Kerr adds world high jump crown to Olympic title, Kipyegon bags fourth 1,500m gold

Hamish Kerr banished his world championship demons with a leap of 2.36 metres to win a dramatic high jump final on Tuesday and give New Zealand a second gold medal in Tokyo.

The 29-year-old, who failed to qualify for the final at the last two world championships, matched his personal best at the first attempt and tore off across the infield in celebration when Woo Sang-hyeok failed at the same height.

“I am stoked with the gold and stoked with the way I did it. That’s something I am going to look back on,” said Kerr.

“I had to fight for the gold. It was not an easy final for me. Many times I thought I wouldn’t win. But being able to fight and not give up is important.”

Woo, who was hoping to give South Korea their first ever outdoor world championship gold, finished second to add another silver medal to the one he won three years ago after clearing 2.34m at his third attempt.

That clearance put the world indoor champion in gold medal position but Kerr responded with a clutch jump at the same height and, with the crowd roaring its approval, matched the leap that won him the Olympic title in Paris last year.

“I do not want to stop now,” said Woo. “I have already started to prepare for the world championships in Beijing in 2027. I want to fight for another medal there. Maybe silvers are enough for me.”

Czech Jan Stefela took bronze on the countback over Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk after they both cleared the bar at 2.31m but failed all three attempts at 2.34m.

A first-time champion was guaranteed on Tuesday after three-times gold medallist Mutaz Barshim pulled out on the eve of the championships with a foot injury and Gianmarco Tamberi, who won the title two years ago, failed to get through qualifying.

American Shelby McEwen, who won silver behind Kerr in Paris last year after turning down the chance of a shared gold, also failed to get through to the final.

Kerr said the absence of the champions has by no means diminished the level of competition with seven jumpers still in the contest at 2.31m.

“The thing about the high jump I love most is being able to perform and put on a good show. We definitely did it tonight,” he said.

“Winning when the guys aren’t jumping well isn’t fun, so to be able to fight against guys for the gold was special.”

New Zealand’s first gold medal at the championships came in even more dramatic fashion when Geordie Beamish won the 3,000 metres steeplechase on Monday night.

“Geordie and me have won the world indoor titles on the same day,” said Kerr.

Meanwhile, Faith Kipyegon cemented her status as an athletics legend by winning her fourth world 1500 metres title whilst Cordell Tinch’s decision to return to the sport paid off with 110m hurdles gold.

The 31-year-old Kipyegon had bad news for those who entertained hopes of winning the 5000m later in the week — the Kenyan is going to try and achieve the double as she did in Budapest in 2023.

Tinch was also at those championships two years ago but bowed out in the semi-finals, with Grant Holloway going onto win his third world gold.

On Tuesday the roles were reversed as Holloway bowed out in the semis and 25-year-old Tinch took his crown.

Not bad for someone who stepped away from the sport and five years ago was selling mobile phones and then worked in a paper factory.

Some had thought the women’s 1500m might see a new generation take over in the shape of Kipyegon’s 22-year-old teammate Nelly Chepchirchir.

However, Kipyegon put that theory firmly in its place, and just as at the Covid-19 delayed Tokyo Olympics she will be bringing something gold back to her daughter.

“This sport drives me,” said Kipyegon, who also set a new world record over the distance in Oregon in July.

Tinch’s road back to the track was sparked by a jest made at his expense by his stepfather in 2020, but as being the new world champion sank in he had no regrets about the sabbatical.

“If I hadn’t taken that break from the track, I wouldn’t be a world champion now,” said Tinch.

“Everything I learned at that time away from the sport made me the man I am and a world champion.”

Agencies