At first, he appears quiet and mild-mannered off the track, in stark contrast to his fierce competitiveness on it. But don't be fooled by his gentle and unassuming nature; a strong sense of determination fuels him.
Meet Antonio Watson, the newly minted world 400m champion. His stunning victory on that beautiful evening in Budapest in August saw him join a distinguished group of Jamaican 400m runners who have won senior global titles. 
In 1983, Bertland Cameron won Jamaica's first 400m gold medal at the inaugural edition of the World Championships held in Helsinki, Finland. Cameron followed in the footsteps of Dr. Arthur Wint and George Rhoden, who won Olympic gold medals in the 400m in 1948 and 1952, respectively.
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<h2>Early days</h2>
Watson hails from the Duncans community in Trelawny, a parish known for producing many of Jamaica's top athletes, such as Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Omar Brown, Warren Weir, Lerone Clarke, Marvin Anderson, Ricardo Chambers and Inez Turner.
Watson's prodigious talent came to light over a decade ago at the prestigious JPS Western U12 Primary Championships, when he was competing for Duncans All-Age School. After attending a coaching seminar in Montego Bay, Watson's primary school coach teamed up with Machel Woolery to create a roadmap for Watson's success.
This resulted in him travelling 90km to attend the Petersfield High School in Westmoreland. Despite limited resources, he became a top performer in Jamaica's high school system. He recalls excelling in football, briefly following in his father's footsteps before discovering his true calling in athletics.
Initially, he competed in strength and endurance events due to his natural athleticism and potential. &ldquo;I did the 800m and shot put at Western Champs and the 1500m at the Boys and Girls Championships,&rdquo; Watson says.
Despite his versatility, Watson realised early on that specialising in one or two events was needed to reach the pinnacle. He chose sprinting and identified with the 200m and 400m, earning several gold medals, including the 400m world U18 title in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2017.&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65686c9b8c721d977b8002c2.jpg" alt="Antonio Watson at the 2017 World U18 Championships in Nairobi" />
Antonio Watson at the 2017 World U18 Championships in Nairobi (&copy; Getty Images)
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Just as his stocks began to soar, Watson faced a few setbacks. He was frustrated by a hamstring injury in 2019, forcing him to miss the 200m and 400m finals at the Jamaican high school championships. The following year, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, leading to the cancellation of numerous global events.
<h2>Youthful exuberance</h2>
In the 2021 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, held behind closed doors, Watson won his favourite event, the 200m. This cemented his legacy as one of the few athletes to achieve this feat across all age groups. &ldquo;I love the 200m because it&rsquo;s not just about raw speed; you have to combine speed and strength, and I appreciate that,&rdquo; says Watson.
There was controversy surrounding his victory celebration, but Watson learnt from the experience. Raising his left hand, Watson appeared to make a pointing and shooting gesture when crossing the finish line, but his sincere apology for the pre-planned quirk demonstrated responsibility and commitment to making things right. 
&ldquo;I learned a valuable lesson that not everything one thinks, they should do,&rdquo; he says.
He remained resolute in not letting the incident affect his morale and enthusiasm.
A few months later, he faced an important decision. Unlike many of his peers, Watson never considered training overseas and believed that staying home was his best option. &ldquo;I had received offers from abroad, but I was never a foreign-minded individual,&rdquo; Watson explains. &ldquo;After having a conversation with Coach Glen Mills earlier in the year, I felt he was the right person to take me to the next level.&rdquo;&nbsp;
After graduating high school in 2021, Watson joined the Racers Track Club under the guidance of Mills, who led the legendary Bolt to multiple Olympic and world titles. &ldquo;I got a good reception at the club,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Everyone was welcoming and fun to be around.&rdquo;
<h2>Winning formula</h2>
The partnership proved successful within two years, as Mills produced his first 400m world champion. During an impressive 2023 outdoor season, Watson won nine out of 10 400m races, setting multiple personal bests. He suffered his only defeat in early July during the Jamaica National Senior Championships.
&ldquo;I went to Budapest with the right mindset,&rdquo; explains Watson. &ldquo;After reaching the final of the World Championships, running 44.13 in the semis and becoming the third fastest Jamaican ever, I promised myself I would make it on to the podium no matter what.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65686e6d267b20cb67199477.jpg" alt="Antonio Watson celebrates his world 400m title win" />
Antonio Watson celebrates his world 400m title win (&copy; Getty Images)
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In the final, he ran 44.22 &ndash; the second-fastest time of his career behind his PB from the semifinals &ndash; to triumph ahead of Great Britain&rsquo;s Matthew Hudson-Smith and USA&rsquo;s Quincy Hall.
"I am really proud I am bringing gold to Jamaica," he said at the time. "This is an amazing season for me. After winning the world youth title in 2017, it is amazing to win the gold medal at my first senior World Championships. I believed in myself."
His motivation to succeed comes from his close-knit family, which includes his parents, grandparents and three younger sisters. They inspire him to be the best version of himself.
While preparing for major championships, Watson&rsquo;s unwavering steadfastness and unrelenting work ethic sets him apart. &ldquo;I always try to focus and execute the plans of my coach and avoid social media and other distractions,&rdquo; he says.
It is difficult for athletes to achieve their life goals without trusting their support staff. Watson acknowledges the value of his mentors, who have influenced him to understand his perspective. &ldquo;Thanks to my agent, Cubie Seegobin, I am now financially responsible and equipped with the necessary skills to prepare for life beyond sports,&rdquo; Watson adds.
During his free time, Watson enjoys playing FIFA and listening to music. Returning home following his world title win, Watson, who received the keys to the city of Savanna-la-Mar, the capital of Westmoreland, found ways to deal with his newfound fame. "Coping with international stardom has been hectic, but I&rsquo;m managing,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I remain grounded and humble. I&rsquo;m never letting fame get to my head.&rdquo;
With the Paris Olympics next on the horizon, Watson understands he can no longer fly under the radar.
&ldquo;Being world champion, I know I need to step up my game and work even harder,&rdquo; he acknowledges. &ldquo;The competition will be fierce, but I&rsquo;ll be heading back to the drawing board with my coach and coming up with a plan.&rdquo;
Noel Francis for World Athletics

