Jasmine Jones at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest (© Getty Images)
After finishing just shy of the podium at the 2024 Olympics and one place short of the gold medal at the 2025 World Championships, Jasmine Jones landed the first major international title of her career by winning the 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26.
Going into this competition, Jones had won just one 400m hurdles race this year – a 52.91 run at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial, hosted at this very same stadium.
Jones had given a glimpse of her potential in yesterday’s semifinals, running a season’s best of 52.77. Today she showed she had more to give.
Diamond League champion Anna Cockrell led for the first half of the race with world bronze medallist Emma Zapletalova and Jones giving chase. But as the stagger finally unwound coming into the home straight, Jones carried the best momentum and edged into the lead.
Cockrell’s pace started to fade, allowing European champion Zapletalova to move into second. But Jones could not be caught, and she went on to win in a season’s best of 52.45.
Zapletalova held on to second place in 52.68 – her seventh sub-53-second run of the year. Cockrell finished third in 53.09, just 0.02 ahead of former world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad, who was contesting the final race of her career.
“This is wild and I didn't see that coming,” said Jones. “Coming off Dalilah's last race, she inspired me so much growing up as a 400m hurdler. Having Dalilah and Emma, who has had such a breakout season, alongside me and competing with them in this brand new championship was so much fun.”
Muhammad, meanwhile, reflected on her glittering career within moments of crossing the line.
“It never really hits you until you finish your career and see what you have accomplished,” said the 2016 Olympic and 2019 world champion. “I had a really blessed career and I'm really grateful for it.”
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
