USA dominates as France’s Tamgho sets a world record
The curtain came down today, Sunday, on the events of the thirteenth edition of the IAAF World Indoor Championships, hosted by Doha from 12 to 14 March, with the United States of America dominating most of the events, Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki claiming the Arabs’ only gold
of the championship by taking first place in the 800 metres, and France’s Teddy Tamgho breaking the (indoor) world record in the triple jump today, Sunday, with a new record mark of 17.90 metres.
Kaki gives the Arabs their first and only gold medal of the championship
Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki gave the Arabs their first gold medal by taking first place in the 800 metres. Abubaker Kaki covered the distance in 1:46.23 minutes after a fierce contest with Kenya’s Boaz Kiplagat Lalang (1:46.39) and Poland’s Adam Kszczot (1:46.69).
Fellow Sudanese runner Ismail Ahmed Ismail finished fourth, clocking 1:46.90 minutes.
Kaki expressed his immense happiness at achieving the Arabs’ first gold medal at the World Championships, saying his joy was doubled because his 800 m gold at the World Indoor Championships came on the soil of the Arab State of Qatar.
Kaki said: “I dedicate the gold medal to the Sudanese, Qatari and Arab public, and I hope I can break the world record for this race and thereby achieve an unprecedented global feat that would be a source of pride for Arab athletes.”
World record for France’s Tamgho
France’s Teddy Tamgho won gold in the triple jump, setting a new championship world record of 17.90 metres. Cuba’s Yoandri Betanzos took silver (17.69 m), and his compatriot Arnie David Girat took bronze (17.36 m).
Lagat crowned 3000m champion
American Bernard Lagat was crowned champion of the 3000 metres, covering the distance in 7:37.97 minutes. Spain’s Sergio Sanchez finished second (7:39.55) and Kenya’s Sammy Mutahi third (7:39.90).
Lagat had previously won gold in this race six years earlier, and he also holds two outdoor world championship gold medals from 2007 and three Olympic gold medals, from Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
Morocco’s Hicham Bellani finished seventh (7:44.15), while Qatar’s James Kwalia and Essa Ismail Rashed finished eighth and ninth, clocking 7:46.12 and 7:47.94 respectively.
USA women win 4x400m relay gold
The United States women’s team won gold in the 4×400 metre relay, ending Russia’s dominance, which had been crowned in the previous eight championships since 1995.
The United States, led by Debbie Dunn (winner of yesterday’s, Saturday’s, 400 m), DeeDee Trotter, Natasha Hastings and Allyson Felix, clocked 3:27.34 minutes, ahead of Russia (3:27.44), while bronze went to Jamaica (3:28.49).
Jamaica’s Campbell wins 60m gold
Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown won gold in the 60 metres, clocking seven seconds. Silver went to LaVerne Jones-Ferrette of the US Virgin Islands (7.03), and bronze to America’s Carmelita Jeter (7.05).
The champion had twice won Olympic gold in the 200 m, as well as the 2007 world championship gold in the 100 m.
Russia’s Savinova wins 800m gold
Russia’s Maria Savinova won gold in the 800 metres, clocking 1:58.26 minutes. Britain’s Jenny Meadows took silver (1:58.43) and America’s Alysia Johnson took bronze.
US men’s team champions in 4x400m relay
The American men’s team was crowned champion of the 4×400 metre relay for the third consecutive time. The American team, made up of Jamaal Torrance, Greg Nixon, Tavaris Tate and Bershawn Jackson, clocked 3:03.40 minutes, ahead of Belgium in second (3:06.94) and Britain in third (3:07.52).
Shot put gold for Belarus’s Ostapchuk
Belarus’s Nadzeya Ostapchuk won gold in the shot put with a mark of 20.85 metres. Silver went to New Zealand’s Valerie Adams (20.49 m) and bronze to fellow Belarusian Natalia Koroniko (20.42 m).
High jump gold for Russia’s Ukhov
Russia’s Ivan Ukhov won gold in the high jump with a mark of 2.36 metres. Fellow Russian Yaroslav Rybakov took silver (2.31 m) and America’s Dusty Jonas took bronze (2.31 m).
Pole vault gold for Brazil’s Murer
Brazil’s Fabiana Murer won gold in the pole vault. Murer cleared 4.80 metres, leaving silver to Russia’s Svetlana Feofanova (4.80 m) and bronze to Poland’s Anna Rogowska (4.70 m).
Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva, the world record holder with 5.06 metres, finished fourth after failing to clear the 4.60 metre bar.
America’s Reese wins long jump gold
America’s Brittney Reese won gold in the long jump with a mark of 6.70 metres. Silver went to Portugal’s Naide Gomes (6.67 m) and bronze to Brazil’s Keila da Silva Costa (6.63 m).
Reese had also been crowned champion of the event at last year’s outdoor World Championships in Berlin.
Ethiopia’s Gezahegn wins 1500m gold
Ethiopia’s Kalkidan Gezahegn won gold in the 1500 metres, clocking 4:08.14 minutes. Silver went to Spain’s Natalia Rodriguez (4:08.30) and bronze to fellow Ethiopian Gelete Burka (4:08.39).
Cuba’s Robles crowned 60m hurdles champion
Cuba’s Dayron Robles, the Olympic 110 m hurdles gold medallist, was crowned champion of the 60 metre hurdles, covering the distance in 7.34 seconds. Robles finished narrowly ahead of America’s Terrence Trammell (7.36), with fellow American David Oliver taking third (7.44).
China’s Liu Xiang, champion of the previous edition, had to settle for seventh place, 0.31 seconds behind the winner
