IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD from Budapest to Tokyo, albeit with plenty of successful stops on the way including the top of the ’24 Olympic podium. Having traveled it without a loss, Tara Davis-Woodhall took the world title that had eluded her in the Hungarian capital two summers ago.
After leading the qualifying round with a one-and-done 22-7 (6.88), she was seeded to jump first in the final through a WA protocol that “normally” prioritizes position in the governing body’s rankings; apparently officials are left some wiggle room. Regardless of exactly how orders are drawn, Davis-Woodhall threw the gauntlet straight down with a 23-2¾ (7.08).
It was a great effort, better than anyone else other than TDW herself had managed in ’25 but with two other 7-meter-plus jumpers in the final, it was certainly not game over.
Indeed, 2-time world champ Malaika Mihambo of Germany gradually ate into Davis-Woodhall’s lead through rounds 2 to 4, jumping 22-8½ (6.92), 22-9¾ (6.95) and 22-11¼ (6.99).
However, having seen Mihambo fall just a fraction short of the 7-meter or 23-feet (7.01) line — whichever you prefer — Davis-Woodhall responded with a ’25 world-leading 23-4¾ (7.13). This prevailed to take the gold with neither woman able to improve in the fifth and sixth stanzas.
Davis-Woodhall now has a 15-meet win streak with her last defeat having come in Budapest.
“Beside the Olympics, this is one of the main goals in track & field,” said Davis-Woodhall. “It’s awesome to have this medal around my neck. ‘Felipe’ (my Olympic gold medal) now has a friend!”
The former Texas Longhorn and current Kansas State volunteer assistant coach added: “I have put in so much work at practice that jumping 7m shouldn’t be a problem and it’s incredible that I’m able to hit 7m as often as I can.”
Davis-Woodhall also advertised that for ’26 she has her sights set on closing the gap between her 23-6¾ (7.18) PR — set indoors at altitude in ’24 — and Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s long-standing AR of 24-7 (7.49).
“I feel like I can jump 7.40 [24-3½] but I’d have to get it tight, it’s technical,” she said. “I’m only a 5-3 [1.60] woman but it’s there and I just have to hit it perfectly on the board.” Reflecting on her last-round foul with the gold already won, Davis-Woodhall added, “I fouled a big one.”
Behind the leading pair, Colombian surprise package Natalia Linares reached 22-5¾ (6.85) in the second round then equaled her 22-8½ (6.92) PR with her fifth attempt to earn the bronze.
World Indoor winner Claire Bryant and Quanesha Burks finished 5th and 8th with 21-11 (6.68) and 21-8 (6.60) but couldn’t challenge for the medals on a steamy, sticky night when the temperatures reached the mid-80s and humidity was around 70%.
As is often the case, the qualifying round saw several notable names eliminated, none more so than Italy’s Olympic 4th-placer and Diamond League winner Larissa Iapichino, who is No. 3 on the ’25 world list with 23-2 (7.06).
WOMEN’S LONG JUMP RESULTS
FINAL (September 14)
1. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 23-4¾ (7.13) (WL, AL);
(23-2¾, 22-5¼, f, 23-4¾, f, 22-9) (7.08, 6.84, f, 7.13, f, 6.93);
2. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 22-11¼ (6.99);
(21-8, 22-8½, 22-9¾, 22-11¼, f, f) (6.60, 6.92, 6.95, 6.99, f, f);
3. Natalia Linares (Col) 22-8½ (6.92) =PR;
(22-1¾, 22-5¾, 21-10, f, 22-8½, 21-8¾) (6.75, 6.85, 6.65, f, 6.92, 6.62);
4. Hilary Kpatcha (Fra) 22-4½ (6.82);
(21-4¾, f, 22-4½, 22-3, 21-4, 21-1¼) (6.52, f, 6.82, 6.78, 6.50, 6.43);
5. Claire Bryant (US) 21-11 (6.68);
(21-6¾, 21-7¼, 21-4¼, 21-11, 21-8¾, 21-11) (6.57, 6.58, 6.51, 6.68, 6.62, 6.68);
6. Agate De Sousa (Por) 21-10¾ (6.67)
(f, 21-6¾, 21-10¾, 21-9, f, 17-½) (f, 6.57, 6.67, 6.63, f, 5.19);
7. Pauline Hondema (Neth) 21-8 (6.60);
(21-8, 21-6¾, 21-6, 20-10½, 21-6¾) (6.60, 6.57, 6.55, 6.36, 6.57);
8. Quanesha Burks (US) 21-8 (6.60);
(21-1¼, 21-2¾, 21-8, 20-9¾, 20-11¼) (6.43, 6.47, 6.60, 6.34, 6.38);
9. Maja Åskag (Swe) 21-3½ (6.49);
(21-3½, 20-7¾, 20-7, 20-10¾) (6.49, 6.29, 6.27, 6.37);
10. Marthe Yasmine Koala (Bur) 21-3½ (6.49)
(f, 21-3½, f, 19-9½) (f, 6.49, f, 6.03);
11. Esraa Owis (Egy) 20-10¾ (6.37);
(20-3¾, 20-10½, 20-10¾) (6.19, 6.36, 6.37);
12. Chantel Malone (BVI) 20-9¼ (6.33);
(20-3, 20-9¼, 20-5¼) (6.17, 6.33, 6.23).
