ATHLETICS: Storybook win for Barshim as Muhammad takes 400 m hurdles in world record time

Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim memorably defended his World Championships title in the high jump (Photo: IAAF)

The Khalifa International Stadium was suddenly much fuller on Friday as national hero Mutaz Essa Barshim competed in the men’s high jump final.

The crowd was completely mesmerized by this event and Barshim was the centerpiece. He had first-time clearances through 2.30 m (7-6 1/2) and there were seven jumpers left when the bar was raised to 2.33 m (7-7 3/4).

Three were eliminated and while Russia’s Mikhail Akimenko and Maksim Nedasekau (BLR) cleared on their first tries, Barshim and Ilya Ivanyuk (RUS) missed their first two attempts.

That brought Barshim up for a third try and with the crowd screaming in support, he arched over the bar cleanly to be able to move on. So did Ivanyuk and four men continued to 2.35 m (7-8 1/2).

Nedasekau missed. Barshim, jumping quickly, sent the crowd into a frenzy with a gorgeous clearance that gave him the lead. Akimenko made it and so did Ivanyuk, and Nedasekau passed to the next height.

That was 2.37 m (7-9 1/4) and Nedasekau missed, counting as his second try, after one miss and a pass at 2.35. The came Barshim, who had been coming back from injury since the middle of July in 2018. But his speed had returned and he sailed easily over the bar to regain the lead and put enormous pressure on the two Russians. Neither could clear and Nedasekau missed again and Barshim defended his world title to the delight of a good, but not capacity crowd that saluted their hero as he jogged the track in a victory lap on a night that will be long remembered in Qatar.

Akimenko and Ivanyuk won silver and bronze, competing as Authorized Neutral Athletes as the Russian federation continues on suspension. Their clearances at 2.35 m (7-8 1/2) was a lifetime best for both.

The women’s 400 m hurdles final came down to a question of Dalilah Muhammad or Sydney McLaughlin? It took a world record from Muhammad to win at the USATF Nationals in Des Moines in late July, but McLaughlin had a 2-1 seasonal lead over her.

Off the start, Muhammad was out like a shot as usual and she and McLaughlin had left the field behind by the fourth hurdle. Coming around the turn, Muhammad continued to lead, but McLaughlin was still close and within striking distance. Muhammad maintained her lead over the last two hurdles, but McLaughlin was closing fast on the run-in, but not enough to deny Muhammad a close win … and another world record!

Muhammad shaved .04 off of her win in July with 52.16 and McLaughlin – still just 20 – was close at 52.23; only Muhammad has ever run faster. It’s the second world record in 69 days for Muhammad and good for a $100,000 world-record bonus.

Sitting together on the track after finishing, both McLaughlin and Muhammad shook their heads at the times. Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton had a lifetime best of 53.74 – no. 5 in the world for 2019 – and won the bronze. Wow!

The men’s 3,000 m Steeple followed, with a hard act to follow, but it lived up to the billing. The pace was honest and defending champ Conseslus Kipruto – injured most of the season – took the lead with two laps to go, but immediately gave it back to Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale.

Wale, Kipruto and world leader Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) were the top three at the bell, but El Bakkali took the lead on the backstraight. He was soon passed by Ethiopian Lamecha Girma, who had the lead over the final water jump with Kipruto chasing and El Bakkali third. Girma led into the straight and over the final barrier, but Kipruto closed with every stride on the run-in and they crossed the line together.

Kipruto’s lean was the decider and he defended his title in a world-leading 8:01.35. Girma was 1/100th back in second with a national record and El Bakkali (8:03.76) won bronze.

The women’s discus was lost in the pandemonium of the high jump and Muhammad’s world record. Cuba’s Jaime Perez and Denia Caballero have been the best in the world in 2019 and they were 1-2 by the second round. Perez threw 68.10 m (223-5) in the second round for the lead, but Caballero took over in the fourth round at 68.44 m (224-6), but Perez was not to be denied. She got back into the ring in the fifth round and sailed the platter out to 69.17 m (226-11) to regain the lead and no one else was close. Two-time champ Sandra Perkovic (CRO) finished third with 66.72 m (218-11).

