Liam Belo da Silva, winner of the decathlon in Oregon (© Getty Images)
- Belo da Silva scores world U20-leading PB of 8112 to win decathlon
- Inzoli beats McGroder by just 1cm in long jump as Krutilová wins pole vault
- Ayachi takes high jump gold after three athletes clear 2.21m
Fine margins and big performances defined another evening of field-event action at the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 on Saturday (8).
Sweden’s Liam Belo da Silva produced the most commanding performance of the night, breaking 8000 points for the first time to win the decathlon, while the men’s high jump and long jump delivered much tighter contests. Just one centimetre separated gold and silver in the long jump, and three athletes cleared the winning height in the high jump before countback decided the medals.
There was further drama in the women’s pole vault, where Nicole Krutilová held her nerve to take the title with a 4.45m clearance.
Belo Da Silva dominates decathlon
Liam Belo da Silva delivered across two days and 10 events to win the decathlon with a PB and world U20-leading 8112, breaking the 8000-point barrier for the first time.
The Swedish athlete had entered the championships as the world U20 leader with 7981 points and gradually took control of the competition, despite having to contend with a nagging heel issue throughout the two days of action. One of his strongest moments came in the high jump, where his 2.15m clearance equalled the championship decathlon best and helped propel him into the overall lead.
Belo da Silva continued to build his advantage on the second day. After clocking 15.12 in the 110m hurdles, he produced another championship decathlon best in the discus, throwing 51.95m. A 4.80m clearance in the pole vault left him 133 points clear with just the javelin and 1500m remaining.
While Belo da Silva was strengthening his grip on gold, the javelin transformed the battle for the other medals.
The Netherlands’ Mikai Snoek produced a huge PB of 70.25m, six metres farther than everyone else. Japan’s Kiichi Miyashita was next best with a PB of 64.42m, while Czechia’s Adam Juliš threw a season’s best of 59.92m.
That left Juliš second overall going into the 1500m, with Snoek just 13 points behind and France’s Kilian Trochain also still in the medal hunt. Belo da Silva, meanwhile, held a commanding lead.
The final event therefore became as much a battle for silver and bronze as it was the conclusion of Belo da Silva’s title bid.
Belo da Silva clocked a season’s best of 4:39.51 to finish with a national U20 record of 8112, comfortably securing gold.
Behind him, Snoek ran 4:38.53 to overhaul Juliš in the closing standings. The Dutch athlete finished with a PB of 7887 points for silver, just 10 points ahead of Juliš, who also set a PB with 7877. Trochain finished another 21 points back in fourth with 7856.
Inzoli hangs on by one centimetre
Just one centimetre separated gold and silver in a dramatic finish to the men’s long jump.
Italy’s Daniele Leonardo Inzoli took an early lead with 7.93m in the opening round before improving to 7.97m with his second attempt. He didn’t register another legal mark, recording four consecutive fouls, but his early effort continued to hold up.
Australia’s Mason McGroder – who earned world U20 bronze in Lima two years ago at the age of 15 – kept the pressure on. He improved to 7.94m in the third round and matched that mark in the fourth, before producing his best jump when it mattered most.
On his sixth and final attempt, McGroder soared to a PB of 7.96m – falling just one centimetre short of Inzoli’s mark and giving the Italian the world U20 title.
India’s Shahnavaz Khan, who entered the championships as one of the leading contenders after jumping 8.30m earlier this year, moved into third with 7.84m in round three. He came close to improving with 7.83m in the fifth round but ultimately had to settle for bronze.
Ayachi wins three-way high jump battle
Younes Ayachi lived up to his status as world U20 leader to claim the men’s high jump title, but he was pushed all the way in a closely fought final.
Nine athletes remained in contention after clearing 2.17m, but the medals were ultimately decided at 2.21m, with Ayachi, India’s Basant and Great Britain’s Otis Poole all clearing the height.
Ayachi produced the cleanest series of the competition, clearing 2.06m, 2.12m, 2.17m and 2.21m on his first attempt. With neither he nor his rivals able to negotiate 2.24m, that flawless record secured gold for the Algerian.
Basant equalled his PB of 2.21m, clearing it on his second attempt to earn silver and become the first Indian high jumper to win a medal at the World U20 Championships.
Poole, meanwhile, saved his best for when it mattered. After clearing each of the first three heights at the first time of asking, the Briton needed three attempts at 2.21m but eventually sailed over to set a PB and secure bronze.
Krutilová keeps her cool for pole vault gold
Nicole Krutilová produced a composed performance to win the women’s pole vault title with a 4.45m clearance.
The Czech athlete needed two attempts at her opening height of 4.10m, but from there she was flawless, clearing 4.25m, 4.35m, 4.40m and 4.45m at the first attempt. With the title already secured, she then had three attempts at 4.50m but was unable to go higher.
Ukraine’s Olha Belchenko remained in contention deep into the competition. She cleared 4.40m to equal her PB, but could not follow Krutilová over 4.45m and took silver.
The battle for bronze came down to countback after USA’s Kylie Neira and Australia’s Jamison Harding both improved their PBs to 4.35m. Neira cleared the height on her first attempt, while Harding needed all three, giving the US athlete the final place on the podium.
Morgan Hoopes for the World Athletics Media Academy
