The 200m finals once more gave spectators a total spectacle at Hayward Field, on the night of Thursday to Friday. Among the women, first, the Jamaican Shericka Jackson, the big favorite, won the world title in the 200m in 21”45 (+ 0.6 m / s), second fastest time in history behind the world record of the American Florence Griffith-Joyner (21”34 at the 1988 Olympics). She beat her compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (21”81) and Briton Dina Asher-Smith (22”02).
A few moments later, a new moment of madness with a new American hat-trick. Noah Lyles flew over the 200m final by winning in 19”31 (+ 0.4 m/s), a new US record. The new 2nd best performer in history beat his compatriots Kenny Bednarek (19”77) and Erriyon Knighton (19”80).
Tual and Pontvianne at the rendezvous
Already an Olympic finalist last year, Gabriel Tual managed to reach a world final once more. Second in his semi-final behind the Algerian Djmael Sedjati (1’45”44 once morest 1’45”53), the Talençais showed great things and will be able to aim better than his seventh place in Tokyo. On the other hand, it did not pass for Benjamin Robert. The French champion finished fourth and remains the first in the station for the final.
Jean-Marc Pontvianne will be the only Frenchman in the triple jump final with 16.95m. Enzo Hodebar, with a jump of 16.64m, finished 14th, and his trainer, Benjamin Compaoré, missed out with 16.03m (25th). The Portuguese Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo dominated the qualifications with 17.16m ahead of the Burkinabé Hugues-Fabrice Zango (17.15m) and the Italian Emanuel Ihemeje (17.13m). The final is scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 a.m. French time.
Lamote as boss
In the still undecided 800m series, Rénelle Lamote left no room for chance. Present in series 4, the double European vice-champion stuck in the wake of the American Ajee Wilson, before attacking 200 m from the line and qualifying without trembling for the semi-finals ( overnight from Friday to Saturday). Winner of her series (in 2’00”71), the Frenchwoman will find the main favorites in the next round since Athing Mu (1st in series 3 in 2’01”30), Kelly Hodgkinson (1st in series 2 in 2”00”88) and Mary Moraa (2nd in series 6 in 2’00”42), among others, passed without a hitch.
Ingebrigsten puts on a show, Peters carefree
Second in the 1,500m behind Jack Wightman on Tuesday, Jakob Ingebrigtsen was back at Hayward Field on Thursday. The Norwegian, as usual, spent a good part of his 5,000m series in the last places before climbing back up so as not to lose the train. Very comfortable, he harangued the crowd at the entrance to the final stretch when he already knew that he might validate his ticket among the first five. Second in 13’13”92, the Olympic champion in the 1,500 m passed the cut just like most of the favorites (Cheptegei, O. Chelimo, Fisher, Barega…). Among the leaders, only the double world champion in the specialty Muktar Edris had to rely on a repechage on time to reach the final (final on Sunday).
Finally, the qualifications for the men’s javelin were a formality for the season’s best performer, Grenadian Anderson Peters (89.91m), Indian Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra (88.39m on the first attempt), vice-champion Czech Olympic Jakub Vadlejch (85.23 m) or the German Julian Weber (87.28 m). The final will take place on Saturday (3h35 in France).
