Wlodarczyk hammers field to take third world title

London,Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk destroyed the opposition to win a third hammer throw world title despite suffering from a broken finger and cramps on Monday. The 31-year-old had been the one to beat going into the competition. With two Olympics titles to her name, the world record holder has not been beaten since early 2014. After a slow start, she took the lead on her fourth throw, with a 77.39 metres effort, and wrapped up the gold with 77.90. Even with Wlodarczyk’s problems, the closest challenge to her crown was from China’s Zheng Wang, who won her first world medal by throwing 75.98m to claim silver. Wlodarczyk’s compatriot Malwina Kopron (74.76) claimed the bronze medal.
Botswana’s Makwala withdrawn from 400m final
Botswanan star Isaac Makwala was withdrawn from the 400m final today after an outbreak of the norovirus bug at a hotel hosting athletes. Makwala was withdrawn from the first round of the 200m yesterday for the same reason, but insisted Tuesday he was ready to run the 400m, before IAAF stepped in. Makwala was seen as one of the main challengers to favourite Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa. Public Health England said 30 athletes and support staff had been affected at a central London hotel, with two cases confirmed as being the norovirus bug.
Triple jumper Rojas claims Venezuela’s first world title
Yulimar Rojas claimed Venezuela’s first-ever World Championships title when she won the women’s triple jump by two centimetres from great rival Caterine Ibarguen in a see-saw battle on Monday. The 21-year-old’s win came one day after the South American country won their first medal of any colour when Robeilys Peinado took the bronze in the women’s pole vault. Colombian Ibarguen, who has dominated the event over the last few years and won gold in Rio de Janeiro last year ahead of Rojas, was denied a third successive world title. Ibarguen was leading with 14.89 metres until the fifth round when Rojas produced a leap of 14.91, the fourth time the lead had changed hands. Rojas, who is coached by retired Cuban long jump Olympics champion Ivan Pedroso and trains in Spain, celebrated her win effusively, jumping up and down and flapping her arms.
Coe and IAAF behaviour ‘inhumane’: Gatlin’s agent
Athletics chief Sebastian Coe and IAAF’s treatment of controversial 100 metres world champion Justin Gatlin is ‘inhumane’ and ‘unsportsmanlike’, the athlete’s agent said. Coe had said on Sunday that two-time drugs cheat Gatlin’s victory was not the ‘perfect script’. Gatlin’s agent Renaldo Nehemiah, a former 110m hurdles world record holder, was scathing about Coe’s remarks. “I don’t condone doping but Gatlin is not the poster child for it. He’s done his time, he plays by the rules, IAAF reinstated him. So to put a narrative out that he’s the bad guy, it’s really not fair,” he said.