trinidad) 45.00
In what turned out to be a beautifully competitive race, Trinidadian veteran Jereem Richards had to lean at the wire to keep the 400 gold away from upstart American Trevor Bassitt, heretofore better known as a 400 hurdler.
Richards, a 28-year-old Alabama alum, started in lane 6, taking the lead from the start, recording the fastest first 100 by nearly 0.3 (10.84) and grabbing the advantage at the cut-in, taking Bassitt past the 200 as they clocked 20.84 and 20.96.
On the backstretch, Bassitt made his initial challenge, pulling up to the leader’s shoulder but then faltering and tucking back in when he ran out of straightaway. Richards passed 300 in 32.29 to Bassitt’s 32.39. Coming off the turn he attacked again, taking Richards to the line as the veteran needed to lean hard to clock a gold-winning 45.00 ahead of the PR 45.05 by the unheralded Div. II champion from Ashland.
Carl Bengtström finished hard for bronze in a Swedish Record 45.33. Second American Marqueze Washington crossed 6th in 46.85.
Bassitt had been undefeated this season up to this point, including the USATF title. His 45.05 dwarfs his outdoor best of 46.63; outdoors, his specialty has been the 400 hurdles, in which he made the Trials final last year, placing 8th.
Said Richards, 3 times a World Ranker in the 200, “This was my actual race plan and I stuck to it to a T. I did everything I needed to do to win. I knew going into the race these guys are all quartermilers. What I had against them was my speed, and I used it to pull them out of their comfort zone.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Jereem Richards (Tri) 45.00 NR ((10.84, 10.00 [20.84], 11.45 [32.29],12.71) (20.84/24.16);
2. Trevor Bassitt (US) 45.05 PR (20.96/24.09);
3. Carl Bengtström (Swe) 45.33 NR;
4. Benjamin Lobo Vedel (Den) 45.67 NR;
5. Patrik Šorm (CzR) 46.81;
6. Marqueze Washington (US) 46.85.
HEATS
I–1. Julien Watrin (Bel) 45.88 NR; 2. Bassitt 46.47; 3. Kajetan Duszyński (Pol) 46.75; 4. Isayah Boers (Neth) 47.07; 5. Mazen Al-Yassin (Sau) 47.65.
II–1. Richards 46.69; 2. Mikhail Litvin (Kaz) 46.72; 3. Zakithi Nene (SA) 46.92 PR; 4. Manuel Guijarro (Spa) 47.74; 5. Pau Blasi (And) 49.82.
III–1. Šorm 46.49; 2. Vedel 46.58; 3. Patrick Schneider (Ger) 46.76; 4. Thomas Willems (Aus) 46.77; 5. Quentin Petit (Com) 51.55 PR.
IV–1. Washington 46.66; 2. Boško Kijanović (Ser) 46.88; 3. Pavel Maslák (CzR) 47.31; 4. Jovan Stojoski (Mac) 47.80;… dq—[3]Lucas Carvalho (Bra) [46.90].
V–1. Bengtström 46.45; 2. Christopher Taylor (Jam) 46.48; 3. Bruno Hortelano (Spa) 46.49; 4. Håvard Bentdal Ingvaldsen (Nor) 46.95; 5. Malique Smith (VI) 51.98.
SEMIS
I–1. Richards 46.15; 2. Vedel 46.30; 3. Washington 46.36; 4. Watrin 46.54; 5. Litvin 46.89; 6. Duszyński 47.21.
II–1. Bengtström 45.92; 2. Bassitt 46.26; 3. Šorm 46.55; 4. Hortelano 46.76; 5. Kijanović 46.97;… dnf—Taylor.
800 Meters: Mariano García (Spain)
Any hope the two Americans had for gold burned up as frontrunning Marco Arop played with fire from the gun, hitting the 200 in a 23.97 that left Bryce Hoppel and Isaiah Harris foundering at the back of the pack.
At 400, the Canadian split 50.34, followed by Sweden’s Andreas Kramer (50.62) and Spain’s Mariano García (50.75) with Hoppel in 5th (50.93) and Harris 8th (51.62).
A lap later (1:17.83) the Mississippi State alum started to show the strain, and Spaniard Mariano García and Kenyan Noah Kibet readied themselves for the attack, as a gap emerged between the lead group and the Americans. On the backstretch they pounced, Garcia taking the lead with 100 remaining, Kibet challenging him for every step. With Arop fading fast, that left a medal open.
