Sembo Almayew on her way to the world U20 steeplechase title in Lima (© Christel Saneh for World Athletics)
A pair of spectacular 400m finals and a championship record in the 3000m steeplechase proved the highlights on the track at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 on Thursday (29).
Sembo Almayew lived up to her favourite’s billing in fine style to become the first ever Ethiopian world U20 women’s steeplechase champion, the Paris Olympian surging clear of her chief rival Loice Chekwemoi of Uganda on the penultimate lap and coming home in 9:12.71. Adding a gold to her silver in this event from two years ago, she also took 0.07 off the championship record set by Celliphine Chespol in 2018. Chekwemoi clocked 9:18.84 in second with Kenya’s Diana Chepkemoi taking bronze in 9:29.84.
In the women’s 400m final, Czechia’s Lurdes Gloria Manuel announced herself as a potential senior star of the future. She showed no lingering fatigue from her debut Olympics in Paris and produced a performance of poise, power and class, gliding clear of the field in the final 100m to hit the finish in 51.29, with Canada’s Dianna Proctor flying home for silver in a PB of 51.98 and USA’s Zaya Akins finishing third in 52.00.
In the men’s 400m, South Africa’s Udeme Okon was also the athlete with all the answers in the decisive last 100 metres, powering away from US duo Jayden Davis and Sidi Njie and hitting the line in 45.69 to take a glorious gold, with Davis taking silver in 46.08 and Njie bronze in 46.29.
There was an upset in the men’s 3000m as Norway’s Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen kicked to victory in 8:20.56, coming home ahead of Kenya’s Denis Kipkoech (8:20.79) and Britain’s Edward Bird (8:21.00).
After a pedestrian first kilometre, the gears slowly began to shift midway through the race, and with just over a kilometre to run Kenya’s Clinton Kimutai Ngetich launched a vicious surge. He was joined at the front by Kipkoech with a lap left but faded through the field on the back straight, with Kipkoech looking the likely winner at that point. But if he was the fly who had taken flight, then Halvorsen was the spider who was lying in wait, and the Norwegian pounced on the final bend and powered clear to a memorable gold.
“I'm getting in the shape of my life now, these last days and weeks were great,” said Halvorsen. “I wanted to fight for the gold and that is exactly what I did. I'm grateful for everyone that helped me to do this and the ones that are going to help me get even further.”
In the women’s 100m hurdles semifinals, Kerrica Hill of Jamaica turned up the heat on her rivals, the reigning champion blasting a 13.00 (0.1m/s) to advance to the final ahead of USA’s Nonah Waldron (13.35). Long jump champion Delta Amidzovski of Australia continued her breakthrough week by winning the last semifinal in 13.48 (-1.5m/s), while Croatia’s Mia Wild won the first semifinal in 13.24 (0.0m/s).
USA’s Ja’Kobe Tharp set a world U20 lead of 13.11 to blast into the men’s 110m hurdles final, clocking 13.11 (-0.6m/s) to win his semifinal with ease ahead of Richard Hall of Jamaica (13.44). His biggest rival in the final will likely be US teammate Andre Korbmacher who turned in a crisp performance to win his semifinal in 13.25 (0.7m/s), while China’s Chen Yuanjiang will also fancy his medal chances after taking a narrow victory in the other semifinal in 13.38.
Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth proved she will be tough to beat in the women’s 800m final with a composed, classy performance to win her semifinal in 2:03.52, though Kenya’s Sarah Moraa – the cousin of world champion Mary Moraa – was just as impressive when controlling the third semifinal to win in 2:03.44. Japan’s Rin Kubo edged USA’s Sophia Gorriaran to win the first semifinal, 2:03.00 to 2:03.01.
Australia also has a huge gold medal contender in the men’s 800m in Peyton Craig, who timed his run to perfection to win the first semifinal in 1:47.31 ahead of Kenya’s Kelvin Kimutai Koech. Ethiopia’s General Berhanu Ayansa won the second semifinal in 1:47.28 while Kenya’s Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech won the last semifinal just ahead of Ko Ochiai of Japan (1:48.26).
Adaejah Hodge, the 100m silver medallist, showed she is a strong contender for 200m gold when blasting to victory in her semifinal in 23.18 (-0.6m/s), but the quickest qualifier was fellow Olympian Torrie Lewis of Australia, who clocked 23.14 (-0.6m/s) in the subsequent semifinal. Australia’s Jessia Milat won the other semifinal in 23.42 (0.4m/s).
The good times kept rolling for Australia in the men’s 200m semifinals, with recent viral sensation Gout Gout showing he is a big contender for gold, blasting to victory in 21.07 (-0.9m/s). Sweden’s William Trulsson edged Britain’s Jake Odey-Jordan to victory in the second semifinal, 21.30 to 21.40 (-1.2m/s), while 100m champion Bayanda Walaza of South Africa showed he is well on track for the sprint double in the last semifinal, easing up significantly and clocking 21.00 (0.3m/s) ahead of USA’s Jaden Wiley (21.04).
Cathal Dennehy for World Athletics