The final race of the night was the men’s 400 m and after a year in which the U.S. dominated the event, the only American was Fred Kerley in lane five. He got out to a steady start, but Grenada’s 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James looked best at halfway. Around the turn, Steven Gardiner of The Bahamas made a major move and zipped past Kerley into the lead and held it steady for a sensational 43.48 win that moves Gardiner to no. 6 on the all-time list.

Kerley looked good for silver, but he relaxed in the final 10 m and Colombia’s Anthony Zambrano ran through the line for second in 44.15-44.17. It’s Kerley’s first individual World Championships medal.

In the preliminary rounds:

Men/1,500 m: Favorite Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) controlled and won the first semi in 3:36.53, with a blanket finish behind him, including American Craig Engels in fourth (3:36.69), who had to get out of a box on the final turn. The second semi was another mass finish, with Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski flying down the straightaway to win in 3:36.50. Rio 2016 champ Matthew Centrowitz let too many others pass him on the final turn and then had to run wide to get back into contention. He finished fifth in 3:36.77, but made it in on time to the final.

Men/4×100 m: The U.S. got a good start from 100 m World Champion Christian Coleman, but there was a poor pass to Justin Gatlin, who stormed through the second leg to keep the U.S. contention. Mike Rodgers ran well around the turn, but Cravon Gillespie was too fast for him and had to stop to get the baton in time, and then finished third in 38.03, behind Great Britain (37.56, the world lead) and Brazil (37.90).

Canada protested the U.S. pass, saying it was out of the zone, and it was close. No change was made in the results by the end of the session.

In heat two, a very close race at the final exchange was won by South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who ran away in the final 50 m to win in 37.65, the fastest-ever time by an African team. Japan (37.78) and China (37.79) followed closely.

Women/4×100 m: No trouble for the U.S. quartet of Dezerea Bryant, Teahna Daniels, Morolake Akinosun and Kiara Parker, who won heat one in 42.46. Jamaica, with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on second leg, won heat two in 42.11, with Great Britain close at 42.25. Look for mass substitutions for the final.

The men’s 20 km walk is being contested now. Summaries so far:

IAAF World Championships
Doha (QAT) ~ 27 September-6 October 2019
(Full results here)

Men

100 m (wind +0.6 m/s): 1. Christian Coleman (USA), 9.76; 2. Justin Gatlin (USA), 9.89; 3. Andre De Grasse (CAN), 9.90; 4. Akani Simbine (RSA), 9.93; 5. Yohan Blake (JAM), 9.97; 6. Zharnel Hughes (GBR), 10.03; 7. Flilppo Tortu (ITA), 10.07; 8. Aaron Brown (CAN), 10.08.

200 m (+0.3): 1. Noah Lyles (USA), 19.83; 2. Andre De Grasse (CAN), 19.95; 3. Alex Quinonez (ECU), 19.98; 4. Adam Gemili (GBR), 20.03; 5. Ramil Guliyev (TUR), 20.07; 6. Aaron Brown (CAN), 20.10; 7. Zhenye Xie (CHN), 20.14; 8. Kyle Greaux (TTO), 20.39.

400 m: 1. Steven Gardiner (BAH), 43.48; 2. Anthony Zambrano (COL), 44.15; 3. Fred Kerley (USA), 44.17; 4. Denish Gaye (JAM), 44.46; 5. Kirani James (GRN), 44.54; 6. Emanuel Korir (KEN), 44.94; 7. Machel Cedenio (TTO), 45.30; 8. Akeem Bloomfield (JAM), 45.36.

