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≡ GYULAI MEMORIAL ≡
The final Gold-level meet on the World Athletics Continental Tour for 2026 was the annual Istvan Gyulai Memorial in Budapest (HUN), named for the former Secretary General of what is now known as World Athletics.
The meet was terrific, headlined by another sensational performance from world-record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp of the U.S. in the 110 m hurdles. He came on quickly and mauled an excellent field, winning in 12.85 (wind -0.4 m/s), the fifth-fastest time in history!
Fellow Americans Jamal Britt (13.01) and World Champion Cordell Tinch (13.06) went 2-3. In the space of about six weeks, Tharp is re-writing the all-time list:
● 12.75 Ja’Kobe Tharp (USA) ~ 10 Jun. 2026 World Record
● 12.80 Aries Merritt (USA) ~ 07 Sep. 2012 World Record
● 12.81 Grant Holloway (USA) ~ 26 Jun. 2021
● 12.84 Devon Allen (USA) ~ 12 Jun. 2022
● 12.85 Tharp ~ 14 Jul. 2026
Tharp has also run 12.90 to win the NCAA title and was second at the Pre Classic to Britt in 12.91, so out of the top 21 performances all-time (through 12.91), he has four since 10 June! He said afterwards:
“It felt pretty good. I didn’t have the best start, but a win is a win. I came here to get the job done, and that’s exactly what I did. It feels great to set a meeting record. Whoever held that record before was obviously a very good athlete [Russian Sergey Shubenkov in 2018], so it’s a great feeling to take it.
“The atmosphere in the stadium is incredible. I honestly love competing here. This was the strongest field I’ve raced against all year, and I usually run my fastest times in high-quality races. Today proved that once again.”
That was one of five wins for American athletes in Budapest:
● Women//200 m: Olympic champ Gabby Thomas led an American sweep, winning in 21.83 (0.0), ahead of Kayla White, who got a lifetime best of 21.92, and Anavia Battle (22.21).
● Women/100 m hurdles: Olympic champ Masai Russell remained undefeated with her eighth win in a row in 12.33 (+0.4), again leading an American sweep, ahead of Rayniah Jones (12.47) and Alaysha Johnson (12.49).
● Women/400 m hurdles: Worlds silver winner Jasmine Jones got a seasonal best of 52.91, moving to no. 3 on the world list, to win, ahead of Jamaica’s two-time Worlds bronze winner Rushell Clayton (53.34).
● Women/Long Jump: Monae Nichols, the 2024 World Indoor silver winner, won at 6.88 m (22-7) to lead an American 1-2, ahead of 2025 World Indoor champ Claire Bryant (6.72 m/22-0 3/4).
Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis was on world-record watch again in the men’s vault, winning at 6.07 m (19-11) and taking three shots at a new world mark of 6.32 m (20-8 3/4). He’s now missed that height nine times. Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, twice a Worlds bronzer, got a lifetime best of 6.00 m (19-8 1/4).
There were two world-leading performances (or ties):
● Men/Hammer: Canada’s Olympic champ Ethan Katzberg won at 83.64 m (274-5) and had an earlier world-leading throw of 83.55 m (274-1) in the series! The winning toss was his fifth-best throw ever.
● Women/High Jump: Australia’s 2022 World Champion, Eleanor Patterson, cleared 2.00 m (6-6 3.4) to equal her own world-leading mark from June, also achieved by Olympic winner Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR).
Not to be overlooked were a 44.02 men’s 400 m win by Muzala Samukonga (ZIM), now seventh on the 2026 world list, a heated finish in the men’s 1,500 m for Kenyan 19-year-olds Phanuel Koech and Danson Kiplangat, 3:31.09 to 3:31.10, a 7:31.90 3,000 m win for Mathew Kipsang (KEN), with American Anthony Camerieri second (7:32.64). German Emil Agyekum won the 400 m hurdles in 47.58, with Americans Trevor Bassitt (47.59) and Caleb Dean (47.62) right behind.
Olympic champ Julien Alfred won the women’s 100 m in a speedy 10.87 (-0.3) with Cambrea Sturgis of the U.S. fifth in 11.07.
Although the Continental Tour Gold schedule is complete, the Diamond League continues on Saturday (18th) in London (GBR).
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