American Tori Bowie upset Jamaican favourite Elaine Thompson to win the women’s 100m on Sunday, as New Zealander Tomas Walsh dominated the shot put with a stunning series of throws.
Before another packed-out session at the London Stadium, Greek pole vaulter Ekaterina Stefanidi and heptathlete Nafi Thiam also added World titles to the Olympic golds they won in Rio last year.
Earlier in the day, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kipkorir Kirui won the men’s marathon to make up for his country’s podium no-show in the last two championships, while Kenyan-born Bahraini Rose Chelimo edged veteran Edna Kiplagat to win the women’s race.
Twenty-four hours after the fireworks of the men’s 100m final when Usain Bolt was upstaged by arch-rival Justin Gatin, Bowie ensured the US team made it 2-0 in the sprint stakes over Jamaica on day three of the championships.
Bowie made up for her silver at the Rio Games with a savage dip at the line that saw her win in 10.85 seconds, just one-hundredth ahead of Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou, with Thompson fifth (10.98).
“The dive doesn’t feel too good now,” said US champion Bowie. “I never give up until I’m over the line.”
Thompson had started well, but faded after the halfway mark, unable to find an extra gear as she has done most of the season.
In the field, Walsh was in imperial form, producing his best, 22.03 metres, with the sixth and final effort in the men’s shot.
Greece’s Olympic champion Stefanidi enjoyed a compelling battle with American Sandi Morris in the pole vault.
The 27-year-old vaulted a national record of 4.91 metres for victory, failing three times at what would have been a championship record of 5.02m.
Stefanidi’s feat was mirrored by Thiam, the 21-year-old Belgian doing just enough in the seventh and final event of the heptathlon, the 800m, to amass a winning total of 6,784 points, with overnight leader Carolin Schafer of Germany taking silver with 6,696.
Annu Rani flops
Despite an impressive 59.93m effort, Annu Rani failed to enter the women’s javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships in London on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old, the National record holder with 61.86m and bronze medallist at the recent Asians, came up with the third best throw of her life but still could finish only 10th in her 15-athlete group in the qualification round and made her exit.
Swapna Barman finished a disappointing 26th in heptathlon with 5431 points. Twenty-seven of the 31 athletes who participated completed the event.
The results:
Men: Shot put: 1. Tomas Walsh (NZL) 22.03m, 2. Joe Kovacs (USA) 21.66, 3. Stipe Zunic (Cro) 21.46.
Marathon: 1. Geoffrey Kipror Kirui (Ken) 2:08.27s, 2. Tamirat Tola (Eth) 2:09:49, 3. Alphonce Simbu (Tan) 2:09:51.
Women: 100m: 1. Tori Bowie (USA) 10.85s, 2. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (Civ) 10.86, 3. Dafne Schippers (Ned) 10.96.
Pole vault: 1. Ekaterini Stefanidi (Gre) 4.91m, 2. Sandi Morris (USA) 4.75, 3. Robeilys Peinado (Ven) & Yarisley Rodriguez (Cub) 4.65.
Heptathlon: 1. Nafissatou Thiam (Bel) 6784 points, 2. Carolin Schafer (Ger) 6696, 3. Anouk Vetter (Ned) 6636; 26. Swapna Barman 5431.
Marathon: 1. Rose Chelimo (Brn) 2:27.11s, 2. Edna Kiplagat (Ken) 2:27:18, 3. Amy Cragg (USA) 2:27:18 .
