Armand Duplantis of Sweden celebrates during the men's pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
BUDAPEST, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Swede pole vault star Armand Duplantis was beyond anybody's reach en route to his title defending here on Saturday before Noah Lyles grabbed his third gold at the World Athletics Championships with the U.S. team's relay victory.
Duplantis, 23, cleared the heights six times all with only one attempt, winning the gold in 6.10m. He did try to improve his own world record of 6.22m by 1cm but missed it after three jumps.
Ernest John Obiena from the Philippines finished second in 6.00m, one place higher than he achieved at last year's World Championships while Australian Kurtis Marschall and American Christopher Nilsen both followed behind in 5.95m.
"I felt a bit of pressure as defending champion, but I'm glad to come through it. It feels pretty good to be on top again," said Duplantis.
After Duplantis' triumph, Lyles enjoyed the stage light as the American did a sensational fourth-legged run in the men's 4x100m relay final to claim his third title in the tournament.
On Saturday, Lyles took his third straight world title in the 200m event to become the first man to make the 100m and 200m doubles at the World Championships since Jamaican legend Usain Bolt achieved it in 2015.
"This is the third gold for me here. It's sensational, amazing. You can't do better," said Lyles after the U.S. men's team won in this year's leading time of 37.38 seconds.
The U.S. women's 4x100m relay team did a better job as they set a new Championships record in 41.03 seconds to retain the title.
The women's 5,000m reigning champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands couldn't hold off a surging Faith Kipyegon, as the Kenyan, who had won the 1,500m title, clinched her second gold at the Championships in 14:53.88.
Hassan was 0.23 seconds behind to grab the silver medal while Beatrice Chebet from Kenya finished third in 14:54.33.
"Making history today, winning two gold medals in a championship is what I was dreaming for this season. I have been patient waiting to be able to break world records and win double golds. But my dream just came true, it is amazing," said the 29-year-old Kipyegon who broke both the 1,500m and 5,000m world records earlier this year.
In the women's shot put final, Chase Ealey clinched back-to-back world title as the 29-year-old American threw to her season best of 20.43m.
Canadian Sarah Mitton took the silver in 20.08m while China's two-time world champion Gong Lijiao finished third in 19.69m.
Gong, 34, was not satisfied with her performance.
"I could not find my top form during the competition. Maybe I should participate in more international competitions in the rest of the season as I was kind of missing the feeling of battling with those girls," said Gong, who won the Olympic gold medal in her personal best of 20.58m two years ago in Tokyo.
Canada made a one-two finish in the decathlon as Pierce LePage led in 8909 points after two days of competition. Another Canadian, Marco Arop led the men's 800m final in 1:44.24.
Ethiopians took the top two positions in the women's marathon as Amane Beriso Shankule clinched the title in her season best of 2:24:23. ■
Armand Duplantis of Sweden competes during the men's pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Pierce LePage of Canada competes during the Pole Vault of the Men's Decathlon Final of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