| * = progression of the leading jump; ¶ = athlete’s best of the day | |||
| first 3 rounds | |||
| Davis-Woodhall | 7.08* | 6.84 | f |
| Mihambo | 6.60 | 6.92 | 6.95 |
| Kpatcha | 6.52 | f | 6.82¶ |
| Bryant | 6.57 | 6.58 | 6.51 |
| Koala | f | 6.49¶ | f |
| Linares | 6.75 | 6.85 | 6.65 |
| Burks | 6.43 | 6.47 | 6.60¶ |
| Hondema | 6.60¶ | 6.57 | 6.55 |
| Malone | 6.17 | 6.33¶ | 6.23 |
| de Sousa | f | 6.57 | 6.67¶ |
| Owis | 6.19 | 6.36 | 6.37¶ |
| Askag | 6.49¶ | 6.29 | 6.27 |
| round 4 | |||
| Koala | 6.03 | ||
| Askag | 6.37 | ||
| Bryant | 6.68¶ | ||
| Burks | 6.34 | ||
| Hondema | 6.36 | ||
| de Sousa | 6.63 | ||
| Kpatcha | 6.78 | ||
| Linares | f | ||
| Mihambo | 6.99¶ | ||
| Davis-Woodhall | 7.13*¶ | ||
| round 5 | |||
| Bryant | 6.62 | ||
| Burks | 6.38 | ||
| Hondema | 6.57 | ||
| de Sousa | f | ||
| Kpatcha | 6.50 | ||
| Linares | 6.92¶ | ||
| Mihambo | f | ||
| Davis-Woodhall | f | ||
| final round | |||
| de Sousa | 5.19 | ||
| Bryant | 6.68 | ||
| Kpatcha | 6.43 | ||
| Linares | 6.62 | ||
| Mihambo | f | ||
| Davis-Woodhall | 6.93 | ||
QUALIFYING (September 13; auto-qualifier 22-1¾/6.75)
Qualifiers: Davis-Woodhall 22-7 (6.88), Kpatcha 22-5¾ (6.85), De Sousa 22-4¼w (6.81), Koala 22-2¼ (6.76), Bryant 22-¾ (6.72), Linares & Hondema 21-10¼ (6.66), Burks 21-9 (6.63), Mihambo 21-9 (6.63), Malone 21-8¾ (6.62), Åskag 21-8¼ (6.61), Owis 21-8 (6.60);
Non-Qualifiers: Alysbeth Felix (PR) & Paola Fernandez (PR) 21-7¼ (6.58), Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 21-6¼ (6.56), Jazmin Sawyers (GB) 21-5½ (6.54), Khaddi Sagnia (Swe) & Anna Matuszewicz (Pol) 21-3¼ (6.48), Ese Brume (Ngr) 21-2½ (6.46), Sumire Hata (Jpn) 21-2 (6.45), Milica Gardašević (Ser) 21-½ (6.41), Nikola Horowska (Pol) 20-11¾ (6.39), Shiqi Xiong (Chn) 20-11¼ (6.38), Alina Rotaru-Kottmann (Rom) 20-10¾ (6.37), Annik Kälin (Swi) 20-10½ (6.36), Ackelia Smith (Jam) 20-9¾ (6.34), Delta Amidzovski (Aus) 20-7¼ (6.28), Irati Mitxelena (Spa) 20-7 (6.27), Plamena Mitkova (Bul) 20-6½ (6.26), Filippa Fotopoulou (Cyp) 20-6¼ (6.25), Samantha Dale (Aus) 20-3½ (6.18), Tyra Gittens-Spotsville (Tri) & Prestina Ochonogor (Ngr) 19-10¼ (6.05), Danni Nolte (SA) 19-0 (5.79).