Hoppel charged, passing wide on the turn. On the final stretch, García took the win in 1:46.20, Kibet claiming silver in 1:46.35. Hoppel salvaged bronze by edging Álvaro de Arriba of Spain, 1:46.51–1:46.58. Harris, having moved up to 5th with a half-lap to go, lost ground and finished 7th in 1:47.00. Arop, for his troubles, landed in 8th at 1:47.58.
Said García, “In the last lap I tried to attack the front and told myself to run fast until the end — till I die.”
“I was kind of expecting Marco to take off like that,” admitted Hoppel, “and I didn’t really play up to it too well. I found myself at the back and started to climb up the field. I almost timed it right but it’s so hard to get round those turns. I should have gone earlier but it is what it is.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Mariano Garcia (Spa) 1:46.20
(50.75/55.45);
2. Noah Kibet (Ken) 1:46.35
(50.83/55.52);
3. Bryce Hoppel (US) 1:46.51
(50.93/55.58);
4. Álvaro de Arriba (Spa) 1:46.58
(51.19/55.39);
5. Andreas Kramer (Swe) 1:46.76
(50.62/56.14);
6. Eliott Crestan (Bel) 1:46.78
(51.41/55.37);
7. Isaiah Harris (US) 1:47.00
(51.62/55.38);
8. Marco Arop (Can) 1:47.58
(50.34/57.24).
HEATS
I–1. Kibet 1:48.31; 2. Hoppel 1:48.77; 3. Guy Learmonth (GB) 1:49.13; 4. Filip Šnejdr (CzR) 1:49.29; 5. Aurele Vandeputte (Bel) 1:49.59; 6. Quamel Prince (Guy) 1:55.85.
II–1. Arop 1:48.13; 2. Kramer 1:48.25; 3. Mostafa Smaili (Mor) 1:48.57; 4. Balázs Vindics (Hun) 1:49.52; 5. Mark English (Ire) 1:51.35;… dnc. Elliot Giles (GB).
III–1. Garcia 1:48.32; 2. Crestan 1:48.53; 3. Djamel Sejati (Alg) 1:49.22; 4. Tony van Diepen (Neth) 1:49.80; 5. Alex Amankwah (Gha) 1:49.96; 6. Charlie Da’Vall Grice (GB) 1:50.17.
IV–1. Harris 1:47.00; 2. de Arriba 1:47.97; 3. Samuel Chapple (Neth) 1:48.09; 4. Collins Kipruto (Ken) 1:48.18; 5. Marc Reuther (Ger) 1:48.63; 6. Charles Hunter (Aus) 1:49.07.
1500 Meters: Samuel Tefera (Ethiopia) 3:32.77
Recent performances suggested that at long last Haile Gebrselassie’s meet record, 3:33.77 from back in ’99, was ripe for an update, which it got.
Four went under the Ethiopian legend’s standard as defending champion Samuel Tefera staved off World Record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen 3:32.77–3:33.02 with a determined kick off the last bend.
Olympic 4th-placer Abel Kipsang (3:33.36) and Teddese Lemi (3:33.59 PR) also bettered the old mark. Americans Sam Prakel (3:38.40) and Josh Thompson (3:44.48) finished 9th and 12th.
Setting aside Tefera’s bona fides — including status as No. 2 on the all-time list with his 3:31.04 from ’19 — the 22-year-old Ethiopian had not reached the finals of either Doha ’19 or Tokyo ’21. Ingebrigtsen came in as the man to beat a month after setting the WR in Liévin, his only ’22 race.
The 21-year-old Olympic champ started in command. Taking the lead from Kipsang just after 300, he hit 400 in 55.81, 800 around 1:54.0 (mistimed by Seiko) and 1200 in 2:51.16. Torrid pacing. After the kilo he and Tefera opened a gap on Kipsang and the strung-out followers.
Ingebrigtsen reached the bell a step ahead. Tefera, however, came to his shoulder with 100 left. The Norwegian held him wide through the turn but Tefera launched on to the straight and got clear half way to the line for the victory.
Tefera, having shifted through a 27.36/13.54 last lap and 100, is now both the fastest- and slowest-ever winner. His winning time in ’18 was 3:58.19.
