World Athletics Championships Live Updates: Finals in the 800 Meters, Steeplechase and the 4×400 Meter Relay
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This article originally appeared on Womens Running
Day 9: August 27 Race Report
Kenya Has a New 800 Meter World Champion in Mary Moraa
In the much-anticipated 800-meter final, Team USA athlete Athing Mu went out from the starting gun to lead the field for the first 600 meters. Kenya's Mary Moraa was close behind, not letting Mu get away as she held on in her slipstream.
With 100 meters to go, the race took off with Moraa taking the lead from Mu and pushing for the final sprint. Great Britain's Keely Hodginkson brought out her signature kick and came past Mu in the inside lane.
Moraa crossed the line with a personal best of 1:56.03 and took gold for Kenya for the first time in ten years. Hodgkinson took second with a time of 1:56.34, securing her third silver medal in the distance in three years. Mu crossed the line in third with a season's best of 1:56.61 and secured bronze for Team USA.
The other Team USA athletes competing in the final had outstanding personal performances. Raven Rogers came in fourth with a season best of 1:57.45 and Nia Atkins ran a personal best with a time of 1.57.73 to come in sixth
Winfred Yavi Secures Bahrain's First Steeplechase World Championship Medal
The world record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase was set back in 2018 by Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech and, not surprisingly, she was the athlete who went out in front to set the pace for the final race in the steeplechase.
The race settled in with no major mishaps and, with four laps to go, the lead group started to pull away with Chepkoech, Bahrain's Winfred Yavi, and Kenya's Faith Cherotich. This group pushed to increase the pace, and the other athletes started to fall back. As the bell rang on the final lap Yavi took control of the race and flew ahead, breaking the line in 8.54.29 with a world-leading time this season. Kenya secured the rest of the podium with Chepkoech taking the silver medal and Cherotich taking bronze.
Team USA's Courtney Wayment came 15th with a time of 9.25.90.
Bol and Team Netherlands Storm to Gold in the 4×400 Meter Relay Final
The 4×400 relay is always an anticipated event to end the track events at a championships. With Team USA's disqualification, the favorites were Team Jamaica, Great Britain, and the Netherlands, and the jury was out as to who would take the top spot on the podium.
With the race underway, the teams settled in for lap one. With handoffs complete, Jamaica's Javine Russell started the second leg in first place, with Great Britain's Amber Anning giving chase. Netherland's Lieke Klaver fell off slightly and Team Canada started to make a move. The Dutch athlete, however, clawed back to be in a good position to pass off to her teammate Cathelijn Peeters for the third leg.
The third lap roared into action with teams Jamaica Great Britain and the Netherlands holding their top positions. But it was always going to be the final lap where the excitement really took off.
Jamaica started the lap solidly out front with Stacy Ann Williams taking the anchor leg. Following behind, Nicole Yeargin took the baton for Great Britain and the prestigious Femke Bol for Team Netherlands. In the last 100 meters, Bol engaged another gear entirely and showed why she is one of the most feared female athletes at the 400 distance. She flew past both Great Britain and Jamaica and took the gold in world-class style. Team Jamaica had to settle for silver and Great Britain for bronze.
Day 8: August 26 Race Report
Team USA Holds off the Jamaicans To Take Home Gold in the 4×100 Meters Relay Final
Team USA's fastest foursome of Tamari Davis, TeeTee Terry, Gabby Thomas, and Sha'Carri Richardson, took home the gold medal and set a Championship Record in the 4×100 meters relay final. With a time of 41.03 they crossed the finish line just ahead of Team Jamaica with a 41.21, and Team GB at 41.97. Anchor runner Sha'Carri Richardson looked relaxed as she took the baton from teammate Gabby Thomas, who shouted, 'Go, go, go!' as Richardson headed for the finish line.
The women took the gold medal just after the U.S. men's gold-winning performance in the same race a few minutes earlier. These relay wins mean the women and men of Team USA have each taken 9 world titles in the 4×100 meter relay. Heading into Paris next year, the U.S. sprint team is setting the scene for some great competition at the Olympics.
Kipyegon Chases History and Wins Gold in the 5000 Meters Final
After breaking two world records this year, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon added another gold medal to her collection by winning the 5000 meter final. In a breathtaking 200 meter sprint showdown with Netherland's Sifan Hassan, and fellow countrywoman Beatrice Chebet, Kipyegon crossed the finish line in 14:53.88.
