US team sets record 33 medals in front of home crowd at Hayward Field
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor
John Nepolitan Photos | Tim Healy photos
EUGEN — Armand Duplantis knows how to end a meeting and is routinely able to find that extra inch.
Duplantis of Sweden went tall and over 20 feet, 4.50 inches (6.21 m) to complete a 10-day track and field extravaganza at Hayward Field.
Team USATF broke the World Championships record for most medals with 33 in a final spectacular night that also included gold Athen Mu in the women’s 800 meters and double wins in the 4×400 relay.
But if you want to end a global gathering with a bang, put the men’s pole vault at the bottom of the schedule.
“There’s quite a bit of pressure on you when you’re the only person competing and everyone on the track has their eyes on you, so I’m glad I was able to do my best and try to put on a good show. ‘ said Duplantis.
Duplantis’ victory and record-breaking jump was followed by another world record early in the session Toby Amusan of Nigeria, who clocked a wind time of 12.12 seconds in the semifinals of the women’s 100m hurdles before posting a 12.06 (+2.5m/s) in the wind assisted final for the first gold medal to win their country.
US athletics is of course responsible for more than the 33 medals. High school and college track programs across the country can claim to be developing an even higher number, including the Duplantis Gold, which has roots at Lafayette High in Louisiana and at LSU.
For the world’s greatest pole vaulter, inching the pole up is the continuation of a journey that began in his backyard as a kid.
“It’s not necessarily that an extra inch is that difficult, it’s just that point where you have to get a good jump,” said Duplantis, who helped Sweden become the 29th country to compete at the meeting won a gold medal, the most in world championships history.
Chris Nilsen of the USA took silver with 19-5.75 (5.94 m) on his first attempt and EJ Obiena became the first Filipino to win a bronze medal at a global meeting, also with 19-5.75 (5.94 m) on his second attempt, a best time of his life.
The 4×400 relays helped place the U.S. at the top of the 30 medals the country earned in 2017 and helped the Americans surpass the previous record of 31 medals set by East Germany in Rome in 1987.
Sydney McLaughlin, who broke a world record on Friday, led a three-woman relay that competed at the NCAA level and won championships this year. They shared a 47.91 to bring home the gold in 3:17.79, the fastest time ever recorded on US soil. Only Allyson Felixwho shared 47.72 in Beijing in 2015 ran a faster 4×400 stage for the Americans.
“I’m the oldest, and that’s weird because I’m 22,” McLaughlin said. “It just shows our depth and how bright the future is for USA Athletics. It’s an honor to be with these girls who blow things up.”
Talitha Diggs19, things opened up for the US and Abby Steiner22 and Briton Wilson21, both split under 50 before the baton passed to McLaughlin.
The previous men’s race featured a US lineup with 400m gold medalists Michael Norman Splitting 43.64 on the second stage, won the gold in 2:56.17. Champion Allison ran the anchor. Elijah Godwin and Bryce Deadmon ran the first and third legs, including a 43.82 split from former Texas A&M standout to give Allison a comfortable lead.
Mu kept up the momentum of her incredible 2021 season and held off a challenge from another 20-year-old Keeley Hodgkinson of Great Britain to win the 800 in 1:56.30. Hodgkinson, attempting to squeeze past Mu on the inside of lane 1, finished 0.08 seconds back.
“Goll-y, I’m just glad it’s over,” Mu said. “Today’s been a pretty tough day for me. I’m just glad I made it through the finish line, was able to finish the race and God be with me Thanks I won gold.”
of Kenya Maria Moraa22, ran 1:56.71 for Bronze and Ethiopians Diribe Weltejithe leader in the 400m, finished fourth in a personal best of 1:57.02.
medal contender Raevyn Rogers (1:58.26) and Ajee’ Wilson (2:00.19) finished sixth and eighth respectively.
Jacob Ingebrigtsen of Norway was so confident in his ability to take whatever was thrown at him in the men’s 5,000m that he swung wide on consecutive laps to grab a cup of water. If there had been a loaf of bread he might have made a sandwich.
Ingebrigtsen pushed ahead at 4,000 meters and didn’t let anyone overtake him for the rest of the distance. He made up for a missed gold in the 1,500 meters with a time of 13:09.24.
“There was no tactical decision, no sprint finish,” said Ingebrigtsen. “I just wanted to prove it’s my gold and considering how the race went I felt like I was the better runner today.”
The top eight finished within three seconds and a group of runners were in full swing at the final corner. Grant fisherman of the USA was fighting for a medal when he lost his stride and lost momentum to finish sixth in 13:11.65.
Luis Grijalva of Guatemala nearly ran to a historic medal for his country. After staying on track the entire race, he chased the leaders and finished the race in 13:10.44, 0.24 seconds back in third place.
Jacob Krop from Kenya won the silver medal in 13:09.98 and Uganda’s Oskar Chelimo (13:10.20) got bronze.
Kevin Mayer from France, who won the world title after retiring in 2017 Ashton EatonShe won the gold medal in the decathlon with 8,816 points. He threw a big throw in the javelin 230-8 (70.31m) to prepare for victory ahead of the grueling Event 10, the 1,500m.
Mayer had tears in his eyes on the podium, also because he felt like an Olympic champion Damien Warners unfortunate retirement from the competition with an injury in the 400m on Saturday.
“I was devastated for Damian,” Mayer said. “I told myself it would be easier, but not at all. It was difficult, so it’s good to have the medal now because (the competition) was pushing me.”
Pierce LePage of Canada secured silver with a lifetime record of 8,701 points and American Zach Ziemek won his first global medal by achieving bronze with a personal best of 8.676. Ayden Owens Delermerepresenting Arkansas and Puerto Rico improved on his collegiate season best and finished fourth with 8,532, including a personal best of 4:13.02 to win the 1,500.
of Germany Malaika Mihambo won her third consecutive world title in the women’s long jump, jumping 23-4.50 (7.12m) in her last attempt to secure the gold medal.
Nigeria Ese Brume tried to make it a double gold night for her nation but came up 10 centimeters short and took the silver medal with 23-.50 (7.02 m).
The fight for the bronze medal was decided by a centimetre. Leticia Oro Melo expelled from Brazil Quanesha Burks of the US, 22-7.25 (6.89 m) to 22-7 (6.88 m). Oro Melo scored her best mark of her life on the first try and fouled her five remaining tries, with Burks matching her effort in the second round to set her highest global finish and also finished fourth at the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England.
