Stuart Weir wanted to gently remind us just how wonderful the eighth day of the Oregon 22 World Athletics Championships is, and he does it right here!
Day 8 – unsurpassed for quality and drama
At first glance, the Friday night program seemed a bit light, but in reality, it provided variety, excitement, drama, quality, and shocks.
The day had started early, 6.15 am to be precise, with the 35K women’s race walk. Kimberly García León (Peru) won the 20k race walk and completed the double in the longer event.
The evening program started with qualification for the men’s pole vault, with 32 athletes seeking one of the 12 places in the final. It was only a qualification, but can you preface something “only” when Mondo Duplantis is there? In the end, only 9 athletes cleared 5.75m to claim a place in the final.
Then there were 2 men’s and two women’s sprint relays. We marvel at the speed at which they run and the slickness of the baton changes, but we also enjoy a good cock-up! In the women’s USA were fastest with GB second. Jamaica took all three medals in the women’s 100, selected none of the medallists, and still came third! The men’s US was again the fastest, but we also had 2 DQs and one team unable to finish.
The women’s 800 produced three brilliant semi-finals, which are described in detail in a separate post. Olympic champion Athing Mu 1:58.12 looks awesome.
The women’s javelin was won by Kelsey-Lee Barber with 66.91m, achieved in round 3. As the competition reached its climax, Haruka Kitaguchi produced a final round of 63.27m to move into the silver medal position – only for home favorite Kara Winger to produce 64.05m and snatch silver herself.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo was imperious, winning the 400 flat. The men’s 400 was intriguing, with Michael Norman, in the end, holding off Kirani James for the win.
In the final event of the day, Sydney McLaughlin again broke the world record. It is the third world record that McLaughlin has set at Hayward Field. Her first came at the 2021 US Olympic Trials when she clocked 51.90 to improve on the 52.16 global mark that Muhammad had set when winning the 2019 world title ahead of her compatriot.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 15-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris
Just over a month later, McLaughlin ran 51.46 to win the Olympic title in Tokyo, and she broke the record for a third time at this year’s US Championships in Eugene on 25 June, clocking 51.41.
Good competition. First I was able to appreci-love some of the behind the scenes gently rolling tensions. The athletes performance unleashed the array of their skill set of devotion, dedication and love for their craft in a caring memorable environment. My respects to the event present staff for projecting a seamless amicable caring feel good professional experience.
Thanks, Ras. Stuart Weir, our European senior writer, writes about 300 times a year for us, and he is incredibly thoughtful. I will share your comment with him.