This year's field was unparalleled in its depth and it was always going to be a competitive race to the finish line.However, Kipyegon, who is the current World Record holder at the distance, ultimately took the final crown of the women's distance races at these world championships.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – AUGUST 26: Quanera Hayes misses the hand off to Alexis Holmes of Team United States in the Women’s 4x400m Relay Heats during day eight of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 26, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Team USA Disqualified in the 4×400 Meters Relay Heats
In an unexpected and devastating race, Team USA was disqualified from the 4×400 meter heats by passing the baton outside of the required zone in the handoff between the third and final leg of the race.
Speaking afterwards, third runner Quanera Hayes explained '[Great Britain's Yeagin] cut me off and it threw off my momentum. I tried to get [the baton] to her, but we missed it."
Up until that moment, all had been going to plan for Team USA. They started out well, battling for the top spot with Team GB for the first three laps. The moment happened quickly, and in just a few meters, Team USA's dreams of dominating the final were brought to an abrupt end.
Team GB ultimately won the heat, with Belgium and Italy taking the qualifying spots in tomorrow's final
In heat one, there were no surprises as Jamaica went out front from the first lap. Team Canada raced smart and came in second with the Netherlands, anchored by their 400 meter specialist Femke Bol, came in third to secure their automatic qualifier for the final.
The final is set for tomorrow, August 27, 3:50 P.M. ET and is the last event on the track of the championships.
Chase Ealey Wins Shot Put Gold for Team USA
Out to defend her World Champion title from last year's competition in Eugene, Chase Ealey took home gold in the shot put, consolidating her position as one of the best field athletes for the USA.
Ealey threw a season's best of 20.43 meters, closely followed by Canada's Sarah Mitton at 20.08. China's Lijiao Gong completed the podium with a 19.69 meter throw for the bronze medal.
Day 7: August 25 Race Report
Jackson Takes Gold in the 200 Meters Final with Thomas and Richardson Completing the Podium
Jamaica's Shericka Jackson had everything to run for in this final after the 100 meter results, where she was second to Sha'Carri Richardson. In the end, there was no contest as Jackson stormed to victory and broke the championship record, running a 21:41. This time inches her closer and closer to Florence Griffith-Joyner's World Record of 21.34, set in 1988.
Team USA excelled with silver and bronze medals earned, respectively, by Gabby Thomas with a time of 21.81 and Sha'Carri Richardson, running a personal best of 21.92.
The distance between Jackson and Thomas represented the largest margin of victory since Allyson Felix won the 200 meters in Osaka in 2007. Jackson's confident performance set her up as a contender to breaking Griffith-Joyner's long-standing world record.
RELATED: Sha'Carri Richardson Wins 100-Meter Gold At The World Championships
4 x100 Meters Relay Heats
Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce has run every position in the relays for Jamaica. Today she lined up for the anchor leg. Her teammates set her up so no one could touch her as she took the final 100 meters for Jamaica for first place in heat one. The team from Great Britain took second place easily with Annie Tagoe as their anchor athlete, while Team Switzerland hung on for third place and qualification for the final.
Team USA lined up in heat two and crossed the finish line first with Ivory Coast in second place and the Italian team coming in third. However, there was a tight handover of the baton as Twanisha Terry handed off to Tamara Clark dangerously close to the end of the passing zone.
The finals are set for tomorrow, August 26, 3:50 P.M. ET.
U.S. Athletes Mu, Akins and Rogers All Qualify for the 800 Meter Final
In heat one of the 800 meters semifinals, Olympic silver medalist Keeley Hodgkinson from Great Britain led the roster of athletes into the last lap. Getting into the right position on the track is crucial in the 800-meter race so as to avoid getting boxed in. American Nia Akins found herself in that position, but she confidently made the move to the outside and crossed the line second with a time of 1:58.61 to qualify for the final with Hodgkinson in first place clocking a 1:58.48.
Olympic bronze medalist United States' Raevyn Rogers showed her pedigree in the second heat by running confidently. She was overtaken in the last few meters by Jemma Reekie from Great Britain (2.00.28) but completed the job of the day, which was to proceed to the final with a time of 2:00.47.
Heat three brought some unexpected drama when, 300 meters to go, Athing Mu almost went down becoming entangled with Prudence Sekgodiso from South Africa. She twisted herself around, reset, and, showing her experience at running 400 meters, came back strong into the group. Mary Morra from Kenya came in first place with 1:58.48 and Mu followed with 1:58.78.
