Britain's Josh Kerr celebrates next to Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen after winning the men's 1500m final during the 2023 World Athletics Championships Photo: AFP
Briton Josh Kerr pulled off one of the shocks of the Athletic World Championships when he beat Olympic champion and hot favourite Jakob Ingebrigtsen in an absolute carbon copy of last year's final to take 1,500m gold in Budapest.
Favourite in 2022, Norway's Ingebrigtsen was outkicked by Britain's Jake Wightman to miss out on gold and Kerr, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist behind Ingebrigtsen, made his move at about the same spot with 200 metres to go.
Kerr dug deep to stay in front and won in 3:29.38 with Ingebrigtsen, whose 3:27.14 run in Poland five weeks ago made him the fourth-fastest man in history, taking silver in 3:29.65.
American Katie Moon and Australia's Nina Kennedy decided to share the gold medal in a dramatic women's pole vault final.
The two women cleared 4.90 metres in an event that stretched two hours and 10 minutes, but both missed on all three attempts at 4.95 and decided to share the victory rather than go to a jump-off.
It was the second consecutive world title for Moon, who also won Olympic gold in Tokyo.
The three New Zealanders in the event, Eliza McCartney, Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart all failed to qualify for the final yesterday.
Today New Zealand javelin thrower Tori Peeters missed out by one place on making the final.
"To miss out on the final by 7cm is tough. I'm pretty gutted but, at the same time, I reflect back on my season so far and I'm really proud of how much I've grown an athlete. My performances have been a lot more consistent both physically and mentally and it's definitely given me a lot of confidence in regards to what my team and I know I'm capable of."
New Zealand javelin thrower Tori Peeters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships Photo: Supplied / Athletics NZ
Georgia Hulls exited the opening round of the women's 200m after placing fifth in her heat and Lauren Bruce failed to make the cut in qualifying for the hammer.
Bruce placed 28th with a best of 67.10m.
The 26-year-old Oceania record-holder with a best of 74.61m could not quite rediscover her best form.
"It certainly doesn't get any easier bowing out in qualifying. It still stings. But it was an overwhelmingly different experience to past majors. A lot more positive, a lot more smiles, and a lot more fun. We're better for this year, even if it didn't show in the performance."
Karsten Warholm of Norway returned to the top of the global medal podium, racing to gold in the 400-metres hurdles.
The world record holder and Olympic champion ran 46.89, pulling away from American Rai Benjamin heading into the home straight.
The 27-year-old won the 2017 and 2019 world championships, but struggled to seventh at the worlds last season in Eugene when he was hampered by an injury.
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic won the women's 400m, finally claiming top spot on the podium after silvers at last year's worlds and the Tokyo Olympics.
The race was wide open in the absence of injured American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the 400m hurdles world record holder and fastest in the world this year, and with Olympic and defending world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo going out in the heats four months after having a baby.
-Reuters