BUDAPEST — Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela soared to her fourth consecutive world triple jump title, securing victory on her sixth and last jump to narrowly avoid disaster.
The world record holder and Olympic champion – unbeaten in more than two years – only sneaked into the final round of eight jumpers in last place before summoning a magical 15.08 metres on her final attempt to overtake Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk of Ukraine.
Bekh-Romanchuk, silver medallist in the long jump at the 2019 worlds, had to settle for another silver with 15.00. Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba won the bronze with 14.96.
Rojas, whose world record is a massive 15.74m, was eighth with just 14.33m and three fouls through five jumps, throwing her hand up in frustration with each failed attempt.
After flying past the 15m mark in the pit, she squeezed her eyes shut hopefully before the winning distance was posted.
Jackson wins 200m gold
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson delivered a command performance to retain her world 200 metres title in 21.41 seconds – the second-fastest time ever run.
Jackson, second in the 100m final, ran a brilliant bend, was two metres clear coming into the home straight and tore home to win by a street. Only Florence Griffith-Joyner´s 21.34 world record from 1988 is faster.
Gabby Thomas took silver in 21.81, while fellow American Sha’Carri Richardson added bronze to her 100m gold with a personal best 21.92.
Lyles grabs 3rd straight world 200m title
American Noah Lyles stormed to his third consecutive world 200 metres title and became the first man to win the sprint double since Jamaican great Usain Bolt in 2015.
Five days after capturing his first world title in the 100m, the 26-year-old Lyles pulled away down the straight to win in 19.52 seconds, just shy of his world-leading time of 19.47.
US team mate Erriyon Knighton, bronze medallist at last year’s worlds, upgraded to silver in 19.75, while Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, second in the 100 final, took bronze in 19.81.
Olympic champion Andre De Grasse of Canada was sixth.
Elsewhere, Germany’s Leo Neugebauer was the surprise leader at the end of day one of the decathlon at the World Athletics Championships, while reigning Olympic champion Damian Warner of Canada sat third as he bids for a first world title.
The 23-year-old Neugebauer, who arrived ranked 13th in the world, had 4,640 points after the 100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump and the 400 metres.
Canadian Pierce LePage, silver medallist at last year’s worlds in Eugene, overtook his team mate Warner with a solid 400m to sit in silver-medal position with 4,610 points.
Warner, who has world silver and bronze medals to go with his Olympic gold, ended the day with 4,578.
World record holder Kevin Mayer of France withdrew after the long jump, having suffered an Achilles injury two weeks ago.
“Since (the injury) I had eight hours of physiotherapy every day. I was not able to train at all. I knew it was going to be difficult but I tried,” said Mayer, who was in 15th when he pulled out.
“When I realised my left leg was starting to hurt more and more, I decided to stop. I knew I would not finish the decathlon and I wanted to stop before it becomes a big injury.”
Warner, who was in the lead last year in Eugene before pulling up with a hamstring injury in the 400m, got off to a strong start to lead after the 100m and long jump Friday. But Neugebauer, who was 10th at last year’s worlds, overtook the Canadian with big personal bests of 8.00m in the long jump and 17.04m in the shot put.
LePage climbed into second place with his time of 47.21 seconds in the 400m, while Neugebauer’s 47.99 was just enough to keep him in the lead.
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