“The race was very tough, but I feel very happy now because I became the champion,” said Tefera, who underwent Achilles tendon surgery last year after an injury in his Olympic heat.
Said Ingebrigtsen, “I came here to fight for the gold and it was a good fight,” he said. “I didn’t feel that great. Usually I feel a bit tired from 600 to 800 then it starts to loosen up but that didn’t happen tonight so I’m not 100%. Tefera was better than me tonight. I thought I was better than him, having run the record.”
The next day upon return to his home in Sandnes, Ingebrigtsen antigen-tested Covid-19 positive. “Bad timing, but in some way unavoidable. Now it’s all about recovering and getting back to training,” he wrote on Instagram. /Sieg Lindstrom/
RESULTS
1. Samuel Tefera (Eth) 3:32.77 (MR)
(13.54, 27.36, 55.76);
2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:33.02
(13.94, 27.71, 56.25);
3. Abel Kipsang (Ken) 3:33.36 PR
(13.89, 27.65, 56.30);
4. Teddese Lemi (Eth) 3:33.59 PR
(12.16, 27.36, 55.90);
5. Olli Hoare (Aus) 3:34.36;
6. Neil Gourley (GB) 3:35.87;
7. Michał Rozmys (Pol) 3:36.71;
8. Pietro Arese (Ita) 3:37.60;
9. Sam Prakel (US) 3:38.40;
10. Isaac Nader (Por) 3:39.97;
11. Robert Farken (Ger) 3:41.29;
12. Josh Thompson (US) 3:44.48.
HEATS
I–1. Lemi 3:38.25; 2. Ingebrigtsen 3:38.42; 3. Thompson 3:38.61; 4. Rozmys 3:38.61; 5. Ismael Debjani (Bel) 3:39.47; 6. Saul Ordóñez (Spa) 3:43.67; 7. Luke McCann (Ire) 3:44.03.
II–1. Gourley 3:42.79; 2. Farken 3:43.10; 3. Ignacio Fontes (Spa) 3:43.75; 4. Charles Grethen (Lux) 3:44.87; 5. Eric Nzikwinkunda (Bur) 3:46.02 PR; 6. Abdellatif El Guesse (Mor) 3:47.43; 7. Nesim Amsellek (Ita) 3:55.51; 8. Gaylord Silly (Sey) 3:57.16 PR.
III–1. Tefera 3:37.05; 2. Arese 3:37.31 PR; 3. Nader 3:37.60; 4. Prakel 3:38.69; 5. Federico Bruno (Arg) 3:39.34; 6. Jack Anstey (Aus) 3:46.68; 7. George Mills (GB) 3:47.41.
IV–1. Kipsang 3:37.67; 2. Hoare 3:38.43; 3. Abdelatif Sadiki (Mor) 3:39.38; 4. Cameron Proceviat (Can) 3:40.47; 5. Andrew Coscoran (Ire) 3:40.53; 6. Simas Bertašius (Lit) 3:48.48; 7. Abraham Guem (SSD) 3:48.82 PR; 8. Alaa Journi (Lby) 3:59.50 PR.
3000 Meters: Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) 7:41.38
Having confirmed beyond doubt last year that running shorter distances indoors helps his longer racing outdoors, Selemon Barega, the young Olympic champion in the 10,000, stepped down to the 3000 and delivered a gold medal performance in a rough-and-tumble race.
The 22-year-old Ethiopian wasn’t the man initially picked to win here; that honor belonged to teammate Berihu Aregawi, the yearly leader at 7:26.20 who inexplicably delivered a tepid heat performance and failed to advance. So Barega teamed with Lamecha Girma in the hopes of redeeming what the Ethiopians had hoped could be a medal sweep.
A 2:35.39 first kilometer saw multiple lead changes, with Barega typically hanging back a bit after being one of the early leaders. During the slow second kilo (2:39.75), Kenya’s Daniel Simiyu (aka Ebenyo) was the unwilling frontrunner, and he spent several laps running wide and gesturing for others to take over. Finally Girma took the bait.
With little more than 3 to go, Barega moved to the front. For the last three laps, it was the two Ethiopians versus the two Kenyans, with Spain’s Adel Mechaal holding on and Britain’s Marc Scott awkwardly trying to battle traffic on the tight turns.
