Behind the shades shielding his eyes from the glare of the late evening floodlights, it was not difficult to imagine the thoughts of James Edward Hardee III as he crossed the line to win heat three of the decathlon 400m at the London 2012 Olympics.
His time, 48.11, was bettered by the winner of the final heat, his US teammate Ashton Eaton clocking 46.90, yet the well-paced effort completed a soundly measured opening day by the native of Birmingham, Alabama (also the birthplace of Carl Lewis), better known to the world as &lsquo;Trey&rsquo; Hardee.
It left the 28-year-old a clear second in the standings with 4441 points, a huge 220 points down on Eaton, the newly established world record-holder, but steadily on course for a place on the podium.
As he packed away the bright yellow sprint spikes &ndash; which he has generously donated to the Museum of World Athletics &ndash; Trey Hardee had reason to be more than satisfied with that state of affairs.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a17055f3024a170524ee43e.jpeg" alt="Trey Hardee signing his shoes" />
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Trey Hardee signing his shoes
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He might have been the reigning world champion, having backed up his 2009 victory in Berlin by successfully defending the title ahead of the rapidly improving Eaton in Daegu in 2011, but his Olympic ambitions had been left in serious doubt by the painful legacy of his victory in South Korea.
In the penultimate event in Daegu, the javelin, having opened with a lifetime best of 68.99m, on his third attempt Hardee ripped the ligaments in his right elbow.
&ldquo;I only had an hour and fifteen minutes to get ready for the 1500m and at that stage there was not a lot I could do,&rdquo; the Alabaman recalled in an interview for the World Athletics series My greatest challenge. &ldquo;I took a painkiller and taped up the elbow to 90 degrees, so I ran like a robot.
&ldquo;In the end, running this way was not bad because the pain acted as a distraction from the process of the race. I crossed the line in 4:45.68, which was some way short of what I could have run, but I had won the gold by 102 points from Ashton.&rdquo;
Hardee turned to a celebrated surgeon in his home town in a bid to rebuild his golden arm for the London 2012 Olympics. A former pole vaulter, Dr James Anderson had forged a reputation for healing sports stars stricken with shoulder and elbow injuries, the basketball icon Michael Jordan and legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus among them.
Hardee underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, more popularly referred to as Tommy John Surgery after the Major League baseball pitcher whose stellar career was saved by the procedure &ndash; in which the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the patient&rsquo;s body.
It was still touch and go whether Hardee would be ready for the US Trials, or make the top three. While Eaton reeled off a series of stunning marks en route to a world record of 9039 in Eugene, Hardee took it one event at a time, concentrating on keeping his body together and making the team.
Having picked up a javelin for the first time since Daegu just two weeks earlier, he managed to throw it out to 57.00m at Hayward Field. &ldquo;As soon as it landed, I threw off my brace and ran around like I had just won the lottery,&rdquo; he recalled.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/c6ffadad-1e3d-4d47-86cd-c58225ecfdc7.jpg" alt="Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee battle it out in the high hurdles in Daegu" />
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Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee battle it out in the 110m hurdles in Daegu (&copy; Getty Images)
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Hardee&rsquo;s final points tally, 8383, was a long way down on the 8790 from his 2009 world title win that would remain his career best, but it was good enough for second place behind the new world record-holder and a hard-earned spot on the US Olympic team. &ldquo;I knew I&rsquo;d been given a gift and a bunch of chips just by making the team, so I could just enjoy myself in London,&rdquo; he reasoned.
Hardee didn&rsquo;t waste his chips in the British capital. Opening with 10.42 in the 100m, then long jumping 7.53m, putting 15.28m in the shot and clearing 1.99m in the high jump, his 48.11 in the 400m cemented a solid first day.
Though a long way down on Eaton&rsquo;s halfway haul of 4661 points, Hardee&rsquo;s running tally of 4441 put him 55 clear of Canada&rsquo;s Damian Warner in third place.
Hardee had been this way before. At the end of day one of the Beijing Olympic decathlon in 2008, he sat in third place in a tight contest with 4428, just five points behind second-placer Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus and 93 down on his US teammate and competition leader Bryan Clay.
Hardee was still in contention for a medal, lying fourth, when he no-heighted in the pole vault. Having joined Mississippi State University on a pole vault scholarship (before graduating to combined events and moving to the University of Texas), the disappointment was a particularly hard one for Hardee to take.
It was with a sense of some relief then that &ndash; after opening the second day in London with a 110m hurdles PB of 13.54, beating Eaton by 0.02, and following up with a throw of 48.26m in the discus &ndash; he managed to steady his nerves and safely negotiate both the pole vault and the javelin.
Clearing 4.80m in the vault and throwing 66.65m in the javelin, the third-best mark of his career, Hardee finished with the flourish of a lifetime best 1500m time of 4:40.94 to secure the silver medal.
It was the first US one-two since Milt Campbell prevailed ahead of Rafer Johnson in Melbourne in 1956. Eaton took gold with 8869, Hardee the silver with 8671, and Cuba&rsquo;s Leonel Suarez claimed bronze with 8523.
&ldquo;Just making the team and being in London, considering the circumstances of my elbow surgery, was my goal for 2012,&rdquo; Hardee reflected. &ldquo;To get a silver medal there, I was shocked, honoured and blessed.&rdquo;
Hardee also gained a world indoor heptathlon silver medal in the course of a career that came to an end in 2017. A father of three and a high performance trainer, the two-time world champion has since become a successful and respected television track and field analyst.
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage
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Behind the shades shielding his eyes from the glare of the late evening floodlights, it was not difficult to imagine the thoughts of Trey Hardee in the decathlon 400m at the London 2012 Olympics.

