Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Day Three: Fraser-Pryce defends for 5th time, Ryan Crouser finally wins WC, Joshua Cheptegai defends his 10,000m title in style!

This is Deji Ogeyingbo’s column on the third magnificent day of the World Championships in Eugene. Check out his pieces on Mohammed Katir and Emma Bates, just being posted! 

Fraser-Pryce defends her 100m title, Crouser becomes world champion over the shot put and Deven Allen false-starts in the 110mH final to pave the way for Holloway to win back-to-back gold on Day 3 of the world

Day 3 of the ongoing world championships thrilled. Fireworks in the men’s marathon, Joshua Cheptegei defending his 10,000m title, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce led a Jamaican clean sweep in the women’s 100m final, and it was utter horror for the world leader in the men’s 110m hurdles final Devon Allen as he was disqualified, paving the way for Grant Holloway to defend his title successfully. 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce claims fifth world title, inspires Jamaica to a clean sweep in the women’s 100m 

When Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce crossed the finish line and raised her right arm up to indicate she was still number one over the distance, there were glaring similarities to the last time she won the women’s 100m title in Doha in 2019.

Back then, her story was amplified all around the world as she had taken a break to be a mother and came back and obliterated the field to win a fourth crown in the capital of the oil-rich Qatar. Three years later, inside the track and field capital of the world, the 5ft Frayser-Pryce replicated her signature celebration at the line with a different backstory.

Before all, that was the talk of the potential sweep by the Jamaican women after all three has clocked the fastest times leading up to the world championships. And they all delivered in the final race, replicating what they achieved at the Tokyo Olympics.

Fraser-Pryce got off to a bullet start with Shericka Jackson up on her tail from the start. At the halfway point, there was all indication that Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah was never going to catch her and was just going to be content with getting on the podium. 

While she fought her way back into the race, Fraser-Pryce was on her way to her fifth title, winning in a Championship Record of 10.67s from Jackson, who ran a Personal Best of 10.73s. Thompson-Herah won her first world championship medal as she snagged bronze in 10.81s.

They all will meet again in the women’s 200m. The question is if they can replicate the clean sweep over the half-lap distance.

Ryan Crouser is finally a world champion in the shot put

For all Ryan Crouser had achieved in the men’s shot put, he was yet to win a global title in the men’s shot put. Until today. 

In 2021, he broke the indoor world record with 22.82m, the outdoor world record with 23.37m, and won all 14 events he contested. He opened his 2022 season at the Millrose Games, taking victory in a competition that was later voided due to a technical error. Crouser then took the US indoor title with a 22.51m throw in Spokane.

Despite the form, Crouser lost the world indoor title to Brazil’s Darlan Romani, and there were lingering doubts about what could happen at these world championships. The Olympic Champion shut the mouth of everyone.

This year’s final brought flashbacks of the final from three years ago as Joe Kovacs and Crouser clashed in another enthralling battle here in Oregon.

Crouser threw an early lead of 22.21m, but Kovacs opened with 22.63m. Crouser regained the lead with 22.71m in round two, but Kovacs once again came back fighting in round five with a season’s best of 22.89m – just 2cm shy of his winning mark from Doha three years ago.

But Crouser, throwing last in that round and no doubt motivated by the last World Championships, responded with a championship record of 22.94m. Neither Crouser nor Kovacs improved in the final round. Their teammate Josh Awotunde completed a US sweep of the medals, taking bronze with 22.29m.

Joshua Cheptegei defends his 10,000m world title. 

Unlike Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who until yesterday had not won a global title, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei had the men’s 5000m and 10000m records and was on a mission to add to his collection in Eugene. 

In what has to be one of the races of the championships, Cheptegei powered down the home straight as he brought to fore his trademark kick to claim victory and retain his world 10,000m title in 27:27.43.

After gold in Doha, the world record-holder had to settle for silver in the 25-lap event at the Olympics in Tokyo, where he won the 5000m. But now he’s back on top, leaving his rivals with no response in Oregon to gain another global gold.

Kenya’s Stanley Waithaka Mburu gives chase and goes from world U18 3000m bronze medallist in 2017 and world U20 5000m silver medallist in 2018 to world senior 10,000m silver medallist in 2022. Joining them on the podium is Cheptegei’s teammate Jacob Kiplimo, third in 27:27.97.

There was a huge roar from the crowd as USA’s Grant Fisher finishes fourth in 27:28.14 and Ethiopia’s Olympic champion Selemon Barega is fifth in 27:28.39.

Heartbreak for Devon Allen as he false-starts in the men’s 110m hurdles final

Devon Allen has been the big story of the season in the men’s 110m Hurdles leading up to the world championships. Signing for an NFL team ran the second fastest time of all time and lost his dad before the US trials. It was a tale of mixed fortunes for him.

However, not all fairytales have the perfect ending. A situation Allen would come to realize as he lined up in the final. As the gun went off, the athletes were called back as there was a false start. And the camera’s panned on Allen. Almost immediately, too, his reaction time. 0.99s. He was out. 

Although he protested and even went back to his block, there was no way the officials were going to let him run. Sad indeed, but the rules were the rule. Even the great Usain Bolt was a victim.

And this came after Olympic champion Hansle Parchment was a late non-starter, having picked up an injury while warming up for the final.

Grant Holloway retained his world 110m hurdles title, clocking 13.03 to lead a US 1-2 from Trey Cunningham (13.08).

Spain’s Asier Martinez made the most of those absences to claim a surprise bronze medal in 13.17.