Watson's victory in Budapest saw him join a distinguished group of Jamaican 400m runners who have won senior global titles

World champion Watson, no longer flying under the radar

Three-quarters (75%) of our sport&rsquo;s athletes perceive a direct negative impact on their health and performance due to climate change with 85% expressing that the sport of athletics has experienced adverse consequences, according to the third annual survey* conducted by World Athletics to gauge the attitudes of elite athletes about environmental and social issues.
These survey results, published to coincide with the start of the COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference which gets under way tomorrow (30) in Dubai, mark a notable increase from <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/athletes-share-serious-concerns-about-climate-crisis-world-athletics-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/athletes-share-serious-concerns-about-climate-crisis-world-athletics-survey">2022</a> when 72% believed climate change had negatively affected the sport and 66% reported a direct impact.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6567ce576959b11a8af8744d.jpg" alt="World Athletics climate change survey 2023" />
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The survey of nearly 400 athletes who competed at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 in August also found that 77% and 83%, respectively, said they were either extremely concerned or very concerned about the climate crisis and air pollution while 90% said that World Athletics has a role to play in building a more sustainable future.
Athletes&rsquo; increasing concern aligns with the current situation, as 2023 is poised to be the hottest year on record. A UN warning of a potential catastrophic 2.5&deg;C to 2.9&deg;C temperature increase signals a heightened likelihood of more frequent extreme weather events impacting the health of athletes and the sport of athletics in the coming years.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: "Our athletes continue to speak clearly about the impacts that the climate crisis is having on their lives and on their sport. Their concern is loud and clear. It's important for us to continue to act on those concerns and use the influence we have to help drive meaningful change."
Acting on those concerns, in 2022 World Athletics established its <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/champions-better-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/champions-better-world">&lsquo;Champions for a Better World&rsquo;</a>, a group of nine athletes representing each of its six continental areas who are lending their voices to sustainability campaigning within the sport, allowing athletes to collectively raise awareness about climate change. As the group enters its second year, Australian race walker Rhydian Cowley becomes its newest member, joining a distinguished lineup of athletes that includes Kelsey-Lee Barber (Australia, javelin), Ajla Del Ponte (Switzerland, sprints), Alison Dos Santos (Brazil, hurdles), Sam Mattis (USA, discus), Eliza McCartney (New Zealand, pole vault), Ernest John Obiena (Philippines, pole vault), Elena Vallortigara (Italy, high jump) and Hugues Fabrice Zango (Burkina Faso, triple jump).
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6567ce7c6959b11a8af8744e.jpg" alt="World Athletics climate change survey 2023" />
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In its inaugural year, Champions for a Better World athletes participated in meet-and-greet events in the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/wch-budapest-23-green-zone" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/wch-budapest-23-green-zone">Green Zone</a> at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, contributed to an Earth Day video project and promoted workshops and individual initiatives with their fans and fellow athletes.
To mark the start of its second year and welcome Cowley, a two-time Olympian, the group has collaborated on a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0OzV8dMxqv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new video</a> spotlighting some of their own sustainable everyday habits to highlight, according to the survey, that 77% of athletes expressed a willingness to change their lifestyles to reduce their impact on the environment.
Over the last year, World Athletics concluded the second pilot year of its <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/sustainability/athletics-for-a-better-world-standard" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/sustainability/athletics-for-a-better-world-standard">Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Standard</a>, a certification developed to assess events' sustainability in alignment with the organisation's strategy. Scheduled for launch in January 2024, the standard has been introduced to organisers of nearly 300 events since its unveiling in December 2021. Budapest, hosting the 2023 World Championships, emerged as the first local organising committee to fully embrace and test the standard. The ABW Standard played a key role in World Athletics achieving ISO 20121 sustainable event certification in April, validating the effectiveness of its sustainability efforts.
World Athletics
*373 athletes participated in the survey, conducted between 20 August and 15 September 2023.

Three-quarters (75%) of our sport’s athletes perceive a direct negative impact on their health and performance due to climate change

Three-quarters of athletes directly impacted by climate change, World Athletics survey finds