Hardee’s post-surgery silver lining

Three North American road record-holders will headline USA&rsquo;s team for the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 on 19-20 September.&nbsp;
Weini Kelati, Conner Mantz and&nbsp;Yared Nuguse&nbsp;are among the 19 athletes selected for the event, which includes one mile, 5km and half marathon races.
Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Nuguse will compete in his first World Road Running Championships after qualifying in the mile. The North American record-holder will be joined by three-time US road mile champion Vincent Ciattei, who will make his US team debut.
Kelati and Mantz are both area record-holders in the half marathon, while Mantz also owns the North American marathon record.
Kelati, a 2024 Olympian in the 10,000m, leads a women&rsquo;s half marathon squad that includes <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/copenhagen26/news/press-releases/statement-usatf-participation-road-running-championships-copenhagen-26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six other athletes from the USATF Half Marathon Championships</a>. Scoring will be limited to Kelati and three athletes who were misdirected late in the race: Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat.
Joining Mantz on the men&rsquo;s half marathon team are Wesley Kiptoo, Hillary Bor and Ahmed Muhumed.&nbsp;
US champion Drew Hunter has been confirmed on the&nbsp;men&rsquo;s team for the 5km, joined by Dylan Jacobs. The women&rsquo;s 5km team features Olympic and world 3000m steeplechase silver medallist Courtney Frerichs and Karissa Schweizer. On the women&rsquo;s mile squad are Gracie Hyde and Addy Wiley.
<h3>US team for Copenhagen</h3>
 WOMEN Mile: Gracie Hyde, Addy Wiley&nbsp; 5km: Courtney Frerichs, Karissa Schweizer Half marathon: Molly Born, Carrie Ellwood, Emma Grace Hurley, Weini Kelati, Ednah Kurgat, Jess McClain, Annie Rodenfels
MEN Mile: Vincent Ciattei, Yared Nuguse 5km: Drew Hunter, Dylan Jacobs Half marathon: Hillary Bor, Wesley Kiptoo, Conner Mantz, Ahmed Muhumed
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World Athletics Road Running Championships

Weini Kelati, Conner Mantz and Yared Nuguse are among the 19 athletes selected

Area record-holders on US team for World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen

Several medallists from the World Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze will return to Poland for the Irena Szewińska Memorial &ndash; this season&rsquo;s fourth World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting &ndash; in Bydgoszcz on Friday (29).
Jakub Szymański races on home soil two months on from winning the world indoor 60m hurdles title in front of passionate local fans at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena. Now competing at the Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium, he will be joined by fellow world indoor medallists including Natalia Bukowiecka, Erick Portillo, Pia Skrzyszowska and Alexander Doom.
Szymański became Poland&rsquo;s first ever world indoor hurdles champion when he got gold in Kujawy Pomorze and is unbeaten in 15 races &ndash; indoors and outdoors, including heats and semifinals &ndash; so far this year. But in the 110m hurdles he faces another athlete looking to maintain a win streak &ndash; Jamal Britt, who won the opening two Wanda Diamond League meetings in Shanghai and Xiamen and who has shown impressive consistency by matching his PB of 13.07, set in 2024, four times already this season.
Also in the field, contesting heats before the final, are Polish champion Damian Czykier who finished fourth at the 2022 World Championships, Spain&rsquo;s 2022 world bronze medallist Asier Mart&iacute;nez, and Michael Obasuyi and Kendry Men&eacute;ndez, who have respectively clocked 13.22 and 13.26 this month.
A home star headlines the 100m hurdles, too, as two-time world indoor 60m hurdles medallist Skrzyszowska goes up against US Olympic finalist Alaysha Johnson and Hungary&rsquo;s Luca Koz&aacute;k. Skrzyszowska makes her hurdles season debut after racing as part of the Polish 4x100m quartet at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone at the start of the month.
Bukowiecka added world indoor 400m silver to her individual World Championships silver and Olympic bronze medals and she also opens her season in her specialist event in Bydgoszcz after running the 4x400m at the World Relays.
She faces her relay teammate Justyna Święty-Ersetic and Great Britain&rsquo;s Yemi Mary John, who was also in action in Gaborone and who ran a PB of 49.85 to win on her 400m season opener at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Tokyo.
The men&rsquo;s 400m features Doom, who anchored Belgium to 4x400m silver in Kujawy Pomorze after getting world indoor 400m and 4x400m gold at the previous edition in Glasgow. He takes on his teammate Dylan Borlee, Great Britain&rsquo;s Olympic and world relay medallist Charlie Dobson, and Poland&rsquo;s world indoor mixed 4x400m bronze medallist Marcin Karolewski.
Portillo will have fond memories of competing in Poland as he won Mexico's first ever global medal in a vertical jumps event by getting high jump silver in Kujawy Pomorze. He opens his outdoor season in Bydgoszcz where his rivals include his compatriot Edgar Rivera and Czechia&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Jan &Scaron;tefela.
Multiple global medallists Chris Nilsen of the USA and home favourite Piotr Lisek will clash with Menno Vloon and Simen Guttormsen in the pole vault, while the javelin contests star Poland&rsquo;s Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Maria Andrejczyk, Croatia&rsquo;s 2016 Olympic champion Sara Kolak and Finland&rsquo;s Olympic finalist Oliver Helander.
Great Britain&rsquo;s 2024 world indoor silver medallist Jemma Reekie races Poland&rsquo;s European indoor champion Anna Wielgosz and France&rsquo;s Olympic fifth-place finisher R&eacute;nelle Lamote in the 800m, while the 1500m features Poland&rsquo;s world finalist Klaudia Kazimierska and Great Britain&rsquo;s Melissa Courtney-Bryant.
In the men&rsquo;s events, Great Britain&rsquo;s 2023 world bronze medallist Ben Pattison is back in 800m action after finishing sixth in Shanghai, while Spain&rsquo;s world indoor 800m bronze medallist Mohamed Attaoui steps up to contest the 1500m to make his season debut.
The 400m hurdles races feature Swedish record-holder Carl Bengtstr&ouml;m and T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s İsmail Nezir, who won at the Tokyo Continental Tour Gold meeting in a PB of 48.25, plus Italy&rsquo;s Alice Muraro and Poland&rsquo;s Anna Gryc, who meet again after respectively finishing second and third on their hurdles season debuts in Savona.
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Several medallists from the World Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze will return to Poland for the Irena Szewińska Memorial