800 m: 1. Donavan Brazier (USA), 1:42.34 (American Record; old, 1:42.60, Johnny Gray, 1985); 2. Amel Tuka (BIH), 1:43.47; 3. Ferguson Rotich (KEN), 1:43.83; 4. Bryce Hoppel (USA), 1:44.25; 5. Wesley Vazquez (PUR), 1:44.48; 6. Adrian Ben (ESP), 1:45.58; 7. Marco Arop (CAN), 1:45.78; 8. Clayton Murphy (USA), 1:47.84.

3,000 m Steeple: 1. Conseslus Kipruto (KEN), 8:01.35; 2. Lamecha Girma (ETH), 8:01.36; 3. Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR), 8:03.76; 4. Getnet Wale (ETH), 8:05.21; 5. Djilati Bedrani (FRA), 8:05.23; 6. Ben Kigen (KEN), 8:06.95; 7. Abraham Kibiwot (KEN), 8:08.52; 8. Hillary Bor (USA), 8:09.33. Also: 10. Stanley Kibenei (USA), 8:11.15; … 12. Andy Bayer (USA), 8:12.47.

5,000 m: 1. Muktar Edris (ETH), 12:58.85; 2. Selemon Barega (ETH), 12:59.70; 3. Mo Ahmed (CAN), 13:01.11; 4. Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH), 13:02.29; 5. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), 13:02.93; 6. Jacob Krop (KEN), 13:03.08; 7. Paul Chelimo (USA), 13:04.60; 8. Nicholas Kimeli (KEN), 13:05.27. Also: 11. Hassan Mead (USA), 13:27.05.

110 m hurdles (+0.6): 1. Grant Holloway (USA), 13.10; 2. Sergey Shubenkov (RUS), 13.15; 3. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (FRA), 13.18; 4. Wenjun Xie (CHN), 13.29; 5. Orlando Ortega (ESP), 13.30; 6. Shane Brathwaite (BAR), 13.61; 7. Devon Allen (USA), 13.70; 8. Milan Trajkovic (CYP), 13.87; disqualified – Omar McLeod (JAM).

400 m hurdles: 1. Karsten Warholm (NOR), 47.42; 2. Rai Benjamin (USA), 47.66; 3. Abderrahmane Samba (QAT), 48.03; 4. Kyron McMaster (IVB), 48.10; 5. T.J. Holmes (USA), 48.20; 6. Yasmani Copello (TUR), 48.25; 7. Alison Dos Santos (BRA), 48.28; 8. Abdelmalik Lahoulou (ALG), 49.46.

50 km Walk: 1. Yusuke Suzuki (JPN), 4:04:20; 2. Joao Vieira (POR), 4:04:59; 3. Evan Dunfee (CAN), 4:05:02; 4. Wenbin Niu (CHN), 4:05:36; 5. Yadong Luo (CHN), 4:06:49; 6. Brendan Boyce (IRL), 4:07:06; 7. Carl Dohmann (GER), 4:10:22; 8. Jesus Angel Garcia (ESP), 4:11:28.

High Jump: 1. Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT), 2.37 m (7-9 1/4); 2. Mikhail Akimenko (RUS), 2.35 m (7-8 1/2); 3. Ilya Ivanyuk (RUS), 2.35 m (7-8 1/2); 4. Maksim Nedasekau (BLR), 2.33 m (7-7 3/4); 5. Luis Zayas (CUB), 2.30 m (7-6 1/2); 6. Brandon Starc (AUS), 2.30 m (7-6 1/2); 7. Michael Mason (CAN), 2.30 m (7-6 1/2); 8. Hup Wei Lee (MAS), 2.27 m (7-5 1/4). Also: 11. Jeron Robinson (USA), 2.24 m (7-4 1/4).

Pole Vault: 1. Sam Kendricks (USA), 5.97 m (19-7); 2. Mondo Duplantis (SWE), 5.97 m (19-7); 3. Piotr Lisek (POL), 5.87 m (19-3); 4. Bo Lita Baehre (GER), 5.70 m (18-8 1/4); 5. Thiago Braz (BRA), 5.70 m (18-8 1/4); 6. tie, Raphael Holzdeppe (GER) and Valentin Lavillenie (FRA), 5.70 m (18-8 1/4); 8. Claudio Stecchi (ITA), 5.70 m (18-8 1/4). Also: 10. Cole Walsh (USA), 5.55 m (18-2 1/2).