In the 800-meters semifinals, the top two finishers from each of the three heats proceed to the final with the next two time qualifiers.
RELATED: U.S. 800 Meter Champion Nia Akins Excels in Her "Junior Year"
The 800-meters final will take place on Sunday, August 27, 2:45 P.M. ET.
Day 6: August 24 Race Report
Dutch Phenom Femke Bol Runs to Victory in 400M Hurdle Final, and American Shamier Little Finishes Second
With American Sydney McLaughlin out of the 400-meter hurdles, several women stepped up to deliver explosive performances at the 400-meter finals. The clear favorite, Femke Bol, from the Netherlands, ran a poised race from the gun, though she was chased closely by Shamier Little, Rushell Clayton, and others.
A burst of speed from Bol in the beginning paid off in the final two hurdles as she widened her gap from the field and finished in 51.70. Earlier in the championships, Bol fell during the mixed 4 x 400 relay, but her specialty in the 400-meter hurdles was clear redemption, as well as the second-best performance of this event in the history of the world championships, following McLaughlin's 2022 performance at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon (50.68).
Shamier Little finished second in 52.80, the fifth-fastest woman of all-time at this event, while Jamaica's Rushell Clayton close behind in third (52.81). U.S. runner Anna Cockrell finished strong in fifth, a personal best, in 54.19.
Jamaica’s Danielle Williams Pulls a Stunning Win by 1/100th of a Second in the 100M Hurdles Finals; USA's Kendra Harrison Finishes Third
The 100-meter final in the hurdles was decided by, quite literally, a hair's length. Four of the women who lined up to this evening's final have medaled at either Worlds or the Olympics, so the competition was about as stiff as it could get.
This included Nia Ali, 34, from the U.S., 2019 world champion and mother of three; Danielle Williams, from Jamaica, 2015 world champion; 2020 Olympic Tokyo gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, from Puerto Rico, and America Kendra "Keni" Harrison, 30, who once set the world record in the 100-meter hurdles in 2016.
The leaders ran a tight race covering the 100 meters and 10 hurdles, but it was Williams who ultimately came out on top in 12.43, inching ahead of Camacho-Quinn, from Puerto Rico, by 1/100th of a second, in 12.44. Harrison rounded out the podium in third with a 12.46 finish.
Americans Gabby Thomas and Sha'Carri Richardson Advance to the 200M Final
Gabby Thomas, 26, took the first heat in the 200-meter semi-final, with a decisive time of 21.96. Thomas is an Olympic silver and bronze medalist. After coming strong off the blocks, Thomas lost a little traction on the turn to Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, but regained the lead with a strong kick in the last 50 meters to take her performance into the final.
In the stacked third heat, which commentators described as “The Heat of Death,” Sha'Carri Richardson, 23, secured the automatic spot into the final with 22.20, but did not outkick the favorite, Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, who won the heat with a level of calm in 22.00. Marie-Josee Ta Lou, from the Ivory Coast, claimed the third spot in this third semi-final heat, with 22.45, which narrowly took the American Kayla White out of contention for the final 200-meter race with her finish of 22.34.
The 200-meter final will take place tomorrow, August 25, 1:40 P.M. MT.
Day 5: August 23 Race Report
In A Taste Of What’s To Come In Finals, Sifan Hassan and Faith Kipyegon Battle In The 5,000M
After a fall in the 10,000 and a defeat by Kipyegon in the 1,500, Sifan Hassan went head to head again with the Kenyan world record holder. Hassan ran a dominant race to win the second heat of the women’s 5,000M.
Despite a mid-race challenge from world-record holder Kipyegon, the Dutch athlete held an assertive pace to dilute the field over the final 2,000M.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet won the first heat in a blazing 14:57:70, while Americans Alicia Monson and Elise Cranny qualified for the finals while Natosha Rogers placed ninth and will not advance. The women’s 5,000M final is slated for August 26th at 2:50 ET.
Courtney Wayment Advances, Emma Coburn and Krissy Gear Are Out of Steeplechase Final
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises on day five of the World Championships in Budapest was Emma Coburn’s failure to advance to the finals. In the day’s second heat, Coburn struggled to hold the pace set by Kenya’s Faith Cherotich and Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew, who went on to finish first and second respectively. Coburn was in the mix until a hamstring injury that has been plaguing her for months forced her to pull back, before finishing in 11th. Coburn was the world champion in 2017, and an Olympic bronze medalist in 2016.