US cross-country champion Ednah Kurgat will look to improve upon her third-place finish from last year when she lines up for the Cross Champs &ndash; the only US-based Gold stage of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour &ndash; in Austin, Texas, on Thursday (30).
Meanwhile, the likes of Wesley Kiptoo, Olin Hacker and Adriaan Wildschutt will also return to Austin where they&rsquo;ll face the likes of Charles Hicks.
Kurgat&rsquo;s last cross-country race was at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, where she placed 18th in the senior women&rsquo;s race. She went on to enjoy a strong track campaign in 2023, setting PBs for 5000m and 10,000m, and taking bronze in the latter distance at the Pan-American Games.
She has also excelled on the roads, winning the US 6km title and picking up national medals over 10km and 20km. Kurgat placed third in Austin last year, finishing 12 seconds adrift of eventual winner Alicia Monson, but she&rsquo;ll feel confident in her chances of improving upon that on Thursday.
She&rsquo;ll face stiff opposition from Kenya&rsquo;s Mercy Chelangat and USA&rsquo;s Krissy Gear.
Chelangat has won NCAA titles over 10,000m (2022) and at cross country (2020). She recently made her half marathon debut, clocking 1:11:37 in Boston earlier this month.
Gear, meanwhile, won the US steeplechase title earlier this year, clocking a PB of 9:12.81. Thursday&rsquo;s race will be her first competitive outing since the World Championships in Budapest.
Katie Izzo joined Kurgat on the USA&rsquo;s team for the World Cross earlier this year, eventually placing 31st. She heads to Austin in good form, having set PBs this year for 10,000m and the half marathon.
Marisa Howard is another entrant who has represented the USA at a World Cross, having competed at the 2017 edition. The steeplechase specialist was a bronze medallist at the 2019 Pan-American Games.
Mahelet Mulugeta, who represented Ethiopia over 800m at the 2017 World Championships, has moved up in distance in recent years and should be competitive on Thursday. USA&rsquo;s Emily Venters, who finished second over 10,000m at this year&rsquo;s NCAA Championships, should also be in contention.
Wesley Kiptoo and Olin Hacker were separated by just two seconds in the men&rsquo;s race in Austin last year, finishing sixth and seventh respectively. Both will be targeting podium places on Thursday, having enjoyed strong seasons so far in 2023.
Kiptoo, the 2021 NCAA indoor 5000m champion, made his marathon debut in Chicago last month, finishing 12th in 2:10:28. Earlier this year, he clocked a PB of 1:00:35 when finishing second at the Houston Half Marathon.
Hacker, the 2022 NCAA 5000m champion, has this year set PBs for the 1500m, mile, 3000m and 5000m. More recently, he placed 14th over 5km at the World Road Running Championships in Riga.
Britain&rsquo;s Charles Hicks will likely be a tough opponent. He won the European U23 5000m title earlier this year, but he excels at cross country too, having won two European U23 titles on that surface, as well as the 2022 NCAA title.
South Africa&rsquo;s Adriaan Wildschutt will also be difficult to beat. This year he has set national records at 3000m (7:39.25), 5000m (13:02.46) and 10,000m (27:23.10), and placed 14th in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Budapest. He was runner-up at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships and placed 14th in Austin last year, but he&rsquo;d have gained confidence from his recent 10km victory in Cape Town, where he clocked 27:53 to win by more than a minute.
Other contenders include Tunisia&rsquo;s 2022 NCAA steeplechase champion Ahmed Jaziri, Kenya&rsquo;s 2018 NCAA 10,000m silver medallist Vincent Kiprop, and USA&rsquo;s Pan-American 1500m bronze medallist Casey Comber.

US cross-country champion Ednah Kurgat will look to improve upon her third-place finish from last year

Kurgat seeks redemption on return to Austin

World mixed 4x400m record 3:08.80 United States (Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling, Alexis Holmes) Budapest, 19 August 2023
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The world mixed 4x400m record of 3:08.80 set by the triumphant US team at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 has now been ratified.
Their record-breaking performance provided a dramatic climax of the opening night of action at this year&rsquo;s World Championships.
First-leg runner Justin Robinson gave the USA an early lead, but the Netherlands were close behind. Lieke Klaver put the Netherlands into pole position at half way with a marginal lead over Rosey Effiong of the USA.
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Isaya Klein Ikkink maintained Netherlands&rsquo; lead on the third leg, but USA&rsquo;s Matthew Boling had closed the gap. Hurdles specialist Femke Bol took up the running for the Netherlands on the anchor leg, and looked to be on her way to victory, but her legs started to tire in the closing stages. USA&rsquo;s Alexis Holmes, meanwhile, was starting to close.
With just metres left, Bol&rsquo;s legs buckled as Holmes drew level. Bol crashed to the ground while Holmes went on to cross the line in 3:08.80 to secure the title for the USA.
Their winning time took more than half a second off the previous world record set by a different US squad at the World Championships in Doha on 29 September 2019.
World Athletics

USA's 3:08.80 clocking from the mixed 4x400m at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 is now officially in the record books

Ratified: USA’s world mixed 4x400m record

Ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2023, a digital exhibition has been created featuring the 12 images shortlisted for World Athletics Photograph of the Year.
From the 134 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising Valerie Adams, Raquel Cavaco Nunes, Joel Marklund, Pascal Rondeau and Blanka Vlasic &ndash; selected the below 12 shortlisted images and then the three finalists.
The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/finalists-2023-photograph-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finalists were announced on 21 November</a> and the winning photograph will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms in early December, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023.
<h2>Digital exhibition of shortlisted images</h2>
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65649827505126c25c3bd143.jpg" alt="David Balogh - 2023 digital exhibition" />
The men's pole vault final during day eight of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 at the National Athletics Centre Photo by David Balogh 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65649853505126c25c3bd146.jpg" alt="Sam Barnes - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Alexis Holmes of USA, left, on her way to winning the mixed 4x400m as Femke Bol of Netherlands falls at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 Photo by Sam Barnes, Sportsfile 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65649877505126c25c3bd149.JPG" alt="Fabrizio Bensch - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Sha'Carri Richardson of USA crosses the line to win the women's 100m final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 Photo by Fabrizio Bensch, Reuters 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6564989f505126c25c3bd14c.JPG" alt="Sandor Csudai - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Noah Lyles of USA celebrates winning the men's 100m final at the National Athletics Centre, Budapest Photo by Sandor Csudai 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/656498c4505126c25c3bd14f.jpg" alt="Anton Geyser - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy winning gold in the high jump at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 Photo by Anton Geyser, South African Sports Images 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/656498f0505126c25c3bd152.jpg" alt="Andrej Isakovic - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi celebrates winning the men's high jump final during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest Photo by Andrej Isakovic, AFP 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65649917a3044b51d9376e3b.jpg" alt="Meng Dingbo - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Athletes set off during the women's 100m final of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 Photo by Meng Dingbo, Xinhua News Agency 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65649936a3044b51d9376e3e.JPG" alt="Mattia Ozbot - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Leo Neugebauer of Germany in the decathlon pole vault at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 Photo by Mattia Ozbot, World Athletics Photography Workshop 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65649955a3044b51d9376e41.jpg" alt="Martin Rickett - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Athletes compete in the men's marathon as it passes through Heroes' Square on day nine of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary Photo by Martin Rickett, PA Wire 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65649970a3044b51d9376e44.JPG" alt="Felix Sanchez - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Five men&rsquo;s 100m finalists prepare for the race with different gestures and in search of the gold medal, with the public watching the action at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest Photo by Felix Sanchez, Corredor 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6564998ba3044b51d9376e47.jpg" alt="Patrick Smith - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Kyle Blignaut of South Africa competes in men's shot put qualification during day one of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 at the National Athletics Centre Photo by Patrick Smith, Getty Images 
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/656499b1a3044b51d9376e4a.jpg" alt="Michael Stricker - 2023 digital exhibition" />
Women&rsquo;s high jump winner Nicola Olyslagers of Australia cheers after clearing a world lead and winning jump of 2.02m at the Diamond League, Athletissima, in Lausanne Photo by Michael Stricker 
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A digital exhibition has been created featuring the 12 images shortlisted for World Athletics Photograph of the Year