Global medallists return to Poland as Continental Tour continues in Bydgoszcz

The World Athletics Council has approved the qualification system and entry standards for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27.
View and download: <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6a156f9f527e379c9a3c765f.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">English</a> | <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6a156fb77143075da1c78e73.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">French</a>
As has been the case for recent global championships, the qualification system will be based on a combination of entry standards and world rankings. For the 2027 World Championships, the system has been set with the objective of having approximately 40% of the athletes qualifying through entry standards and 60% qualifying through world rankings.&nbsp;
The approach is designed to ensure that the World Championships continue to bring together the world&rsquo;s leading athletes across all disciplines, while recognising both exceptional single performances and consistent high-level competition across the qualification period.&nbsp;
The entry standards &ndash; and the target number of athletes in each discipline &ndash; have been set following detailed analysis of recent performance trends across the sport, including the increasing depth of results in many disciplines and the impact of advances in technology and preparation. The standards also reflect the expanded role of the world rankings as a qualification route, with most athletes expected to become eligible for selection through rankings rather than by achieving a single entry standard. The world rankings now place more weight on the results score and less on the placing score, to even the playing field for athletes with limited access to high-ranking competitions.&nbsp;
Under the approved system, athletes in individual events will be able to qualify in four ways: by achieving the entry standard during the qualification period; by virtue of finishing position at designated competitions; through a wild card; or by world rankings position at the end of the respective ranking period.&nbsp;
The qualifying window for the marathon runs from 3 November 2025 to midnight on 2 May 2027. For the 10,000m, race walks, combined events and relays, the window runs from 23 February 2026 to midnight on 22 August 2027. For all other disciplines, entry standards can be achieved from 23 August 2026 to midnight on 22 August 2027.&nbsp;
For entry standard purposes, performances must mainly be achieved at category C competitions and above, to ensure the mark has been set in a meeting where minimum competition standards have been met. Performances achieved in lower category competitions will remain valid for world rankings. Recognising the limited availability of category C and higher meetings for the 5000m and 10,000m on the track, road running performances in Label road races &ndash; category E &ndash; for the 5km and 10km will also be recognised for entry standard purposes. Marathon marks may also be achieved in Label road races.&nbsp;
Area champions in individual events, except for the marathons, will be considered as having met the qualification criteria for the World Championships provided there is no other qualified athlete entered from the same area in the same event. The top five finishers at Platinum Label marathons held during the qualification period and the winners of Gold Label marathons held in 2027 until 2 May will also be considered as having achieved the qualification requirements.&nbsp;
Wild cards will be available to the defending world champions from 2025, winners at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026, winners of the 2026 World Race Walking Tour and World Combined Events Tour, the leading hammer performers on the 2026 Continental Tour, and the winners of the 2027 Wanda Diamond League. If a member federation has four athletes in one event as a result of this criterion, all four will be permitted to compete. Should a member federation have more than one athlete per event qualified via wild card, the member federation will need to select one of those athletes to accept the spot.&nbsp;
The first 12 placed teams in each discipline at the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 have already qualified for WCH Beijing 27. The remaining four places in each relay discipline will be allocated to the best-ranked teams at the end of the qualification period, based on top lists.&nbsp;
World Athletics will publish a regularly updated &lsquo;Road to Beijing 27&rsquo; tool during the qualification period, providing athletes, member federations, media and fans with a real-time view of the qualification situation in each discipline.&nbsp;
World Athletics