Long Jump: 1. Tajay Gayle (JAM), 8.69 m (28-6 1/4); 2. Jeff Henderson (USA), 8.39 m (27-6 1/2); 3. Juan Miguel Echevarria (CUB), 8.34 m (27-4 1/2); 4. Luvo Manyonga (RSA), 8.28 m (27-2); 5. Ruswahl Samaai (RSA), 8.23 m (27-0); 6. Jianan Wang (CHN), 8.20 m (26-11); 7. Eusebio Caceres (ESP), 8.01 m (26-3 1/2); 8. Yuki Hashioka (JPN), 7.97 m (26-1 3/4).

Triple Jump: 1. Christian Taylor (USA), 17.92 m (58-9 1/2); 2. Will Claye (USA), 17.74 m (58-2 1/2); 3. Hugues Zango (BUR), 17.66 m (57-11 1/4); 4. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (POR), 17.62 m (57-9 3/4); 5. Cristian Napoles (CUB),17.38 m (57-0 1/4); 6. Donald Scott (USA), 17.17 m (56-4); 7. Alexis Copello (AZE), 17.10 m (57-1 1/4); 8. Jordan Diaz Fortun (CUB), 17.06 m (55-11 3/4).

Discus: 1. Daniel Stahl (SWE), 67.59 m (221-9); 2. Fedrick Dacres (JAM), 66.94 m (219-7); 3. Lukas Weisshaidinger (AUT), 66.82 m (219-3); 4. Alin Firfirica (ROU), 66.46 m (218-0); 5. Apostolos Parellis (CYP), 66.32 m (217-7); 6. Matthew Denny (AUS), 65.43 m (214-8); 7. Ehsan Hadadi (IRI), 65.16 m (213-9); 8. Martin Wierig (GER), 64.98 m (213-2). Also: 11. Sam Mattis (USA), 63.42 m (208-1).

Hammer: 1. Pawel Fajdek (POL), 80.50 (264-1); 2. Quentin Bigot (FRA), 78.19 m (256-6); 3. Bence Halasz (HUN), 78.18 m (256-6); 4. Wojciech Nowicki (POL), 77.69 m (254-10); 5. Mykhaylo Kokhan (UKR), 77.39 m (253-11); 6. Eivind Henriksen (NOR), 77.38 m (253-10); 7. Javier Cienfuegos (ESP), 76.57 m (251-2); 8. Hleb Dudarau (BLR), 76.00 m (249-4). Also: 11. Rudy Winkler (USA), 75.20 m (246-9).

Decathlon: 1. Niklas Kaul (GER), 8,691; 2. Maicel Uibo (EST), 8,604; 3. Damian Warner (CAN), 8,529; 4. Ilya Shkurenyov (RUS), 8,494; 5. Pierce LaPage (CAN), 8,445; 6. Janek Oiglane (EST), 8,297; 7. Pieter Braun (NED), 8,222; 8. Solomon Simmons (USA), 8,151. Also: 14. Harrison Williams (USA), 7,892.

Women

100 m (+0.1): 1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM), 10.71; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 10.83; 3. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), 10.90; 4. Elaine Thompson (JAM), 10.93; 5. Murielle Ahoure (CIV), 11.02; 6. Jonielle Smith (JAM), 11.06; 7. Teahna Daniels (USA), 11.19; did not start – Dafne Schippers (NED).

200 m (+0.9): 1. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 21.88; 2. Brittany Brown (USA), 22.22; 3. Mujinga Kambundji (SUI), 22.51; 4. Angie Annelus (USA), 22/59; 5. Dezerea Bryant (USA), 22.63; 6. Gina Bass (GAM), 22.71; 7. Ivet Lalova-Collio (BUL), 22.77; 8. Tynia Gaither (BAH), 22.90.