Coburn said the injury has been an issue prior to the USATF Outdoor Championships, and this was the first time she had competed since the outdoor champs, forcing the injury to flare.
In the first heat, Team USA’s Courtney Wayment advanced with a fourth-place finish in 9:20:60. She will be the only American in the women’s steeplechase final. American Krissy Gear finished heat three in seventh place, just two spots shy of qualifying, after the race was led by Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech who ran the day’s fastest time in 9:16:41. The women’s steeplechase final is set for August 27th at 3:10 ET.
Athing Mu Dazzles In Custom Spikes
Just a few weeks ago, it was unclear if the U.S.’s Athing Mu would compete in Budapest, but compete she did – in custom blue, bedazzled spikes. Mu won her heat in 1:59:59. Mu went out hot, and faded slightly but was able to hold off Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin and the chase pack.
Two of the other three Team USA team members made it to qualify for Friday’s semifinals. Nia Akins won heat five with the fastest time of the day in 1:59:19 to advance, while Raevyn Rogers got second in her heat.
Marileidy Paulino became the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win an individual title at the World Championships in with a win in the 400M in 48.76.
The Sha’Carri Richardson Show continues in Budapest
No surprises in the 200 as Sha’Carri Richardson led the 200M, alongside team USA teammate Gabby Thomas who also won her respective heat, while Shericka Jackson won the third heat. After a triumphant victory in the 100M on Monday, August 21st, Richardson continues to dominate with a win of her preliminary heat in the 200. Richardson eased to victory in 22.16 seconds, the fastest time of the day to secure her spot in Thursday’s finals. The 23-year-old phenom will face Shericka Jackson, the fastest 200m runner in history, who also won her heat in just 22.51.
The USA’s Gabby Thomas won the fifth heat in 22.26 to advance to the finals, which are shaping up to be a major showdown, featuring Great Britain’s Doha world gold Medalist Dina Asher-Smith who won her heat in 22.46.
Katie Moon and Nina Kennedy Share Gold At Championships
American Katie Moon has won her third consecutive global pole vault title and will share the gold with Australian athlete Nina Kennedy.
Rather than go to a jump-off after neither athlete cleared 4.95 meters, Moon and Kennedy chose to share the title. Moon won gold in Tokyo and last year’s worlds.
Day 4: Tuesday August 21 Race Report
It’s not a question of whether Faith Kipyegon will win the 1500-meter final, but by how much. Catch up on all the action from Budapest.
Faith Kipyegon Wins Unprecedented Third 1500 Meter World Title
The GOAT does it again! Kenya's Faith Kipyegon led from start to finish in the 1500-meter final to defend her world title. The two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 has been on fire this year, setting world records not only in this event but also the mile and the 5,000.
Kipyegon controlled the race from the gun, going straight to the front and taking it out fast enough that no one dared pass. Rival Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands characteristically went straight to the back of the pack. Hassan made her move at the bell. But Kipyegon was ready. As Hassan worked her way through the field, Kipyegon pulled away from it.
Kipyegon crossed the line with no one in sight to win an unprecedented third world title in this event. She took home gold at the world champs in 2017, the year before her daughter Alyn was born, and again in 2022.
Hassan battled down the final straightaway with 21-year old Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia, who held Hassan off for silver. Hassan stayed on her feet this time to take home bronze. And Ireland's Ciara Mageean nearly managed to hang onto the coattails of Welteji and Hassan for fourth and an Irish national record of 3:56:61. American Cory McGee finished in 10th.
If you're sad this highly anticipated event is over, never fear. Kipyegon and Hassan will go head-to-head once again in the 5,000 meters on Sunday.
U.S. Shocks World with 1-2 in the Discus
She almost didn't qualify to be here. Now she's the world champion. After just squeaking under the world standard during the sixth and final round at USAs, America's Laulauga Tausaga set a huge personal best to earn America's first-ever world title in the discus.
She went from 12th place to world champion in just two rounds.
On the third round, Tausaga dropped a massive throw for a personal best of 65.56 meters. That brought her up from 12th to fifth. The 25-year-old from Hawaii knew she might have yet another breakthrough in her. She also knew she had nothing to lose. Tausaga went for it on the fourth round and fouled. On the fifth round she let loose for the throw of her life, smashing her personal best by yet another four meters. It was good enough to nail down the gold.
