3000m metres steeplechase star Soufiane El Bakkali launched his Olympic title defense with a win in heat one.
The 28-year-old Moroccan was pushed hard, fighting off a late charge from Leonard Chemutai and Getnet Wale of Ethiopia to win in 8 minutes 17.90 seconds.
That result began an African clean sweep, with fellow Moroccan Mohamed Tindouf running a lifetime best of 8 minutes 10.62 seconds to win heat two, while Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma won heat three in 8 minutes 23.89 seconds.
Attention swiftly turned to the field where fan-favorite Mondo Duplantis took to the pole vault runway. The Swede defeated Sam Kendricks of the USA, who cleared 5.95 meters (19-6.25), before attempting his own world record. Clearing the bar on the final attempt, Duplantis achieved a remarkable 6.25 meters (20-6) to claim gold.
In the women’s competition, a huge shock saw world leader and world indoor champion Molly Caudery fail to record a measurement in the women’s pole vault qualification round. Caudery passed 4.40 meters (14-5.25), a height that would likely have seen her qualify for Wednesday’s (7 August) final.
After success in the 100 meters yesterday (4 August), Noah Lyles breezed through his 200 meters heat. The American won heat six in 20.19 seconds to qualify for the semi-final tomorrow (6 August).
Compatriots Kenneth Bednarek (19.96 seconds) and Erriyon Knighton (19.99 seconds) occupied the two fastest qualifying spots, with Lyles sitting in sixth.
The women’s 200 meters semi-finals followed, with 100 meters champion Julien Alfred winning race one. Gabby Thomas of the USA topped the leaderboard with 22.20 seconds, while the British duo of Dina Asher-Smith (22.31 seconds) and Daryll Neita (22.24 seconds) both qualified for the final.
Valarie Allman of the USA successfully defended her women’s discus title. Allman’s fourth-round throw of 69.50 meters (228-0) saw her claim victory over Bin Feng of China, who threw 67.51 meters (221-6) in round three.
The women’s 5,000 meters final saw Kenya secure a historic one-two finish. Beatrice Chebet overcame Faith Kipyegon in the home straight to take gold in 14 minutes 28.56 seconds. Kipyegon was later disqualified, moving Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands into silver and awarding a remarkable bronze to Italy’s Nadia Battocletti.
Britain ended the day with 800 meters gold courtesy of Keely Hodgkinson. The 22-year-old from Leigh took Team GB’s first athletics title of the games in a sublime 1 minute 56.72…
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