IT’S PROBABLY SAFE to say that no one, anywhere, would have predicted this result.
There were three overwhelmingly dominant contenders. Defending champion Bin Feng was out to prove that her 2022 win was no one-off, and that she truly belonged among the world’s elite.
’21 Olympic champion Valarie Allman was out to prove that her ’22 bronze in fact was a one-off, and that a world title would validate her status as the longest and most consistent thrower of the past 3 years.
Multi-medaled Sandra Perković had nothing left to prove, but at 33 remains a constant presence at or near the top of every competition.
And Laulauga Tausaga-Collins? The 25-year-old American who won the ’19 NCAA had three fouls at Doha ’19, an identical result at the ’21 Olympic Trials and an unremarkable 185-3 (56.47) at Oregon22.
She produced a PR 214-9 (65.46) to qualify for this meet, then made the final with a second-attempt 211-1 (64.34). Good, but…
The Big 3 qualified easily, led by Allman’s 220-3 (67.14).
On another hot, humid, mostly windless evening, Perković opened her campaign with a foul. Then Allman threw a big 224-11 (68.57). The tall, bespectacled Feng achieved a season-best 219-8 (66.97), and the battle was on.
In round 2, Perković moved to 3rd with her ’23 best, 218-5 (66.57), but that would remain her longest of the day. There was no change at the top in round 3, but Allman improved to 225-8 (68.79).
Meanwhile, after a sector foul and a 171-6 (52.28) second attempt, Tausaga-Collins consulted with her coach. In 12th and facing elimination, she abandoned all caution and rifled a PR 215-1 (65.56) to move to 5th (and to No. 9 on the all-time U.S. list).
Round 4: Allman improved again, to 227-1 (69.23). Feng, who screams before and after each throw, began a serious challenge with her 220-5 (67.18). And Tausaga-Collins put everyone on notice with a foot foul that landed in the medal neighborhood.
Round 5: Explosion! Summoning heretofore untapped resources, Tausaga-Collins dropped a 228-0 (69.49) bomb on the competition — a 13-foot improvement, moving her to No. 2 on U.S. all-time list. Feng’s 221-2 (67.41) moved her back into 3rd ahead of Jorinde van Klinken’s 220-6 (67.20).
Round 6: Feng improved again, to 223-9 (68.20), securing 3rd. Allman gave it her best, and it was a long one, but the 225-1 (68.61) kept her in her…
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