Digital exhibition: 2023 World Athletics Photograph of the Year shortlisted images

Burundi&rsquo;s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw confirmed their supremacy at the Cross Internacional de la Constitucion, the sixth Gold meeting in this season&rsquo;s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, in Alcobendas, Spain, on Sunday (26).
In doing so, the 23-year-old Burundian retained his title in style while Amebaw managed her first win here after finishing third two years ago.
Held in pleasant weather conditions, the men's 10.1km contest opened with Eritrea's Filmon Kibrom taking an early lead, closely followed by Kwizera and Uganda's Martin Kiprotich. Once the third kilometre was over, the leading pack was compounded by the those three plus Eritrea's Aron Kifle, Burundi's Celestin Ndikumana, Rwanda's Yves Nimubona and the surprise Spaniard Andreu Blanes, a former world junior silver medallist in orienteering races who only took up athletics in 2018.
Kwizera moved to the front for the first time roughly 11 minutes into the race, but he didn't increase the cadence; the lead group covered the second big loop in 6:55, 12 seconds slower than the first. Despite that, Nimubona started to lose ground at halfway just before 20-year-old Kiprotich decided to increase the rhythm which could only be followed by Kwizera.
Having covered the third 2.3km lap in 6:37, Kiprotich still had Kwizera for company at the bell while Ndikumana and Kibrom were three seconds adrift of them with Blanes running alone in fifth.
On his fourth consecutive appearance in Alcobendas, Kwizera took advantage of his knowledge of the circuit to unleash a decisive change of speed with exactly one kilometre remaining. From then on, he extended his lead on Kiprotich to secure his third successive following a speedy 6:28 final lap. The in-form Kiprotich, who finished 18th at this year&rsquo;s World Cross, finished second and Ndikumana broke away from Kibrom midway through the closing circuit to place third.
It means the men&rsquo;s title in Alcobendas has been in Burundian hands since 2019 when Thierry Ndikumwenayo took the spoils; Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo was the last non-Burundian to win here back in 2018.
&ldquo;Honestly, it was not an especially difficult triumph for me as I'm in good shape now,&rdquo; said a confident Kwizera, whose next race will be in Venta de Ba&ntilde;os on 17 December.
Italy's multiple European U20 and U23 cross-country champion Nadia Battocletti set the pace in the women&rsquo;s 8.1km event. Shortly after reaching the opening kilometre, just six athletes remained in close attendance: compatriot Anna Arnaudo, the Ethiopian pair of Amebaw and Asayech Ayichew, Kenya's Lucy Mawia, Hungary's Lili Anna Vindics-Toth and France's Alessia Zarbo, the latter being the first casualty some seven minutes into the race.
The Italian's relentless cadence progressively paid off as firstly the Hungarian steeplechaser and then her compatriot Arnaudo could not live with her kind of pace and the race became a four-woman fight between Battocletti, Amebaw, Ayichew and Mawia when the clock read 11:30.
During the penultimate loop, it became apparent that Mawia hadn&rsquo;t fully recovered from the injury that forced her to drop out in the closing stages last weekend in Soria and began to falter while Ayichew emerged as a strong leader and pushed hard before reaching the bell, the last circuit taking 7:37. By then, Ayichew and Amebaw led with Battocletti a couple of seconds behind, but the Italian managed to reel in the Ethiopans and catch them a few hundred metres later.
With just over a kilometre left, Battocletti's resistence came to an end. Spain-based Amebaw made her decisive move with about 700 metres to go, gradually opening a big gap on Ayichew.
Amebaw eventually crossed the line five seconds clear of her compatriot thanks to a 7:18 superb last circuit. Ayichew placed second, 12 seconds ahead of Battocletti with Mawia taking fourth spot.
&ldquo;I felt a bit uneasy and heavy at the beginning but then I began to feel much better,&rdquo; said Amebaw. &ldquo;I like this kind of course, full of ups and downs, I really enjoy them; my next cross country competitions will be in Aranda de Duero (3 December) and Cantimpalos (10 December) before resuming the World Athletics Cross Country Tour in 2024. I'm also targeting a quick time over 10km in the coming months.&rdquo;
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women (8.1km) 1 Likina Amebaw (ETH) 26:33 2 Asayech Ayichew (ETH) 26:38 3 Nadia Battocletti (ITA) 26:50 4 Lucy Mawia (KEN) 27:26 5 Anna Arnaudo (ITA) 27:43 6 Cristina Ruiz (ESP) 27:58 7 Lili Anna Vindics-Toth (HUN) 28:12 8 Claudia Est&eacute;vez (ESP) 28:30 9 Azucena D&iacute;az (ESP) 28:40 10 Alessia Zarbo (FRA) 28:44
Men (10.1km) 1 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 29:30 2 Martin Kiprotich (UGA) 29:38 3 Celestin Ndikumana (BDI) 29:52 4 Filmon Kibrom (ERI) 29:54 5 Aron Kifle (ERI) 30:07 6 Andreu Blanes (ESP) 30:15 7 Yves Nimubona (RWA) 30:28 8 David Bascu&ntilde;ana (ESP) 30:52 9 Oliver L&ouml;fqvist (SWE) 30:56 10 Roberto Al&aacute;iz (ESP) 31:12

Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw confirmed their supremacy at the Cross Internacional de la Constitucion

