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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 13 ~ Saturday, 23 July 2022
● Men/Decathlon ● Olympic champ Damian Warner of Canada was – as expected – fastest in the opening event, the 100 m, finishing in 10.27 for 1,030 points, ahead of teammate Pierce LePage (10.39).
There was another false start moment, in heat two, as Australia’s Cedric Dubler was called for a false start and the computer showing he left in 0.099 seconds, same as Devon Allen of the U.S. in the men’s 110 m hurdles. But as this was the decathlon, the false start was charged against the field and everyone – including Dubler – got to continue.
In the long jump, Warner led again, at 7.87 m (25-10/1,027 points), ahead of Zach Ziemek of the U.S. (7.70 m/25-3 1/4 for 985 points). In the shot put, Lindon Victor (GRN) reached 16.29 m (53-5 1/2) to lead the field, ahead of Leo Neugebauer (GER) at 15.83 m (51-11 1/4) and Ziemek with a lifetime best of 15.37 m (50-5 1/4).
So, after three events, it’s Warner in front of Ziemek, 2,846 to 2,756 with Puerto Rico’s NCAA champ Ayden Owens-Delerme third with 2,728.
● Women/100 m hurdles heats ● Defending World Champion Nia Ali of the U.S. got out well and was the clear leader, but pressed by Brittany Anderson (JAM), caught her trail leg (left knee) going over the ninth flight and crashed into the 10th hurdle and fell. Anderson won in 12.59 (-0.3 m/s); Ali walked in seventh and last.
Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) came on strong over the last three hurdles and won heat two in 12.52 (-0.4), just ahead of Devynne Charlton (BAH: 12.69). Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan looked sensational in heat three, winning impressively in 12.40 (+1.5), an African Record, ahead of 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM: 12.87).
In heat four, American Alaysha Johnson, no. 2 on the 2022 world list at 12.35 and a clear medal contender, stutter-stepped the first hurdle and stopped after two and was eliminated. Australia’s Liz Clay also crashed in mid-race, leaving Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska as the winner in 12.70 (+0.7). Johnson told NBC afterwards, “I have no words. This is crazy.”
American Alia Armstrong – the NCAA champ from LSU – powered through heat five, winning in 12.48 (+0.5), ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Megan Tapper (JAM: 12.73). There was another fall, with Haiti’s Mulern Jean falling over the first hurdle; she did not finish. World-record holder Keni Harrison of the U.S. got an ordinary start, but came on strongly over the final three hurdles to move away from Cindy Sember (GBR) in 12.60 to 12.67 (-0.4).
● Women/Long Jump qualifying ● The auto-qualifying distance was 6.75 m (22-1 3/4), reached by four women on their first tries, all medal contenders: Olympic champ Malaika Mihambo (GER: 6.84 m/22-5 1/4), 2019 Worlds silver medalist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR: 6.81 m/22-4 3/4), Sweden’s Khaddi Sagnia (6.78 m/22-3) and Brooke Buschkuehl (AUS: 6.76 m/22-2 1/4).
American Quanesha Burks joined the club in the third round with the best jump of the day at 6.86 m (22-6 1/4) and Ese Brume (NGR) got out to 6.82 m (22-4 1/2) for six auto qualifiers.
The other Americans: Tiffany Flynn was seventh and qualified at 6.73 m (22-1), while Jasmine Moore was 13th and did not qualify at 6.60 m (21-8).
≡ PANORAMA ≡
● Cycling ● The 109th Tour de France will conclude on Sunday with the finish in Paris, but it will be Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard who will win, only the second Danish winner in the event’s history.
Friday’s Stage 19 was a modestly hilly, 188.3 km ride to Cahors, with France’s Christophe Laporte winning the final sprint with Jasper Philipsen and Alberto Dainese (ITA). Vingegaard remained 3:26 ahead of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar (SLO).
On Saturday, the 40.7 km time trial was Pogacar’s last chance, but it was Jumbo-Visma teammates Wout van Aert (BEL) and Vingegaard who went 1-2 in 47:19 and 47:38. Pogacar was third in 47:46, so Vingegaard enters the final stage with a 3:34 lead on Pogacar and 8:13 on Geraint Thomas (GBR).
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