by Larry Eder
The fourth day of the Tokyo 2025 World Champs brought us four finals and no morning session. We were quite happy! Here are my deep thoughts on the four finals:
- Hamish Kerr has built his entire season around the high jump! The Olympic champion delivered when it counted. Watch Hamish in a competition, he talks to himself as he visualizes his upcoming jump. New Zealand had its second gold! Sanghyeok Woo, KOR is a seasoned competitor, and delivers on the wold stage, he took silver with a 2.34m seasonal best. Jan Stefela, Czechia, put it together when it counted, clearing 2.31m for the bronze. The high jump is a terribly technical event and this has been a strange year. Gianmarco Tambieri, the Olympic champion, bowed out early in the qualifying. Mutaz Essa Barshim has achilled issues.
- Ethan Katzberg is the quiet genius of the hammer throw! Ethan seems like a wonderfully sane man, and he throws the hammer and he’s Canadian! His massive 84.70m suggest control and knowledge of his implement that few other have. Katzberg is the Olympic champion, and he does not fool around. Merlin Hummel, GER, threw a PB of 82.77m and he took the silver. Great technique, and the German delivered in a major championship, a big deal. Bence Halasz, HUN, comes from a country where chicken paprikas and throwing are respected traditions (Imre Nemeth, 1948 Olympic gold, Hammer throw, Miklos Nemeth, 1976 gold, javelin). Bence repeated his performance of a bronze, this time in 82.69m, from his Budapest 2023 championship.
- In the women’s 1,500 meters, Faith KIpyegon is hard to beat. Some have tried, but few have come close. Hitting a pace of 63 at 400 meters, 2:06 at 800 meters, Faith Kipyegon, who has won a medal in all championships since 2015, looks unbeatable. Earlier this year she ran a paced exhibition 4:07.64 mile, then broke WR at 1,500 meters! (3:48.68). Dorcus Ewoi, KEN, ran her heart out to take silver, in PB of 3:54.92! Jessica Hull, AUS, held on for the bronze in 3:55.16. The 1,500m continues to impress in terms of incredible development! Hats off to NIkki HIltz, US, fifth in 3:57.08.
- Grant Holloway had hoped for a 4th gold, in the Men’s 110m hurdles, but he has had a year full of injuries and less than spectacular racing. Grant did not make the final. Cordell Tinch, on the other hand, has had a spectacular year, with 12.87 WL in April in China, and his focus and timing were perfect for Tokyo, taking gold in 12.99. Orlando Bennett, JAM, 13.08, took the silver, and Tyler Mason, JAM, took bronze in 13.12. No one was beating Cordell Tinch that day, just hot possible, this guy is on a mission!