World Athletics Championships, Beijing 2027

The World Athletics Council has approved the qualification system and entry standards for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27

Qualification system approved for World Athletics Championships Beijing 27

Misgana Wakuma won a fabulous half marathon silver at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26 &ndash; Ethiopia&rsquo;s first global race walking medal.
His runner-up placing in Brazil was also the highest finish by an African athlete in the history of the World Race Walking Team Championships.
Just over a month later, he retained his African 20km race walk title in Accra in a national record of 1:18:47.
He did so without having his own coach. In a world where it&rsquo;s standard for top athletes to get direction, the 21-year-old says he goes it alone. That&rsquo;s not to say he wouldn&rsquo;t like outside help. In fact, if someone suitable were to come along, Wakuma would welcome the approach.
&ldquo;There are some young people working with me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are working together, but I want to work with a coach in the future. Maybe, if I find one, we will meet three days a week. Then we will work according to our abilities.&rdquo;
No one doubts the race walker&rsquo;s ability.&nbsp;
Wakuma&rsquo;s steady inroads on elite fields since switching from running five years ago is evident.
As a 17-year-old he clocked an impressive 42:33.0 to win the 10,000m race walk at the Ethiopian U20 Championships in Assela in 2022. A year later he slashed that to 41:36.64 at the African U20 Championships in Zambia.
Fast forward to this March and he won the Ethiopian Championships in 38:04.09 &ndash; a mark that elevated him to 15th on the world all-time list.
In between, there have been gold medals from the African Championships and All-African Games at 20km, and a top-10 finish at the same distance at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya, T&uuml;rkiye, in 2024.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a1438949b7cbcac23c8c092.jpg" alt="Misgana Wakuma at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in 2024" />
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Misgana Wakuma at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in 2024 (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Sergio Mateo Maria)
But the biggest eye catcher until Bras&iacute;lia was an outstanding sixth place in the Paris Olympic Games 20km race walk that same year.
Wakuma remained with the leaders until 18km in Paris, before the eventual top four moved away. He still finished in 1:19:31 &ndash; then a national record &ndash; while winning the admiration of the athletics world.
He says he was inspired by the efforts of Yehualeye Beletew, the 2018 African champion who set an Ethiopian 20km race walk record of 1:31:32 in 2021 and won silver at the African Championships in 2022 where Wakuma placed fourth, but he insists training at altitude, self-belief and a healthy diet are key ingredients to his success.
&ldquo;I used to follow Yehualeye, who really came before me, and I could see she was making progress,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;But because of my results, because of my progress, I thought I could start to challenge for big medals.&rdquo;
That diet of meat, eggs, milk and traditional Ethiopian food: "... that works for me, also includes injera &ndash; in fact, it&rsquo;s my daily food,&rdquo; Wakuma added.
Injera is a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, traditionally made of teff flour. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, injera is a staple. Wakuma&rsquo;s daily bread comes with punishing daily workouts in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, 2355 metres above sea level, where he lives.
He is one of a family of 11, and none of the other 10 have an interest in athletics.
&ldquo;They like football or don&rsquo;t play sport at all,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m the only athlete.&rdquo;
If not training, he&rsquo;s relaxing and &ldquo;having fun&rdquo; as much as any top athlete can, and when asked to nominate his favourite race walkers, the list has few surprises.&nbsp;
Olympic gold medallists &Aacute;lvaro Mart&iacute;n, Mar&iacute;a P&eacute;rez and Massimo Stano, along with world champion Caio Bonfim who finished behind Wakuma in Bras&iacute;lia, and Francesco Fortunato who finished ahead to win the inaugural half marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships, all get the Wakuma approval.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a143879d56f6037cb65f69d.jpg" alt="Francesco Fortunato, Misgana Wakuma and Caio Bonfim in Bras&iacute;lia" />
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Francesco Fortunato, Misgana Wakuma and Caio Bonfim in Bras&iacute;lia (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Oscar Munoz Badilla)
&ldquo;There is much to admire about them,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I came to Bras&iacute;lia thinking I could get a medal after my results since 2024. I can start to dream of becoming a world and Olympic champion.&rdquo;
The name Wakuma in Amharic, or more specifically Oromo, the language spoken by around 40% of Ethiopians, roughly translates as &lsquo;Godlike&rsquo; or &lsquo;divine&rsquo;.
If Wakuma continues to make progress like that which got him silver in Bras&iacute;lia and another African gold in Accra, it might well see prayers answered for that global gold. It might also see a lot of athletes looking up the recipe for injera.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics
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Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26

Misgana Wakuma won a fabulous half marathon silver at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasília 26 – Ethiopia’s first global race walking medal