400 m: 1. Salwa Eid Naser (BAH), 48.14; 2. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), 48.37; 3. Shericka Jackson (JAM), 49.47; 4. Wadeline Jonathas (USA), 49.60; 5. Phyllis Francis (USA), 49.61; 6. Stephanie Ann McPherson (JAM), 50.89; 7. Justyna Swiety-Ersetic (POL), 50.95; 8. Iga Baumgart-Witen (POL), 51.29.

800 m: 1. Halimah Nakaayi (UGA), 1:58.04; 2. Raevyn Rogers (USA), 1:58.18; 3. Ajee Wilson (USA), 1:58.84; 4. Winnie Nanyondo (UGA), 1:59.18; 5. Eunice Sum (KEN), 1:59.71; 6. Natoya Goule (JAM), 2:00.11; 7. Rababe Arafi (MAR), 2:00.48; 8. Ce’Aira Brown (USA), 2:02.97.

3,000 m Steeple: 1. Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN), 8:57.84; 2. Emma Coburn (USA), 9:02.35; 3. Gesa Krause (GER), 9:03.30; 4. Winfred Yavi (BRN), 9:05.68; 5. Peruth Chemutai (UGA), 9:11.08; 6. Courtney Frerichs (USA), 9:11.27; 7. Anna Moller (DEN), 9:13.46; 8. Hyvin Kiyeng (KEN), 9:13.53.

10,000 m: 1. Sifan Hassan (NED), 30.17.62; 2. Letesenbet Gidey (ETH), 30:21.23; 3. Agnes Tirop (KEN), 30:25.20; 4. Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN), 30:35.75; 5. Hellen Obiri (KEN), 30:35.82; 6. Senbere Teferi (ETH), 30:44.23; 7. Susan Krumins (NED), 31:05.40; 8. Marielle Hall (USA), 31:05.71. Also: 9. Molly Huddle (USA), 31:07.24; 10. Emily Sisson (USA), 31:12.56.

Marathon: 1. Ruth Chepngetich (KEN), 2:32:43; 2. Rose Chelimo (BRN), 2:33:46; 3. Helelia Johannes (NAM), 2:34:15; 4. Edna Kiplagat (KEN), 2:35:36; 5. Volha Mazuronak (BLR), 2:36:21; 6. Roberta Groner (USA), 2:38:44; 7. Mizuki Tanimoto (JPN), 2:39:09; 8. Ji Hyang Kim (PRK), 2:41:24. Also: 13. Carrie Dimoff (USA), 2:44:35.

400 m hurdles: 1. Dalilah Muhammad (USA), 52.16 (World Record; old, 52.20, Muhammad, 2019); 2. Sydney McLaughlin (USA), 52.23; 3. Rushell Clayton (JAM), 53.74; 4. Lea Sprunger (SUI), 54.06; 5. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE), 54.23; 6. Ashley Spencer (USA), 54.45; 7. Anna Ryzhykova (UKR), 54.45; 8. Sage Watson (CAN), 54.82.

50 km Walk: 1. Rui Liang (CHN), 4:23:26; 2. Maocuo Li (CHN), 4:26:40; 3. Elenorora Giorgi (ITA), 4:29:13; 4. Olena Sobchuk (UKR), 4:33:38; 5. Faying Ma (CHN), 4:34:56; 6. Khrystyna Yudkina (UKR), 4:36:00; 7. Magaly Bonilla (ECU), 4:37:03; 8. Julia Takacs (ESP), 4:38:20. Also: 17. Katie Burnett (USA), 5:23:05.

High Jump: 1. Mariya Lasitskene (RUS), 2.04 m (6-8 1/4); 2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR), 2.04 m (6-8 1/4); 3. Vashti Cunningham (USA), 2.00 m (6-6 3/4); 4. Yuliya Levchenko (UKR), 2./00 m (6-6 3/4); 5. Kamila Licwinko (POL), 1.98 m (6-6); 6. Karyna Demidik (BLR), 1.96 m (6-5); 7. Ana Simic (CRO), 1.93 m (6-4); 8. Ty Butts (USA), 1.93 m (6-4).

