The third day of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 was a day of two halves. Favourites in the field added more titles to their tallies, while on the road and track, breakthrough stars had their time to shine.
Alphonce Felix Simbu made history in the morning becoming the first athlete from Tanzania to win a global title by claiming gold in the men’s marathon in Tokyo, while Mondo Duplantis ensured the day ended on a sensational high as he improved his world pole vault record to 6.30m.
Camryn Rogers moved to second on the world all-time list to retain her hammer title, while Geordie Beamish ended Soufiane El Bakkali’s steeplechase streak and Ditaji Kambundji stormed to a 100m hurdles win.
Simbu secures Tanzania’s first global gold
After 26 miles around the streets of Tokyo, the men’s marathon came down to a thrilling sprint finish as Alphonce Felix Simbu pipped Amanal Petros by the narrowest of margins to kick off the third day of competition.
In winning by just three hundredths of a second – both athletes crossing the finish line in the Japan National Stadium in 2:09:48 but with Simbu a fraction ahead – the Tanzanian 33-year-old became his nation’s first ever global gold medallist.
Germany’s Petros had led as the race left the roads and entered the stadium, and he was still to the fore as they hit the final straight, but Simbu timed his kick to perfection.
They were followed over the finish line by Italy’s Iliass Aouani, bronze medallist in 2:09:53.
“Today means celebrations in Tanzania,” said Simbu after the race. “We have written new history as a country. It was my dream. I am at peace. It is about discipline, training and never giving up.
“After 2017 I have been trying to win another medal but failed at it. Last year Paris was a challenge and this year I told myself: I will try my best. I did different types of training under different weather conditions,” he added.
Beamish ends El Bakkali’s reign
Geordie Beamish used a powerful kick to end Soufiane El Bakkali‘s streak of major 3000m steeplechase title wins and gain the first gold of the evening session.
As was the case when he won the world indoor 1500m title last year, Beamish bided his time in a slow and tactical race, then switched into top gear in the closing stages, catching defending champion El Bakkali before the line to win in 8:33.88 – securing a surprise victory for New Zealand.
Morocco’s El Bakkali secured silver this time, clocking 8:33.95, while Kenya’s Edmund Serem claimed bronze in 8:34.56.
Kambundji peaks to take 100m hurdles gold
Ditaji Kambundji produced a brilliant breakthrough to take the 100m hurdles title.
The Swiss athlete upstaged a series of more heavily fancied rivals to seal a shock gold, shattering the national record in the process. She clocked 12.24, just off Yordanka Donkova’s 27-year-old European record, and held off Nigeria’s world record-holder Tobi Amusan and the USA’s in-form Grace Stark to get her first global gold.
Amusan secured silver in 12.29 and Stark got bronze in 12.34, finishing one place ahead of Olympic champion Masai Russell.
Selected Results:
Men’s 3000m steeplechase Final:
- Geordie Beamish (NZL) 8:33.88
- Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) 8:33.95
- Edmund Serem (KEN) 8:34.56
Women’s 100m hurdles Final:
- Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) 12.24 NR
- Tobiloba Amusan (NGR) 12.29
- Grace Stark (USA) 12.34
Men’s Marathon Final:
- Alphonce Simbu (TAN) 2:09:48
- Amanal Petros (GER) 2:09:48
- Iliass Aouani (ITA) 2:09:53
Meet the Author (s)
World Athletics (formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations - IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, such as running, jumping and throwing.