How Ethiopia’s Wakuma raced walked his way into the history books in Brasília

Mohamed Esa set an African all-comers' record to win the men&rsquo;s race and Dera Dida clinched women&rsquo;s race victory to complete an Ethiopian double at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon &ndash; a World Athletics Elite Label road race &ndash; on Sunday (24).
Esa clocked 2:04:55 to take more than three minutes off the previous course record of 2:08:16, while Dida ran 2:23:18 to win by almost half a minute.
Competing just over a month after being unable to finish the Boston Marathon, Esa clinched victory by four seconds ahead of his compatriot Yihunilign Adane. Keyna&rsquo;s Kalipus Lomwai was third in 2:05:06.
They all formed part of a group that passed halfway in 1:02:49 and were joined by Kenya&rsquo;s Leonard Langat in a four-man battle for victory as the race entered the final 5km.
Esa made a decisive move at the 40km mark, surging to the front and holding off his rivals. He crossed the finish line in 2:04:55 to secure the first marathon victory of his career after runner-up finishes in Tokyo in 2023 and Boston and Chicago in 2024.
&ldquo;To win my first marathon here in Africa, on home ground, and in a course-record time makes this victory very special to me,&rdquo; he said.
There was an Ethiopian top three in the women&rsquo;s contest as Berlin Marathon runner-up Dida ran a well-judged race to win by 27 seconds ahead of Mestawut Fikir. Waganesh Mekasha Amare completed the podium in 2:23:57.
They all ran as part of a lead group that hit halfway in 1:12:33. Six athletes remained in contention at 35km before Dida moved away over the final few kilometres.
The event also marked the start of Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge&rsquo;s <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/news/eliud-kipchoge-world-tour-marathons-seven-continents">World Tour</a> &ndash; a quest to complete seven marathons across seven continents.
The initiative marks a new chapter in the two-time Olympic champion&rsquo;s storied career, combining elite racing with a mission to &ldquo;unite the world through running.&rdquo; Each stop on the tour will also raise funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which supports education and environmental projects around the globe.
In Cape Town, the former world record-holder clocked 2:13:29. His next stop on the tour will be the Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on 12 July. &ldquo;Cape Town, this was a special day,&rdquo; said Kipchoge. &ldquo;Today was a celebration of running on this beautiful course, supported by thousands of incredible fans singing and making music along the route, and by fellow runners sharing the same race. You all made our first stop on the tour one we&rsquo;ll never forget. I&rsquo;m proud to begin our world tour in Africa and to run my first-ever marathon on home soil. It was the perfect start.&rdquo;
The event was live streamed on <a href="https://worldathletics.org/worldathletics-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics+</a> and is available to <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/6a11d826031d40b20f89c64c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">watch again</a> &ndash; geo-restrictions may apply
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Mohamed Esa set an African all-comers' record to win the men’s race and Dera Dida clinched women’s race victory to complete an Ethiopian double at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