Kwizera and Amebaw stamp their authority in Alcobendas

Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba of Kenya emerged victorious from a three-man battle in the last kilometres to secure the title at the Shanghai Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, improving the Chinese all-comers&rsquo; record to 2:05:35 on Sunday (26).
The 25-year-old Kenyan chopped nearly two minutes off his personal best of 2:07:28, set when winning the 2022 Munich Marathon, beating the course record of 2:07:14 set by compatriot Paul Lonyangata eight years ago, and smashing the Chinese all-comers&rsquo; record of 2:06:19 set by Kenya&rsquo;s Moses Mosop in Xiamen in 2015.
It's the third marathon title of the year for Kipchumba, who has remained unbeaten in 2023 following victories in Hong Kong in February and Xiamen in April.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my first time in Shanghai. The course is very good and the weather for today is perfect,&rdquo; said Kipchumba. &ldquo;I am so grateful to win the race and to break the course record, and even China&rsquo;s (all-comers&rsquo;) record.&rdquo;
Running under sunny but cool weather conditions, a crowded leading pack of about 15 runners led the men&rsquo;s race to a fast pace in early stages, hitting the 10km mark in 29:50, 15km in 44:48 and 20km in 59:55.
After the leaders passed the 25km water tables, only four runners managed to keep up with the pacer, including Kipchumba, Kenyan duo Solomon Kirwa Yego and Kenneth Keter, as well as Tanzania&rsquo;s 2017 world bronze medallist Alphonce Simbu.
The pacer stepped off the course soon after the leading quartet passed 30km in 1:29:24, by which point they were already more than one minute ahead of course record pace. And the leading group kept pushing ahead.
After 38km, the 36-year-old Yego &ndash; a 2:06:24 performer and winner of the 2023 Copenhagen Marathon &ndash; was the first to make his move. Although his attempt to pull clear was in vain, Keter started to fade away. Simbu then sped up to take the pole position near 40km. But both Yego and Kipchumba managed to keep up.
The three men were neck-and-neck with just one kilometre to go, but the in-form Kipchumba waited for another 500m to launch his final charge, going on to win in 2:05:35.
Simbu &ndash; twice a top-eight finisher at the Olympic Games &ndash; trailed four seconds behind Kipchumba to take second place with a PB of 2:05:39, followed by Yego in 2:05:42.
The organisers had assembled a quality field in the women&rsquo;s race, which featured five sub-2:21 runners headed by Tadu Teshome of Ethiopia with a PB of 2:17:36, the pace of the first 15km was relatively slow compared to the course record time of 2:20:36 set by Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese in 2018.
Teshome led a group of 10 runners through the opening five kilometres in 17:00 before passing 10km in 33:47 and 15km in 50:36. The lead pack was trimmed to six after hitting the 20km mark in 1:07:01, and the pre-race favourite Teshome started to drift away after 30km.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Siranesh Yirga, a 2:21:08 performer, managed to pull clear near the 35km mark. At 40km, the 23-year-old was already about 200m ahead of the sole chaser Selly Chepyego of Kenya.
Yirga kept her pace until breaking the tape in 2:21:28. It is the fourth marathon title in five races for the rising Ethiopian, who just moved to the classic distance in 2022, securing victories in Lagos, Madrid and Ljubljana last year and finishing third in Dubai this February.
Kenyan veteran Chepyego, 38, finished second in 2:21:55, the fourth fastest time of her career. Bahrain&rsquo;s Asian Games champion Eunice Chumba took third in 2:22:20.
Vincent Wu for World Athletics
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Siranesh Yirga Dagne (ETH) 2:21:28 2 Selly Chepyego Kaptich (KEN) 2:21:51 3 Eunice Chebichii Chumba (KEN) 2:22:20 4 Sandra Felis Chebet Tuei (KEN) 2:22:22 5 Emily Chepkemoi Arusio (KEN) 2:23:40 6 Tadu Teshome Nare (ETH) 2:25:05 7 Chernet Misganaw Takele (ETH) 2:26:16 8 Jackline Sakilu (TAN) 2:26:50
Men 1 Philimon Kitoo Kipchumba (KEN) 2:05:35 2 Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) 2:05:39 3 Solomon Kirwa Yego (KEN) 2:05:42 4 Kenneth Keter (KEN) 2:05:53 5 Enoch Onchari (KEN) 2:07:47 6 Kinde Atanew Ayaler (ETH) 2:08:27 7 Debesay Desale Tekelemarian (ETH) 2:09:19 8 Nicholas Kirwa (KEN) 2:11:16

Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba smashes PB with 2:05:35

Kipchumba sets Chinese all-comers’ record in Shanghai

Burundi&rsquo;s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw are the star names at the Cross Internacional de la Constitucion, the sixth Gold level event in this season&rsquo;s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, to be held in Alcobendas on the outskirts of Madrid on Sunday (26).
Kwizera kicked off his cross country campaign with a third-place finish in Atapuerca against a mouth-watering field and the 23-year-old maintained the momentum with another third place in Seville two weeks later. Last year&rsquo;s World Athletics Cross Country Tour victor was eager to triumph for the first time this season and he managed to do so in Soria last weekend after a thrilling final sprint with Kenya's Hillary Chepkwony.
The Castellon-based ace reached the finish line unchallenged at the past two editions of this race but he was disqualified in 2021 for not wearing the vest of his Spanish club, Playas de Castellon. He made amends last year with a commanding win.
Kwizera's fiercest opponent should be Martin Kiprotich as the 22-year-old Ugandan has shown great fitness, firstly in Seville where he came sixth, 20 seconds behind the Burundian, and also in Soria last Sunday when he fought for the win until the closing stages to finally finish fourth, some four seconds adrift of Kwizera.
Eritrea's Filmon Kibrom should also be in the hunt for victory. He showed that intent in Soria where the 20-year-old achieved arguably his finest ever race to take fifth place, seven seconds behind Kwizera. Having placed fourth in Amorebieta last month, Kibrom will be eager to claim his first podium place on the international senior scene and he will be joined by the much more experienced Aron Kifle, who is still rounding into form following a long halt due to an injury.
Watch out too for Celestin Ndikumana. The Burundian opened the cross country season in style with a convincing win in Amorebieta and he went on to finish fourth in Atapuerca the following week. However, the 21-year-old couldn't go beyond 13th place in Soria and will try to bounce back in Alcobendas.
With many of Spain&rsquo;s top distance runners preparing for the European Cross Country Championships on 10 December, Sergio Paniagua looks to be the best local hope. The 28-year-old has shown great consistency this season, with four top-10 finishes in Amorebieta, Atapuerca, Seville and Soria. Paniagua came second last year and will fight hard to manage another podium place over the 10,060m circuit in front of his home crowd.
<h2>Amebaw and Ayichew clash again</h2>
The women's 8040m race witnesses a rematch between Amebaw and Asayech Ayichew. The Ethiopian athletes battled hard for the victory last weekend in Soria, with the win eventually going to the former after a close sprint finish.
Amebaw has raced four times this cross country season with three podium places to her name in Amoberieta and Soria, where she won, plus her Cardiff runner-up spot. The Spain-based athlete will turn 26 years of age next week and will compete in Alcobendas fully recovered from the fever she suffered just before the Soria event. Having enjoyed an average training week at the altitude (1350m) of her base in Peguerinos (Avila), she will hope to be successful again on Sunday to improve on her 2021 third place.
As for Ayichew, the relatively unheralded Ethiopian will try to prove that her brilliant performance in Soria was no fluke.
Both will have stiff opposition provided by Kenya's defending champion Lucy Mawia. Last season's Cross Country Tour winner will aim to retain her 2022 title after being unable to finish in Soria last Sunday when she dropped out the race before reaching the closing kilometre.
The European response will come from Italy's Nadia Battocletti, the multiple European cross country medallist who finished fifth in the 5km at last month's World Road Running Championships in Riga. The Italian will run in the company of her compatriot Anna Arnaudo, the 23-year-old 32:09.54 10,000m performer, while France's Alessia Zarbo completes the international line-up.
Notable past winners here include Eritrea's former world half marathon record-holder Zersenay Tadese (2005), Kenya&rsquo;s Joseph Ebuya (2007 and 2010), Ethiopia&rsquo;s former world marathon champion Tamirat Tola (2015), Uganda&rsquo;s world half marathon record-holder Jacob Kiplimo (2018), Portugal's 1993 world cross country champion Albertina Dias (1996), Ethiopia's Meselech Melkamu (2005 and 2006), Kenya&rsquo;s Vivian Cheruiyot (2009) and her compatriot Linet Masai (2008 and 2015).
Weather forecasters predict a sunny and windless day on Sunday with temperatures ranging between 12-14&deg;C.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw are the star names at the sixth Gold level event in this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour

Kwizera and Amebaw the athletes to beat in Alcobendas

Assaults on both the men's and women's course records are expected at the Shanghai Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday (26).
A total of 12 runners in the men&rsquo;s field have personal bests inside the 2:07:14 course record set by Kenya&rsquo;s Paul Lonyangata&nbsp;back in 2015.
Kinde Atanaw of Ethiopia is the fastest entrant courtesy of his 2:03:51 PB set four years ago in Valencia, where he staged a convincing victory in his debut over the classic distance.
The 30-year-old went on to register two sub-2:06 marks in 2021 and 2022 respectively, including a fourth-place finish at the London Marathon last year, but he failed to finish the race in London this year in what has been his only outing of 2023 so far.
Elisha Rotich will lead the Kenyan charge. The 33-year-old won the Paris Marathon two years ago with a career best of 2:04:21 and he also has five other marathon victories to his name, but he has yet to prove his shape so far in 2023.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Abayneh Degu, a 2:04:53 performer, will chase his first career marathon title in Shanghai. He clocked 2:08:28 in Osaka in February and finished fifth in China&rsquo;s Lanzhou in 2:12:57 five months ago.
Fellow Ethiopian Tadu Abate is one of the most in-form runners in the men&rsquo;s field. He has achieved sub-2:06 results in both of his two races of the year so far, including improving his PB to 2:05:38 to finish sixth in Tokyo.
Like Abate, Kenya&rsquo;s Enock Onchari will also arrive in Shanghai with high spirits. The 24-year-old achieved his PB of 2:05:47&nbsp; in Seville in February and celebrated his first-ever marathon victory in 2:07:52 one month later in Wuxi.
The field also includes three other sub-2:06 runners, all from Kenya: Nicholas Kirwa (2:05:01), Moses Kibet (2:05:20) and Eric Kiptanui (2:05:47). The field of local athletes is headed by Jia Erenjia, third-place finisher in Shanghai last year and winner of the 2020 race. He improved his PB to 2:09:54 in Berlin two months ago.
<h2>Teshome heads women&rsquo;s field</h2>
In the women&rsquo;s race,&nbsp;a quintet of sub-2:21 runners will be gunning for the course record of 2:20:36 set by Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese in 2018.
The 22-year-old Tadu Teshome of Ethiopia, owning a PB of 2:17:36, is the favourite in Shanghai. The 2022 Copenhagen Half Marathon champion, who is also a former winner of marathons in Barcelona and Riyadh, achieved her career best mark last year in Valencia. She clocked 2:20:04 to finish fifth last month in Chicago.
Bahrain&rsquo;s national record-holder Eunice Chumba and Selly Chepyego of Kenya could be the biggest threats to Teshome. The 30-year-old Chumba, a 2:20:02 performer, has remained unbeaten after two races in 2023, clocking 2:20:31 to win in Rotterdam in April and winning the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou early last month.
Apart from her victory in Hangzhou, Chumba has gained vast experience of winning in China, claiming titles in Dongying and Liupanshui, and at the 2019 Military Games in Wuhan.
Now aged 38, Chepyego is still making progress. The 2014 world half marathon bronze medallist set a PB of 2:20:03 to finish second in Barcelona in March and clocked 2:27:09 to place seventh at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Other title contenders include Ethiopian Etagegne Woldu, who set her PB of 2:20:03 last year in Valencia, and Eritrea&rsquo;s Nazret Weldu, who finished eighth, one place behind Chepyego, in 2:27:23 in Budapest. Before that she improved the national record to 2:20:29 to finish fourth at the World Championships in Oregon in July 2022.
Defending champion Zhang Deshun of China is also toeing the line. Last year Zhang produced a 2:28:17 victory in Shanghai. In March, she improved her PB to 2:24:05 to finish fourth in Nagoya before finishing second behind Chumba at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2:27:55.
Vincent Wu for World Athletics
<h3>Elite fields</h3>
Women Tadu Teshome (ETH) 2:17:36 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:02 Selly Chepyego (KEN) 2:20:03 Etagegne Woldu (ETH) 2:20:03 Nazret Weldu (ERI) 2:20:29 Siranesh Yirga (ETH) 2:21:08 Betty Chepkwony (KEN) 2:23:02 Zhang Deshun (CHN) 2:24:05 Emily Arusio (KEN) 2:25:22 Bai Li (CHN) 2:26:33 Ding Changqin (CHN) 2:26:54 Zhang Xinyan (CHN) 2:26:56 Chernet Misganaw (ETH) 2:27:17 Jackline Sakilu (TAN) 2:37:55 Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei (KEN) debut&nbsp;
Men Kinde Atanaw (ETH) 2:03:51 Elisha Rotich (KEN) 2:04:21 Abayneh Degu (ETH) 2:04:53 Nicholas Kirwa (KEN) 2:05:01 Moses Kibet (KEN) 2:05:20 Tadu Abate (ETH) 2:05:38 Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 2:05:47 Enock Onchari (KEN) 2:05:47 Kenneth Keter (KEN) 2:06:05 Alphonce Simbu (TAN) 2:06:19 Solomon Kirwa Yego (KEN) 2:06:24 Victor Kipchirchir (KEN) 2:06:54 Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba (KEN) 2:07:28 Moses Kemei (KEN) 2:09:26 Jia Erenjia (CHN) 2:09:54 Wu Xiangdong (CHN) 2:10:02 Su Guoxiong (CHN) 2:11:28 Sammy Kosgei (KEN) 2:11:54 Nianzhe Ati (CHN) 2:13:14 Guan Yousheng (CHN) 2:13:25 Yang Dinghong (CHN) 2:13:40 Yang Xiaohua (CHN) 2:13:54 Guan Siyang (CHN) 2:13:56 Boki Diriba (ETH) debut Cameron Avery (NZL) debut