Barega controlled the race from the front, unleashing a scorching 25.57 last lap to get to the line smoothly in 7:41.38, improving on his silver from ’18. Girma followed in 7:41.63, and Scott was able to fight past the Kenyans for bronze in 7:42.02. Dillon Maggard, the lone American, crossed 9th in a PR 7:46.18.
“I was ready both physically and mentally to fight for gold, said Barega. “With Girma we discussed the possibility of helping each other make the podium. Our tactic has paid off.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Selemon Barega (Eth) 7:41.38;
2. Lamecha Girma (Eth) 7:41.63;
3. Marc Scott (GB) 7:42.02 PR;
4. Daniel Simiyu (Ken) 7:42.97;
5. Jacob Krop (Ken) 7:43.26;
6. Zouhair Talbi (Mor) 7:43.45;
7. Adel Mechaal (Spa) 7:43.60;
8. Maximilian Thorwirth (Ger) 7:45.87;
9. Dillon Maggard (US) 7:46.18 PR;
10. Geordie Beamish (NZ) 7:46.91;
11. Jonas Raess (Swi) 7:47.28;
12. Matthew Ramsden (Aus) 7:49.82 PR;
13. Michael Somers (Bel) 7:51.65;
14. Baldvin Thór Magnússon (Ice) 8:04.77;
… dnc—Isaac Kimeli (Bel).
HEATS
I–1. Girma 7:46.21; 2. Krop 7:46.43; 3. Talbi 7:48.03; 4. Maggard 7:48.58 PR; 5. Raess 7:49.31; 6. Magnússon 7:49.34; 7. Somers 7:51.89; 8. John Gay (Can) 7:57.56; 9. Nursultan Keneshbekov (Kir) 7:59.39; 10. Joel Ibler Lillesø (Den) 8:00.07; 11. Jamaine Coleman (GB) 8:12.76.
II–1. Barega 7:51.42; 2. Beamish 7:51.71; 3. Ramsden 7:52.04 PR; 4. Mechaal 7:52.27; 5. Hicham Akankam (Mor) 7:52.38; 6. Elzan Bibić (Ser) 7:52.78; 7. Sam Parsons (Ger) 7:55.97; 8. Tim Verbaandert (Neth) 7:56.61; 9. Ahmed Jaziri (Tun) 7:58.44; 10. Yassin Bouih (Ita) 7:58.63; 11. Ehab El-Sandali (Can) 8:00.64;… dnf—Ali-Moussa Barak (Cha).
III–1. Scott 7:54.90; 2. Simiyu 7:54.97; 3. Kimeli 7:55.75; 4. Thorwirth 7:56.20; 5. Ossama Meslek (Ita) 7:57.24; 6. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 7:58.59; 7. Jordan Gusman (Mlt) 8:02.13; 8. Mohamed Al-Garni (Qat) 8:02.86; 9. Darragh McElhinney (Ire) 8:06.31; 10. Adrian Wildschutt (SA) 8:09.24; 11. Fernando Daniel Martinez (Mex) 8:15.58.
60 Hurdles: Grant Holloway (US) 7.39 (7.29sf =WR)
As well as partially getting compensation for his shock Olympic defeat, Grant Holloway added a world indoor crown to the outdoor one he won in ’19 when he flew to 60H gold in 7.39.
Unfortunately, despite the superlative mark which would have been a marvelous time on its own, Holloway chose the final to have his worst start of his three races in the Serbian capital and it came in the wake of his almost-flawless WR-equaling 7.29 in his semi just over two hours earlier.
Nevertheless, despite missing out on a $50,000 bonus — which are only awarded for WIC performances that improve the WR — as well as another entry into the annals of athletics history, Holloway was his usual ebullient self.
“To come and run a World Record, a world lead, to win a title and name myself world champion again, it’s a great feeling. As long as I’ve got my team behind me, I feel like we’ll be able to conquer anything,” he reflected.
“The field was packed but all I’ve got to worry about is my lane and my space. I just made sure I stayed focused on myself and ran through with whatever I had to do. I know what I’m capable of, so running that time in the semi wasn’t a shock to me. I work hard for it. All-in-all, it’s exciting to be a world champion again. I’m just soaking it all in. World outdoor and world indoor champion, that sounds great.”