Esa and Dida win in Cape Town as Kipchoge kicks off World Tour

Emmanuel Kiprono and Cynthia Chepkirui were among the rising stars who secured qualification for the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 following the conclusion of the two-day Kenyan trials at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday and Saturday (22-23).
World U20 cross-country silver medallist Kiprono delivered a commanding performance in the men&rsquo;s 3000m on Friday, clocking 7:35.40 to book an automatic place at the global showpiece. Elkanah Sanutia finished second in 7:59.60, while Enock Tuitoek claimed third place.
&ldquo;I came to this race prepared,&rdquo; said 17-year-old Kiprono, who won the U20 3000m at the Kip Keino Classic last month. &ldquo;The pace was a bit slow, and I decided to push myself and eventually came out with a win.
&ldquo;I got a silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships, and I was not happy with it, so I&rsquo;ve worked really hard. I want to go to Oregon and come back home with a gold medal.&rdquo;
In the women&rsquo;s race, Faith Cherotich Rono produced a strong late surge to win in 8:58.22, holding off a spirited challenge from Mercy Mageso, who crossed the line second in 8:59.00 after finishing third in the 5000m on Friday. Venenza Chebet completed the podium in 9:03.69.
African U18 3000m champion Chepkirui dominated the women&rsquo;s 5000m to take victory in 15:24.40. African U20 3000m bronze medallist Joyline Chepkemoi finished second in 15:37.8, while Mageso completed an impressive double by securing third place in 15:54.8.
Chepkirui&rsquo;s win continues her steady improvement in a season that has already seen her place fourth in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships, third in the 5000m at the World Athletics Relays Trials, and ninth at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a12d7701e6c239b4c55edef.jpeg" alt="Cynthia Chepkirui wins the 5000m ahead of Joyline Chepkemoi and Mercy Mageso in Nairobi" />
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Cynthia Chepkirui wins the 5000m ahead of Joyline Chepkemoi and Mercy Mageso in Nairobi (&copy; Sylvia Abigael Wafula)
&ldquo;When I go back to the camp, I will work on my speed,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m capable of winning a gold medal if I put in the work. My gold medal from Africa gives me the much-needed confidence to do well in Oregon.&rdquo;
The men&rsquo;s race witnessed a major upset as Andrew Alamisi, who won gold at the last edition of the World U20 Championships in Lima in 2024, was forced to settle for third in 13:51.33.
Nehemiah Kipngeno won the race in 13:41.16 ahead of Andrew Kiptoo Kiprop, who clocked 13:42.83.
The 3000m steeplechase events also delivered thrilling performances, African U18 champion Emmanuel Lemiso and African U20 champion Anatasha Cheptoo claiming top honours.
Lemiso impressed with a personal best of 8:35.30 to win the men&rsquo;s race, holding off Nicholas Losiwaren who finished second in 8:37.98, while Brian Kandie completed the podium in 8:45.24.
&ldquo;This victory is a huge motivating factor for me ahead of the World U20 Championships. After the Kip Keino Classic, I changed my diet and worked hard in training, especially clearing the water barriers,&rdquo; said Lemiso, who finished second at the Kip Keino Classic.
&ldquo;When we go to Eugene, I want to win a gold medal. I want to continue polishing my ability to clear the barriers smoothly.&rdquo;
Cheptoo produced a commanding display to win in 9:37.37, pulling off a notable upset in the process. Mercy Chepngeno, who is fresh from gaining silver at the African Championships, had to settle for second place in 9:47.40, while Abigael Kosgei completed the podium in 10:12.94.
&ldquo;I was exhausted coming into this race because I&rsquo;ve not rested well after the Africa Championships in Accra, but I gave my level best,&rdquo; said Chepngeno. &ldquo;Competing with the senior athletes in Accra was not easy, but the experience there was invaluable.&rdquo;
Josephine Sembeyo won the women&rsquo;s 1500m in 4:09.89, finishing ahead of Caren Chepchirchir (4:12.10) and Milcent Jeepkonga Kipykomen (4:17.84).
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a12d7d8dd1097be7bcf4ec4.jpeg" alt="Josephine Sembeyo in action at the Kenyan trials for the World U20 Championships" />
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Josephine Sembeyo in action at the Kenyan trials for the World U20 Championships (&copy; Sylvia Abigael Wafula)
In the men&rsquo;s race, Wilson Chepkwech took victory in 3:40.88, with David Kapaiko placing second in 3:41.29 and Brivon Kiptoo Koech third in 3:43.20.
Nancy Chepngetich won the women&rsquo;s 800m in 2:00.18, while Nashon Pkiach claimed victory in the men&rsquo;s race in 1:46.17.
Nancy Kibet clocked 52.70 to win the 400m and she was closely followed by Judith Sapato, who secured second place in 53.88. Faith Kemunto Onserio was third (55.54).
Sylvia Abigael Wafula for World Athletics
<h3>Kenyan team for Oregon</h3>
 WOMEN
400m: Nancy Kibet, Judith Sepato 800m: Nancy Chepngetich, Nancy Kibet 1500m: Caren Chepchirchir, Josephine Sembeyo 3000m: Faith Cherotich Rono, Mercy Chepngeno 5000m: Joyline Chepkemoi, Cynthia Chepkirui 3000m steeplechase: Mercy Chepngeno, Anatasha Cheptoo
MEN
100m: Louis Khawel 800m: Nashon Pkiach, Collins Tentera 1500m: Wilson Chepkwech, David Kapaiko 3000m: Emmanuel Kiprono, Elkana Sanutia 5000m: Frankline Kibet, Nehemiah Kipngeno 3000m steeplechase: Emmanuel Lemiso, Nicholas Kitum
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World Athletics U20 Championships

Emmanuel Kiprono and Cynthia Chepkirui were among the rising stars who secured qualification for the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 following the conclusion of the two-day Kenyan trials

Kiprono and Chepkirui lead Kenyan charge to World U20 Championships after trials in Nairobi