Assaults on both the men's and women's course records are expected at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race

Course records under threat at Shanghai Marathon

As the World Athletics Awards 2023 draws near, we&rsquo;re shining a spotlight on the 10 finalists &ndash; five men and five women &ndash; for the World Athlete of the Year awards.
Today the focus is on US sprinter&nbsp;Noah Lyles.
&nbsp;
In 2023, Noah Lyles cemented his place as one of the top sprinters of all time.
After winning the 200m at the previous two editions of the World Athletics Championships, the US 26-year-old not only retained his half-lap crown in Budapest but also added 100m and 4x100m titles to his haul, ending the championships as a six-time global gold medallist.
He maintained his position as world 200m leader for the sixth consecutive year and was undefeated in six 200m finals. Further proving his versatility, he also closed the season as the joint world leader in the 100m.
Lyles opened his campaign at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Boston, where he improved his PB to 6.51 to win the 60m final.
Outdoors, Lyles tested his early season form with some races in Florida and he made a statement with a 19.67 200m win at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston. It was a time that only one other athlete &ndash; double world medallist Letsile Tebogo &ndash; would beat during the rest of the season.
Lyles then won the 100m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Paris and the 200m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event in New York, before turning his attention to the US Championships, where he secured his spot to target a sprint double at the World Championships in Budapest by finishing third in the 100m.
The US record-holder improved his 200m world lead at the Diamond League meeting in London, clocking 19.47 for the third-fastest performance of his career in his final race ahead of the World Championships.
Once in Budapest, he first won the 100m in 9.83, a personal best that made him the joint world leader in that discipline. Five days later he completed the double, retaining the 200m crown in 19.52, and just one day after that he became a treble champion, running the anchor leg as USA regained the men&rsquo;s 4x100m title.
He held up three fingers in celebration.
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&ldquo;This is the third gold for me here,&rdquo; Lyles said. &ldquo;It's sensational, amazing. You can't do better. It's out of control.&rdquo;
With his performance in Budapest, Lyles became the first man in seven years to complete the sprint treble at a global championships.
He already knew he had made history after doing the double.
&ldquo;It is a great feeling to know I did something not a lot of people have done,&rdquo; Lyles said after his 200m triumph. &ldquo;In my documentary I talked about wanting it to be done, being different from anybody else, and winning double golds was one of the things on my list. I wanted to show I am different. Today I came out and showed it. I am double champion.&rdquo;
But Lyles didn&rsquo;t stop there. Another sub-20 200m win followed at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich and he closed his campaign with a runner-up finish in the 100m at the Diamond League Final in Eugene, running 9.85.
"Yo I just realized 9.85 is my second fastest time ever in the 100m," he wrote on social media. "Next year going to be scary."
&nbsp;
&bull; The World Athletes of the Year will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; social media platforms on 11 December as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023 &ndash; and you and a friend can be part of the celebrations.
One lucky person and a companion will win a once-in-a-lifetime VIP trip to Monaco during the annual World Athletics Awards.
The winners of the fan VIP trip will get to spend three nights (9-11 December) in Monaco and meet the best athletes of 2023 in person. Flights, accommodation and evening meals will all be included.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/news/win-a-vip-trip-to-monaco?utm_source=Editorial&amp;utm_medium=Web&amp;utm_campaign=VIP-Trip&amp;utm_content=Bannerads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enter now</a>

