WC / Day Nine, Terrific Performances Capstone Outstanding World Champs

This is the last story from David Hunter on the WC Budapest 2023. We will be posting a compilation of all stories by all of our writers for WC, posting on the nightly newsletter by runblogrun and also on Coaching  Athletics’s special newsletter.

WC / Day Nine
Terrific Performances Capstone Outstanding World Champs

2023 World Athletics Championships
Budapest, Hungary
August 27th, 2023

Reflection is in order on the ninth day of a glorious World Championships here in Budapest. We have witnessed outstanding performances here by the athletes who have cultivated world-class skills; have made countless sacrifices, trained properly and consistently, and have delivered in the moment. But consider this: Budapest and all the organizations involved in presenting this multi-faceted, 9-day Championship and all surrounding it have also done the same. Congrats to all who have made this unforgettable nine days so special.

wHJ – Final: This field event proved to be one of the most riveting events of the day. With all jumps at the 1.97m bar completed, only four jumpers remained: Ukraine’s Yaroslavl Mahuchikh, Australia’s Eleanor Patterson, Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, and Great Britain’s Morgan Lake. At 1.99m. Mahuchikh and Peterson cleared on their first attempts; Olyslagers went clear on her final attempt; and Lake passed after 2 misses. At 2.01, Mahuchikh won the gold medal when she made the only clearance on her 2nd attempt while all remaining vaulters failed. Patterson took the silver while #1 world leader Olylagers captured the bronze. USA’s Vashti Cunningham cleared 1.90m to finish 11th.

m5000m – Final: This event provided an opportunity for redemption for Jakob Ingebrigtsen after his stinging second-place finish in the men’s 1500-meter run earlier in the championship. The pace was dawdling as the race got underway. But the pace picked up when Ishmael Kipkurui bolted away from the field in the early going. The pack pursued and eventually reeled Kipkurui in around the halfway point. Berihu Aregawi and Hagos Gebrhiwet came to the front to pick up the pace. Nine athletes were bunched when the bell sounded on the final lap. Mohamed Katir went to the front and picked up the tempo over the final circuit. Ingebrigtsen covered those moves and charged toward the front with 200 meters remaining. The battle raged over the final…