"I can't tell you what it means right now because I still can't believe it," Tausaga told NBC.
Tausaga overcame stiff competition to secure her title, including from her U.S. teammate Valarie Allman. Allman came into the meet as the defending OIympic champion and 2022 world champs bronze medalist. She wanted the win, and ended up throwing less than three tenths of a meter shorter than Tausaga to take home silver and secure America's one-two punch in the event. It's the first time the U.S. has ever earned silver and gold at the world champs. Bin Feng of China earned the third podium spot.
American Women Poised to Go Head-to-Head with Netherland’s Femke Bol in 400 Meter Hurdles Final
All eyes will be on American Shamier Little in the 400 meter hurdle final tomorrow. Little took advantage of her leg speed for a strong start in the semi and only improved from there. Running with confidence and poise, she pulled away from the field all the way to the finish to win her heat and clock the fastest time of the day.
The 2022 U.S. Olympian Anna Cockrell ran a strong final 50 meters to finish second in her heat and put two Americans in the final against Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who is out for revenge after her devastating fall in the 4×400 mixed relay.
For the first time in her decade of dominance on the world stage, Dalilah Muhammad will not win a medal at the world championships. Muhammad finished third in her heat of the semis, just missing out on a finals spot.
The Olympic and world champs gold medalist had a rough start to the season, fighting multiple bouts of COVID and injury. But with eyes already set on the impending Olympic year, she was gracious in defeat.
"This is just a stepping stone for 2024,” Muhammad told NBC after the race. It’s not the end of the road. I’m going to go home, get healthy, and get ready for 2024."
All Three U.S. Women Advance in 100 Meter Hurdles
Day four started off hot for Team USA, with all three women earning spots in in the next round of the 100 meter hurdles. After getting disqualified in the final at the world champs last year, Kendra Harrison is one step closer to redemption. The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist threw down a world-leading time of 12.24 to win her blazingly-fast heat. Her time was just four-hundredths of a second shy of her personal best from 2016.
American Nia Ali also won her heat, and Masai Russel took second in hers to ensure all three U.S. women earned a coveted big Q for tomorrow’s semi-final.
Day 3: Monday August 21 Race Reports
In probably the stand-out performance of the Word Championships so far, Sha’Carri Richardson secured her name as the fastest woman in the world by winning the 100 meter final in Budapest.
Sha'Carri Richardson Wins 100-Meter Gold at the World Championships
Sha'Carri Richardson just stunned the world on Monday evening. Stunned everyone in the track and field world. Stunned everybody in the women's 100-meter finals at the World Athletics Championships. Stunned everyone, except herself. Because winning a world championship gold medal is exactly what she said she was going to do.
The ever-confident 23-year-old Nike-sponsored sprinter from Dallas won the world championship title in the 100-meter dash on Monday evening in Budapest, Hungary, outrunning one of the fastest and deepest fields ever assembled in a meet-record and career-best time of 10.65 seconds.
Read the full race report from the 100-meter final in Budapest.
Day 2: Sunday August 20 Race Reports
Anna Hall Upgrades to Silver in the 2023 World Championships
The 2022 World Championships bronze medal holder Anna Hall gave it her all 800 meters, last event in the heptathlon. In doing so she upgraded her podium spot for 2023 and took home the silver for Team USA.
Going into the final event of the heptathlon, Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson was leading the points table, followed by Netherland's Anouk Vetter, and Hall ranking third.
After two days of competition, the 800 meters is a tough race to run on a tired body and the heat was in the low 90s in the stadium. Hall had to get three seconds on Johnson-Thompson to take the gold. She won the two-lap race by a clear margin over the British athlete, but short of the gap she needed to take gold.
Speaking about the two days of competition, Hall shared, 'I faced a lot of adversity physically and emotionally. I ran my heart out [there today], and I am hungrier than ever for next year.'
Cory McGee Solidly Earns Her Place in the 1500 Meter Final
Cory McGee crossed the line with a smile after running 4:02.71 for fourth place in the first semi-final. The first 6 athletes in each heat go through to the final.
Talking about tactics, she shared 'Everyone at this level s good. I knew as long as I put myself in second or third, I know can close with them.' She signed off saying, 'You have the get the job done, and I did that today.'