Despite the sluggish start, Holloway was in front by the first barrier and then it was just a case of avoiding accidents, which he did comfortably with some superbly crisp hurdling.
A long way in arrears by the line, France’s Pascal Martinot-Lagarde won his third silver at this meet, following on from medals of a similar hue in ’14 and ’16.
Jarret Eaton, the silver medalist at the last WIC four years ago, was 3rd in 7.53 to make it two members of the U.S. team on the podium.
The one member of the U.S. trio not to make the final was Aaron Mallett, who never recovered properly from a relatively poor start and finished 6th in his semi in 7.67. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
1. Grant Holloway (US) 7.39;
2. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (Fra) 7.50;
3. Jarret Eaton (US) 7.53;
4. Asier Martínez (Spa) 7.57;
5. Chris Douglas (Aus) 7.60;
6. David King (GB) 7.62;
7. Milan Trajkovic (Cyp) 7.62;
8. Wilhem Belocian (Fra) 7.67.
HEATS
I–1. King 7.65; 2. Eaton 7.66; 3. Ruebin Walters (Tri) 7.69; 4. Trajkovic 7.69; 5. Liam Van Der Schaaf (Neth) 7.72 =PR; 6. Gabriel Constantino (Bra) 7.74; 7. Saguirou Badamassi (Nig) 7.82 PR; 8. Luka Trgovčević (Ser) 7.89.
II–1. Rafael Henrique Pereira (Bra) 7.60; 2. Martinot-Lagarde 7.69; 3. Jakub Szymański (Pol) 7.70; 4. Ilari Manninen (Fin) 7.74; 5. Keiso Pedriks (Est) 7.77; 6. Konstadínos Douvalídis (Gre) 7.77; 7. Shuhei Ishikawa (Jpn) 8.07.
III–1. Damian Czykier (Pol) 7.66; 2. Yaqoub Al-Yoha (Kuw) 7.66; 3. Douglas 7.66; 4. Mikdat Sevler (Tur) 7.70 NR; 5. Bálint Szeles (Hun) 7.81; 6. Xiang Ang Chen (SGP) 7.91 PR; 7. Louis François Mendy (Sen) 7.95;… dnc—Jason Joseph (Swi).
IV–1. Petr Svoboda (CzR) 7.59; 2. Aaron Mallett (US) 7.61; 3. Gregor Traber (Ger) 7.63; 4. Martínez 7.67; 5. Nicholas Andrews (Aus) 7.75; 6. Richard Diawara (Mli) 7.98; 7. Joan Camilo Chaverra (Col) 8.01, David Efremov (Kaz).
V–1. Holloway 7.40; 2. Andy Pozzi (GB) 7.60; 3. Syuusei Nomoto (Jpn) 7.66; 4. Abdel-Kader Larrinaga (Por) 7.69; 5. Hassane Fofana (Ita) 7.73; 6. Filip Jakob Demšar (Slo) 7.79; 7. Jeremie Lararaudeuse (Mri) 7.94.
VI–1. Belocian 7.55; 2. Michael Obasuyi (Bel) 7.66; 3. Kuei-Ju Chen (Tai) 7.74 NR; 4. Finley Gaio (Swi) 7.74; 5. Ronald Levy (Jam) 7.75; 6. Enrique Llopis (Spa) 7.76; 7. Wellington Zaza (Lbr) 7.80; 8. Alin Ionut Anton (Rom) 7.87.
SEMIS
I–1. Eaton 7.52; 2. Trajkovic 7.53; 3. Nomoto 7.57 PR; 4. Pereira 7.58 =NR; 5. Al-Yoha 7.59; 6. Walters 7.68; 7. Svoboda 7.71; 8. Sevler 7.75.
II–1. Holloway 7.29 =WR, =AL (=records Holloway ’21);
2. Martinot-Lagarde 7.53; 3. Martínez 7.55 =PR; 4. Pozzi 7.60; 5. Czykier 7.61; 6. Fofana 7.65 PR; 7. Traber 7.67; 8. Chen 7.67 NR.
III–1. Belocian 7.53; 2. Douglas 7.56 NR; 3. King 7.57 =PR (advanced to final on random draw against Momoto); 4. Obasuyi 7.58 PR; 5. Szymański 7.59 PR; 6. Mallett 7.67; 7. Van Der Schaaf 7.69 PR; 8. Larrinaga 7.70.
