Canadian athlete Ethan Katzberg made history at the Tokyo National Stadium by securing his second consecutive world title in hammer throw. Katzberg, hailing from Nanaimo, B.C., set a new championship record and broke his own Canadian record with a remarkable throw of 84.70 meters, surpassing the previous record of 83.63 meters that had stood for 18 years. His winning throw was 1.93 meters longer than his closest competitor, earning him the gold medal.
The silver medal went to Germany’s Merlin Hummel with a throw of 82.77 meters, while Hungary’s Bence Halasz took the bronze with a distance of 82.69 meters. Katzberg’s victory marked another successful outing for Canadian athletes, following Camryn Rogers’ gold in the hammer throw event the previous day. With this win, Katzberg and Rogers have both secured back-to-back world titles, adding to their Olympic triumphs at Paris 2024.
Canada’s medal tally at the world championships now stands at three, including the hammer throw gold medals and Evan Dunfee’s gold in the men’s race walk. Meanwhile, Marco Arop, the defending champion in the 800 meters, advanced to the semifinals with a third-place finish in the opening-round heats, clocking a time of one minute 45.39 seconds. Despite Arop’s success, fellow Canadians Abdullahi Hassan, Justin O’Toole, and Matthew Erickson did not progress beyond the heats.
In another exciting event, Faith Kipyegon secured her fourth world championship in the 1,500 meters, finishing in 3:52.15. The Kenyan athlete dominated the race, crossing the line nearly three seconds ahead of her compatriot Dorcus Ewoi. Kipyegon’s victory solidified her status as one of the most successful runners in the metric mile, joining Hicham El Guerrouj as the only athletes to achieve four world titles in the event.
The thrilling action continued as Cordell Tinch clinched the gold medal in the 110 meters hurdles, marking a remarkable journey from a cellphone salesman in Green Bay to a world champion. Tinch’s victory came in a time of 12.99 seconds, showcasing his speed and skill over the hurdles. The American athlete outpaced his competitors, with Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason taking home the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Meanwhile, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set a new American record in the 400 meters semifinal, clocking an impressive time of 48.29 seconds. The record-breaking performance puts McLaughlin-Levrone in contention for the world title and potentially even challenging the longstanding world record of 47.60 seconds set by Maria Koch in 1985. With her exceptional form and record-breaking history, McLaughlin-Levrone has emerged as a formidable force in the track and field world, showcasing her prowess in both the 400 meters and 400 meters hurdles events.