In heat two, the big names of the distance lined up and pushed a super fast pace with Faith Kipyegon crossing the line first in 3:55.14 To put that time into context, 3:54.99 is the American record for this distance. Nikki Hiltz ended their 1500-meter journey at the championships and did not progress to the final.
Other notables were Netherland's Sifan Hassan and Great Britain's Laura Muir who both ran season bests to move to the final. Ethiopia will be represented by Diribe Welteji who had the second fastest time of 3:55.18 behind Kipyegon.
The finals of the 1500 meters is Tuesday August 22nd at 3:50 PM (ET).
The Battle for 100-Meter Dominance Starts
Under a beating 90 degree sun in Budapest, the fastest women in the world set the scene for the 100 meter crown.
Representing the stars and stripes, all U.S. athletes qualified. Sha'Carri Richardson, dramatically checked the box with the fastest time in the heats of 10.92. This was after a tense few minutes following a controversial start for Great Britain's Imani Lansiquot, who ran under protest. Speaking of the delay while the officials conversed, Richardson commented she 'was taking the time, resetting and preparing; these moments can happen. I focus on my lane and not what's going on.'
Brittany Brown pushed for first in her heat with 11.02, beating Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith to the finish line. Tamari Davis rounded out the the Americans qualifying with a 11.06.
Other notable performances were St Lucia's Julien Alfred, the only person to win against Sha'Carri Richardson the year. Not forgetting the Jamaicans, the trio of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natasha Morrison, and Shericka Jackson were all on cruise control to move through to the next round.
The semi-finals will play out at 2:35 PM (ET) on Monday August 21 and the finals, soon after at 3:50 PM (ET).
Poland's Paulino Impresses in the 400-Meter Heats, Disappointment for Wilson
With Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone pulling out of the World Championships, Team USA's 400-meter roster is made up of Talitha Diggs, Britton Wilson, and Lynna Irby-Jackson.
Irby-Jackson and Diggs both qualified for the semi finals for Team USA running 50.81 and 50.87 respectively. However, there was disappointment for Britton Wilson, who entered the championships as the third-fastest 400m runner this year, but left the track with assistance from the medical team.
In other camps, Poland's Marileidy Paulino was the fastest qualifier with an impressive 49.90, after opting out of the mixed 4x400m relay event yesterday. The current world champion, Shaunae Miller-Uino from the Bahamas, who is only a few month post-partum, missed out on advancing further, but has her sights on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The story of the 400-meter track lap has only just begun.
The semi-finals of the 400 meters will take place on Monday August 21st at 3:12 PM (ET).
Day 1: Saturday August 19 Race Reports
Rain may have tried to get in the way, but day one was all fireworks at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Team USA took home gold and a world record in the mixed 4×400, Alicia Monson carved her name on the world stage in the 10,000, and Anna Hall leads in the heptathlon. The Netherlands came tantalizingly close to one of their best days ever on the world stage. But it goes home empty-handed after not one but two disastrous falls just feet from victory.
Team USA Wins and Sets World Record in Mixed 4x400m After Another Dutch Nosedive
It was the day of the flying Dutchwomen. But not in the way they dreamed. Just 23 minutes after Hassan made full body contact with the track, once again it was the Netherland's gold medal for the taking. And once again, they left the track empty handed.
In the final event of the night, Team USA knew it would need to build a strong lead going into the final leg if it wanted to hold off the Netherlands and their anchor Femke Bol. She'd previously run 49.26 as anchor--nearly a second faster than Team USA's final leg Alexis Holmes, whose PB was 50.32.
Things were not looking promising when Bol took the baton in first for the final lap of the track. But in the race of her life, Holmes surged to within half a stride of Bol on the final stretch. Bol seemed to be inching away just enough to win the race, when her forward lean catapulted into a full-on face-first collision with the track.
Holmes ran an astonishing 48.82 personal best to bring home not only the gold but also a world record for Team USA. She credits this breakthrough to a mentality shift that empowered her to close on world record-holder Bol.
“I wasn't thinking much, I went into auto pilot and stayed as composed as I could,” Holmes says. “I felt strong and felt myself inching closer and told myself just get to the line and worked out for the best.”
Bol crossed the line in third, but without the baton which resulted in a disqualification for the Netherlands. Great Britain and the Czech Republic claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
The average age of the record-setting American relay team composed of Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling, and Holmes is just 22 years old. The future looks bright.