Pole Vault: 1. Anzhelika Sidorova (RUS), 4.95 m (16-2 3/4); 2. Sandi Morris (USA), 4.90 m (16-0 3/4); 3. Katerina Stefanidi (GRE), 4.85 m (15-11); 4. Holly Bradshaw (GBR), 4.80 m (15-9); 5. Alysha Newman (CAN), 4.80 m (15-9); 6. Angelica Bengtsson (SWE), 4.80 m (15-9); 7. tie, Iryna Zhuk (BLR), Jenn Suhr (USA) and Katie Nagetotte (USA), 4.70 m (15-5).

Shot: 1. Lijiao Gong (CHN), 19.55 m (64-1 3/4); 2. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (JAM), 19.47 m (63-10 1/2); 3. Christina Schwanitz (GER), 19.17 m (62-10 3/4); 4. Maggie Ewen (USA), 18.93 m (62-1 1/4); 5. Anita Marton (HUN), 18.86 m (61-10 1/2); 6. Aliona Dubitskaya (BLR), 18.86 m (61-10 1/2); 7. Chase Ealey (USA), 18.82 m (61-9); 8. Brittany Crew (CAN), 18.55 m (60-10 1/2). Also: 9. Michelle Carter (USA), 18.41 m (60-4 3/4).

Discus: 1. Jaime Perez (CUB), 69.17 m (226-11); 2. Denia Caballero (CUB), 68.44 m (224-6); 3. Sandra Perkovic (CRO), 66.72 m (218-11 ); 5. Yang Chen (CHN), 63.38 m (207-11); 6. Bin Feng (CHN), 62.48 m (205-0); 7. Fernanda Martins (BRA), 62.44 m (204-10); 8. Valarie Allman (USA), 61.82 m (202-10).

Hammer: 1. DeAnna Price (USA), 77.54 m (251-1); 2. Joanna Fiodorow (POL), 76.35 m (250-6); 3. Zheng Wang (CHN), 74.76 m (245-3); 4. Zalina Petrivskaya (MDA), 74.33 m (243-10); 5. Iryna Klymets (UKR), 73.56 m (241-4); 6. Alexandra Tavernier (FRA), 73.33 m (240-7); 7. Hanna Skydan (AZE), 72.83 m (238-11); 8. Na Luo (CHN), 72.04 m (236-4).

Javelin: 1. Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS), 66.56 m (218-4); 2. Shiyeng Liu (CHN), 65.88 m (216-2); 3. Huihui Lyu (CHN), 65.49 m (214-10); 4. Christin Hussong (GER), 65.21 m (213-11); 5. Kara Winger (USA), 63.23 m (207-5); 6. Tatsiana Khaladovich (BLR), 62.54 m (205-2); 7. Sara Kolak (CRO), 62.28 m (204-4); 8. Annu Rani (IND), 61.12 m (200-6).

Heptathlon: 1. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR), 6,981; 2. Nafi Thiam (BEL), 6,677; 3. Verena Preiner (AUT), 6,560; 4. Erica Bougard (USA), 6,470; 5. Kendell Williams (USA), 6.415; 6. Nadine Broersen (NED), 6.392; 7. Emma Oosterwegel (NED), 6,250; 8. Odite Ahouanwanou (BEN), 6,210. Also: 12. Chari Hawkins (USA), 6,073; 13. Annie Kunz (USA), 6,067.

Mixed

4×400 m: 1. United States (Wil London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry), 3:09.34 (World Record; old, 3:12.42, U.S. in semis); 2. Jamaica, (Allen, McGregor, James, Francis), 3:11.78; 3. Bahrain (Isah, Jamal, Naser, Abbas), 3:11.82; 4. Great Britain, 3:12.27; 5. Poland, 3:12.33; 6. Belgium, 3:14.22; 7. India, 3:15.77; 8. Brazil, 3:16.22.