Mexico&rsquo;s Alegna Gonz&aacute;lez and China&rsquo;s Shi Shengji were victorious at the Gran Premio Cantones, a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold meeting, held in La Coru&ntilde;a on Saturday (23).
Contesting the half marathon, world 20km silver medallist Gonz&aacute;lez achieved her first win in Cantones, while 19-year-old Shi became the first Chinese race walker to triumph in the Spanish coastal city since Wang Zhen in 2016.
The women&rsquo;s contest opened with an early lead by Ant&iacute;a Chamosa, Spain&rsquo;s world 20km race walk seventh-place finisher. The 26-year-old gave the local fans something to cheer about over the new circuit as she took command of the race to become a solo leader from the gun.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Chamosa, who is a training partner of double world champion Mar&iacute;a P&eacute;rez, set a 4:25 cadence to progressively build a strong margin over the favourites including Gonz&aacute;lez, P&eacute;rez, the Italian pair of Antonella Palmisano and Sofia Fiorini, and Peru&rsquo;s Kimberly Garc&iacute;a. The Spaniard had created a lead of 22 seconds on the chasing group by the 5km checkpoint, which was reached in 22:07.
China&rsquo;s Yang Liujing fulfilled most of the pacing duties in the chase group, 10 seconds behind Chamosa (44:21/44:31) at 10km, and they caught the local athlete with the clock reading 50:45. The fireworks came during the 15th lap when Gonz&aacute;lez increased her pace to cover that circuit in 4:18, still with P&eacute;rez, Palmisano, Fiorini, Yang, Mexico&rsquo;s Alejandra Ortega and Japan&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Nanako Fujii tucked behind the Mexican.
The in-form Gonz&aacute;lez won last Saturday in Rio Maior and seemed determined to maintain her winning streak as her relentless 4:17 rhythm began to pay dividends. First Yang and then Fujii lost contact before an even quicker 4:14 18th lap saw P&eacute;rez and Ortega drop back, while the surprising Fiorini still remained at Gonz&aacute;lez&rsquo;s shoulder. The 21-year-old Italian, who placed runner-up at last month&rsquo;s World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Bras&iacute;lia in the marathon, tried to follow in Gonz&aacute;lez&rsquo;s footsteps but she finally began to lose ground some 1.4km from home as the Mexican flew over the penultimate lap to clock 4:12.&nbsp;
Gonz&aacute;lez kicked again to cover the final kilometre in 4:06 to secure her first win in Cantones in 1:32:24 following her second-place finishes in 2021, 2024 and 2025, plus a third place in 2023.
Fiorini clocked 1:32:36 and last year&rsquo;s victor P&eacute;rez &ndash; making her competitive debut over the half marathon distance &ndash; recorded 1:32:51 to complete a quality podium.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m more than happy as I had always made the podium here, but I had never won. Fortunately, today I managed that feat,&rdquo; said Gonz&aacute;lez. &ldquo;I felt very comfortable throughout and over the last laps I thought: &lsquo;It&rsquo;s my turn&rsquo;.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I liked the new circuit and we were lucky as it was a windless day. I&rsquo;ll next compete in Madrid next Sunday (31), while my primary goal for this summer season is to shine at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.&rdquo;
<h2>Teenager Shi proves strongest</h2>
The men&rsquo;s race kicked off at a moderate pace, the opening two kilometres covered in a comfortable 8:13. A large Chinese squad was at the helm alongside the other favourites including Japan&rsquo;s Kento Yoshikawa and Spain&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Paul McGrath.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a121d3d6616edfd1ba9e891.jpg" alt="China&rsquo;s Shi Shengji wins in La Coru&ntilde;a" />
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China&rsquo;s Shi Shengji wins in La Coru&ntilde;a (&copy; Almudena M&iacute;guez)
Surprisingly, shortly after the third kilometre which was covered in a much brisker 3:58, Brazil&rsquo;s world 20km champion Caio Bonfim began to lose ground. By the fifth kilometre (20:06) the front group was led by China&rsquo;s Yang Kaiyuan, Li Chenjie and Shi plus the Japanese duo of Tomohiro Noda and Keisuke Hara while Bonfim travelled outside the top 20, some nine seconds in arrears.
To the delight of the home crowd, McGrath moved to the front some 25 minutes into the race, the 24-year-old local hero setting the rhythm for a couple of laps to open a shy lead before being reeled in. China&rsquo;s Qian Haifeng then broke away to build a 10-second advantage on Shi, Yang and Mexico&rsquo;s Ricardo Ortiz. The 10km mark was reached by the leaders in 39:59 while Bonfim edged towards the chasing group.
Following several circuits in the 3:56/3:58 range, Shi effectively ended the competition as he unleashed a devastating kick to cover the 15th lap in 3:48. Only Li and Hara could live with that pace, but Shi continued to accelerate to produce the quickest kilometre &ndash; 3:46 &ndash; for the next circuit.
Noda began to falter but Li managed to remain at his compatriot&rsquo;s shoulder. Yet his resistance came to an end some 1:06:30 into the race when Shi finally managed to lose Li thanks to another 3:48 17th lap.&nbsp;
Shi maintained 3:50 pace over the final few laps which was enough to keep Li at bay, while Hara was a lonesome third way back.
Shi crossed the finish line in 1:23:23 to Li&rsquo;s 1:23:25, while Hara completed a classy podium 29 seconds behind the winner.
Loyal to his usual tactics of finishing strongly, Bonfim maintained a sub-4:00 cadence throughout the race to overtake all but the first three race walkers. He finished fourth in 1:24:08 after passing Ecuador&rsquo;s David Hurtado and China&rsquo;s Qian over the last couple of laps.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-tour/calendar-results/7231428/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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Mexico’s Alegna González and China’s Shi Shengji were victorious at the Gran Premio Cantones