4 x 400: Belgium 3:06.52
Disaster for the U.S. came in the morning heats of the 4 x 4, when the squad, already having lost the automatic qualifying spot to Belgium on the final leg, saw anchor Isaiah Harris throw his arms out on the last lap and nearly fall from a hamstring pull.
He managed to hold it together for a painful finish and stay ahead of Sweden and Nigeria. His impressive-under-the-circumstances 48.09 finished off a 3:09.11, a performance that missed the final by two spots.
In the evening final, it was Spain that took the race at the break with leadoff Bruno Hortelano in 46.37 just ahead of Belgium’s Julien Watrin (46.40). Just after the exchange, the two teams bumped and pushed hard, Spain getting an advantage but it was Belgium’s Alexander Doom who soon took over with a 46.83 carry. At the halfway, Belgium led, with Spain still close and Great Britain in 3rd.
On leg 3, the Dutch (Terrance Agard) challenged Belgium’s Jonathan Sacoor (47.23), but as they battled the backstretch, Spain’s Manuel Guijarro snuck past on the inside, his 46.42 giving anchor Bernat Erta the lead at the last handoff.
Erta soon opened up an 8m lead on Belgian anchor Kevin Borlée, but he couldn’t hold it. Borlée, running a 46.06, caught him going into the final turn and delivered the gold with a 3:06.52. Spain earned silver in 3:06.82, with the Netherlands in 3rd in 3:06.90. /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Belgium 3:06.52
(Julien Watrin 46.40, Alexander Doom 46.83, Jonathan Sacoor 47.23, Kevin Borlée 46.06);
2. Spain 3:06.82
(Bruno Hortelano 46.37, Iñaki Cañal 47.10, Manuel Guijarro 46.42, Bernat Erta 46.93);
3. Netherlands 3:06.90
(Taymir Burnet 46.91, Nick Smidt 47.28, Terrence Agard 46.95, Tony van Diepen 45.76);
4. Poland 3:07.81
(Tymoteusz Zimny 47.82, Mateusz Rzeźniczak 47.18, Maksymilian Klepacki 46.07, Kajetan Duszyński 46.74);
5. Czech Republic 3:07.98
(Patrik Šorm 46.78, Vít Müller 47.35, Tadeáš Plaček 47.00, Pavel Maslák 46.85);
6. Great Britain 3:08.30
(Ben Higgins 47.44, Alex Haydock-Wilson 46.34, Samuel Reardon 46.94, Guy Learmonth 47.58).
HEATS
I–1. Belgium 3:07.43 (Watrin, Dylan Borlée, Doom, Kevin K. Borlée); 2. United States 3:09.11 (Noah Williams 46.90, Donavan Brazier 46.95, Amere Lattin 47.17, Isaiah Harris 48.09 [inj]); 3. Sweden 3:09.48 (Kasper Kadestål, Nick Ekelund-Arenander, Karl Wållgren, Erik Martinsson); 4. Nigeria 3:09.55 (Emmanuel Ifeayin Ojeli, Sikiru Adeyemi, Timothy Emeoghene, Samson Oghenewegba Nathaniel);… dq—Ecuador (Ecuador (Katriel Angulo, Alan Minda, Anderson Jair Marquinez, Steeven Salas).
II–1. Spain 3:06.98 (Hortelano, Cañal, Guijarro, Erta); 2. Czech Republic 3:07.25 (Maslák, Müller, Plaček, Šorm); 3. Ireland 3:08.63 NR (Cillin Greene, Cathal Crosbie, Brian Gregan, Christopher O’Donnell); 4. Slovakia 3:09.79 NR (Šimon Bujna, Patrik Dömötör, Matej Baluch, Miroslav Marcek).
III–1. Netherlands 3:07.64 (Isayah Boers, Smidt, Jochem Dobber, van Diepen); 2. Poland 3:07.90 (Zimny, Rzeźniczak, Jacek Majewski, Duszyński); 3. Great Britain 3:08.30 (Haydock-Wilson, Higgins, Reardon, Learmonth); 4. Romania 3:13.11 (Remus Andrei Niculita, Mihai Sorin Dringo, Denis Simon Toma, Robert Parge).