Ethiopia Sweeps Podium, Alicia Monson Fights for Fifth in Shocking 10,000 Meters
It was fan favorite Sifan Hassan's race until she flew into the air and smacked onto the track with just meters to go. Her shocking fall opened the race for team Ethiopia to sweep the podium. American Alicia Monson hung on until the very end, claiming fifth and proving that American distance running is alive, well, and knocking at the door of the world's best.
The distance events kicked off in style in front of a packed stadium under the lights in Budapest. With temperatures lingering in the low 80s, the runners took it out at a pedestrian 36-minute pace. American Natasha Rogers ran at the helm for the first half, with teammates Monson and Elise Cranny comfortably on the rail not far behind.
Doubling back from the 1,500 meters prelim this morning, Hassan immediately went to the very back of the pack. While she may have been out of sight, she was certainly not out of mind. With 5,000 meters to go, Ethiopians Gudaf Tsegay, Ejgayehu Taye, and defending world champ Letesenbet Gidey worked together as a team in trading off the lead and grinding down the pace. Team Kenya sat right on their heels.
With one lap to go, just 11 athletes remained in the front pack. Monson looked calm and collected near the front. Seemingly out of nowhere Hassan appeared and took the lead. She put that middle distance speed to work, obliterating the field as she opened up her lethal stride. On the final straightaway Tsegay and Hassan duked it out stride-for-stride in the race for gold, with Tsegay’s teammates Gidey and Taye hot on their heals. And then, with the finish line just feet away, Hassan went flying into the air and onto the ground. She remained down on the track in shock as Tsegay, Gidey, and Taye surged across the line to claim gold, silver, and bronze, respectively, all clocking under 31 minutes and 30 seconds.
Monson has been working on her finishing kick and it showed. She took fifth, just a 10th of a second behind Irine Jepchumba Kimais of Kenya. Cranny and Rogers finished 12th and 14th, respectively, rounding out a solid showing for Team USA. Hissan picked herself up and made it the final few feet across the line for 11th. She will return for the 1,500 meters semi-finals tomorrow and the 5,000 meters next Saturday, August 26.
American Anna Hall Leads Heptathlon After Day One
Multisport fans, it's a great day to be an American! After day one, American Anna Hall leads over 2019 World Champ Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain, 3998 points to 3908.
The weather delay meant that the heptathletes' day got even longer. But that didn't seem to faze Hall, who blazed a 12.97 in the 100 meter hurdles and powered through a niggle to jump 1.80 meters in the high jump. She received some physical therapy in between the morning and evening sessions, and it must have worked. Hall put down 14.54 meters in the shot put and a 23.56 in the 200 meters to finish the day in first.
Fellow Team USA members Chari Hawkins and Taliyah Brooks stepped up to end the day in third and fourth place respectively.
Can Hall improve on her bronze medal performance at last year's world champs? Find out tomorrow for the final events which include long jump, javelin and the 800m.
The U.S. Women Advance to the 1500m Semi-Finals
The 1500m began as one of the most anticipated races of the first day of competition in Budapest.
All three U.S. athletes-Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson, and Cory McGee-have advanced past the first qualifying heats and will compete in the semi-finals.
They are joined in the semi-finals by their key international counterparts; Great Britain's Laura Muir, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon and Sifan Hassan, who was born in Ethiopia and competes for the Netherlands. Hassan is taking on three distances, the 1500m, 5000m as well as lining up for the 10,000m later this evening. She won an unprecedented two gold medals and one bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in the same distances.
The women's 1500m semi-finals will take place on Sunday August 20 at 11:00 AM ET
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – AUGUST 19: Alexis Holmes of Team United States competes in Heat 1 of the 4x400m Mixed Relay during day one of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 19, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Team USA Will Defend Its 4x400m Final
The United States mixed 4x400 relay team qualified for tonight's final after coming in first place out of the heats. In each of the two heats, the top three teams had the opportunity to automatically qualify, with the next two fastest teams rounding out the eight final teams.
Team USA in the heats was made up of Ryan Willie, Rosey Effiong, Justin Robinson and Alexis Holmes.
The mixed 4x400m relay final will take place Saturday August 19 at 3:47 PM ET
While You’re Waiting
Plan your viewing schedule and learn about the top athletes representing Team USA.
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