Shining the spotlight on treble world sprint champion Noah Lyles

Focus on finalists: Noah Lyles

As the World Athletics Awards 2023 draws near, we&rsquo;re shining a spotlight on the 10 finalists &ndash; five men and five women &ndash; for the World Athlete of the Year awards.
Today the focus is on&nbsp;Venezuelan triple jumper&nbsp;Yulimar Rojas.
&nbsp;
Yulimar Rojas continued her reign as the queen of the triple jump in 2023. It wasn&rsquo;t all plain sailing for the Venezuelan superstar, but she further proved her class by overcoming a setback on the biggest stage of the year to win her fourth successive world title.
Rojas made her season debut in June, winning in Madrid and then again at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Oslo.
She got gold at the Central American Games in San Salvador, soaring beyond 15 metres for the first time of the year with 15.16m. That was a world lead that she improved to 15.18m when winning at her next competition, the Diamond League meeting in Silesia.
She switched to the long jump in Monaco, leaping 6.61m in the Diamond League event there, and then turned her attention back to the triple jump and the prospect of winning a record fourth world outdoor title in Budapest.
After cruising through qualification, Rojas returned to the runway for the final on 25 August.
The Olympic champion had improved her world record to 15.74m when winning her third world indoor title in Belgrade last year, while her outdoor best is the 15.67m she soared to secure gold at the Games in Tokyo. In Budapest, however, Rojas struggled to find her rhythm and was sitting in eighth place going into the final round.
Her competition to that point had featured three fouls and marks of 14.33m and 14.26m from the second and third rounds, respectively.
But Rojas wasn&rsquo;t defeated.
Taking to the runway for the final time, she engaged the crowd once more and then hopped, stepped and jumped 15.08m &ndash; a performance that put her into the lead by eight centimetres.
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The emotion was clear.
&ldquo;The fact that I won the competition with my last attempt makes it very special and memorable,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is my seventh world championship gold in a row (outdoors and indoors), but this is the most special of all of them.
&ldquo;My last attempt was proof of the hard work I have done, my mental state and my self-confidence. I didn't care about the distance, the only thing I had in mind was to win the gold.&rdquo;
With an eighth global gold medal added to her collection, Rojas returned to the Diamond League circuit and jumped 15.15m to win in Zurich.
She then headed to Eugene to defend her Diamond League title and, saving her best for last, she improved her world lead to 15.35m &ndash; just 39cm off her own world record &ndash; to take the trophy for the third consecutive year.
Rojas has now taken her tally of 15-metre-plus performances to 49 and remained unbeaten in finals in her specialism for the second year in a row.
&nbsp;
&bull; The World Athletes of the Year will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; social media platforms on 11 December as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023 &ndash; and you and a friend can be part of the celebrations.
One lucky person and a companion will win a once-in-a-lifetime VIP trip to Monaco during the annual World Athletics Awards.
The winners of the fan VIP trip will get to spend three nights (9-11 December) in Monaco and meet the best athletes of 2023 in person. Flights, accommodation and evening meals will all be included.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/news/win-a-vip-trip-to-monaco?utm_source=Editorial&amp;utm_medium=Web&amp;utm_campaign=VIP-Trip&amp;utm_content=Bannerads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enter now</a>

Shining the spotlight on world triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas

Focus on finalists: Yulimar Rojas

Men&rsquo;s world shot put record 23.56m Ryan Crouser (USA) Los Angeles 27 May 2023
Men&rsquo;s world pole vault record 6.23m Mondo Duplantis (SWE) Eugene 17 September 2023
Women&rsquo;s world 5000m record 14:00.21 Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) Eugene 17 September 2023
Men&rsquo;s world U20 mile record 3:48.06 Reynold Cheruiyot (KEN) Eugene 16 September 2023
&nbsp;
World records set this year by Ryan Crouser, Mondo Duplantis and Gudaf Tsegay have been ratified, while the world U20 record by Reynold Cheruiyot is also now official.
Crouser&rsquo;s was the first of these recently ratified marks to be set, as he launched the shot 23.56m at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, the season&rsquo;s sixth World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, on 27 May.
With that performance, the world and Olympic champion added 19cm to the previous world record of 23.37m that he achieved at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene in June 2021.
The world record mark came in the fourth round and his series also included throws of 23.31m, 23.23m, 22.94m, 22.86m and 22.80m.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited because it didn&rsquo;t feel polished,&rdquo; Crouser explained. &ldquo;It felt like I had a tonne of power, and I caught a big one.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The world records by Duplantis, Tsegay and Cheruiyot were all achieved at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16-17 September.
First, Kenya&rsquo;s world U20 1500m champion Cheruiyot clocked 3:48.06 to finish fifth in the Bowerman Mile, improving the world U20 mile record by more than a second. The previous record of 3:49.29 was set by Ilham Tanui Ozbilen in Oslo on 3 July 2009.
The race featured a host of fast times, including the winning mark of 3:43.73 by Jakob Ingebrigtsen, just 0.6 of a second off the senior world record.
The following day, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Tsegay set the second senior world record of her career and her first outdoors, improving the world 5000m record with her remarkable 14:00.21 run.
That performance took almost five seconds off the previous world record of 14:05.20 that Faith Kipyegon set in Paris in June as part of a record spree that also saw her set global marks for the 1500m and mile.
"I was really angry to not bring back two medals from the World Championships, but I knew from our training I had a lot of potential to do something with my fitness," said Tsegay. "Even though the conditions weren&rsquo;t perfect (in Eugene), we thought we could do it.&rdquo;
Duplantis also made history in Eugene. Back in the stadium where he broke the world record to win his first senior world title in 2022, the Swedish pole vault star set the seventh world record of his career, clearing 6.23m on his first attempt.
That mark is one centimetre higher than the world record height he achieved indoors in Clermont-Ferrand in February.
"The limit is very high, and I hope that I can continue to jump well and keep jumping higher than I did today," said Duplantis. "But, for now, I&rsquo;m not really thinking about anything except enjoying this moment and enjoying what I just did."
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