González and Shi win in La Coruña

China&rsquo;s Yan Ziyi and USA&rsquo;s Masai Russell achieved the second-best performances of all time in the javelin and 100m hurdles, respectively, during a quality Wanda Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China, on Saturday (23).
They did so in the very first and last Diamond League events of the programme &ndash; Yan throwing 71.74m in the javelin and Russell storming to 12.14 in the hurdles.
Yan launched herself into the history books again, throwing that Asian record of 71.74m in the first round of the competition on her season debut. Only Czechia&rsquo;s Barbora &Scaron;pot&aacute;kov&aacute;, who set her world record of 72.28m in 2008, has ever thrown farther. The Chinese teenager becomes just the sixth athlete to ever surpass 70 metres and the fourth to go beyond 71 metres.
Giving herself a late birthday present, Yan &ndash; who won the world U20 title in 2024 and was a finalist for the World Athletics Women's Rising Star Award in 2025 &ndash; achieved the feat one day after turning 18, improving her own world U20 record of 65.89m set last year with a performance that also surpassed the Diamond League record of 69.57m that had stood since 2011.
&ldquo;I came here with the goal of throwing 65 metres, so it really blew my mind to see that result,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;After that very first throw, I decided to pass the rest as I felt it would be smart to save some energy since I have quite a few international competitions coming soon.
&ldquo;What I want for myself now is consistency. I don't want this 71.74m to be just a one-time thing. I will see how it will go for the next couple of years and prepare for breaking the world record.&rdquo;
USA&rsquo;s Olympic champion Russell edged even closer to the world 100m hurdles record &ndash; her 12.14 (0.5m/s) just two hundredths of a second off the 12.12 set by Nigeria&rsquo;s Tobi Amusan in Oregon in 2022.
Russell already sat second on the world all-time list with 12.17 from Miramar last year but she consolidated that position by going 0.03 quicker with a North American and Diamond League record that saw her leave a sensational field in her wake.
Amusan was second in 12.28, while Bahamian world 60m hurdles record-holder Devynne Charlton further improved her national record to 12.37 for third place. Tokyo Olympic medallist Megan Simmonds was fourth, world champion Ditaji Kambundji was fifth, last year's Diamond League champion Ackera Nugent was sixth and two-time world champion Danielle Williams was seventh.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a11b3a83147ed499ad3274c.jpg" alt="Masai Russell clocks 12.14 in Xiamen" />
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Masai Russell clocks 12.14 in Xiamen (&copy; Marta Gorczynska / Diamond League AG)
"I've been saying all year that I'm going to break the world record," said Russell. "I don't know when it's going to happen, but I keep getting closer and closer. I am blessed. I'm ecstatic. All the hard work is truly showing."
Brazil&rsquo;s 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos made a statement in the 400m hurdles &ndash; winning a fierce head-to-head against Norway&rsquo;s world record-holder Karsten Warholm for the second consecutive race after their 300m hurdles clash in Shanghai.
This time Dos Santos improved the world lead by more than a second, clocking 46.72 &ndash; a tenth of a second ahead of three-time world champion Warholm. USA&rsquo;s Caleb Dean was third in 47.75.
Uganda&rsquo;s Peruth Chemutai led from start to finish to clinch her second consecutive Diamond League win in the 3000m steeplechase &ndash; following her victory in Shanghai with another world-leading performance of 8:51.06, the eighth-fastest performance of all time.
The race had been billed as a world record attempt, with the pace lights set at 8:44 to challenge Beatrice Chepkoech&rsquo;s 8:44.32 from 2018. Things got off to an aggressive start, with Chemutai going straight to the front &ndash; ahead of the pacemaker and ahead of the pace lights. She led through 1000m on world record schedule in 2:53.75 but the pace dipped over the next kilometre as 2000m was reached in 5:51.99.
Chemutai, the Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, was followed by Bahrain&rsquo;s Paris Olympic champion Winfred Yavi and Kenya&rsquo;s world champion Faith Cherotich and they were all in contention at the bell. Chemutai maintained her leading position and held off a challenge from Yavi, who stuttered at the final barrier and had to settle for second place in 8:51.54 on her season debut ahead of Cherotich in 8:52.53.
Botswana&rsquo;s world 400m champion Collen Kebinatshipi stormed to the first Diamond League win of his career, running a world-leading meeting record of 43.92 &ndash; his third-fastest ever time and his quickest outside of a major championships. In his first race since anchoring Botswana to 4x400m victory at the World Relays on home soil, Kebinatshipi judged his race to perfection and passed Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga down the home straight. Samukonga held on for second place in 44.04 ahead of Zakithi Nene in 44.40.
Jamaica&rsquo;s two-time world champion Shericka Jackson backed up her win in Shanghai with another 200m victory, improving on her mark there with a meeting record of 21.87 (0.2m/s) &ndash; just 0.01 off Julien Alfred&rsquo;s world lead and Jackson&rsquo;s fastest time since the 2023 Diamond League Final (21.57). Bahamian two-time Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo was second in 22.04 and USA&rsquo;s Anavia Battle was third in 22.29.
USA&rsquo;s Jamal Britt was another athlete to repeat his feat from Shanghai, winning the 110m hurdles again in another PB-equalling 13.07 (0.5m/s) &ndash; a time he has achieved four times already so far this season. Further demonstrating his consistency, it was his fifth 110m hurdles win out of five finals so far this year. Japanese record-holder Rachid Muratake was second in 13.13 and Jamaica&rsquo;s world silver medallist Orlando Bennett was third in 13.20.
Kenya&rsquo;s Ferdinand Omanyala turned the tables after finishing runner-up to South Africa&rsquo;s Gift Leotlela in Shanghai, winning the 100m in 9.94 (0.2m/s) to Leotlela&rsquo;s 10.00. USA&rsquo;s Trayvon Bromell was third in 10.03, the same time as Kenny Bednarek in fourth.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a11b49f3147ed499ad3274f.jpg" alt="Karsten Warholm and Alison dos Santos battle for the line in Xiamen" />
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Karsten Warholm and Alison dos Santos battle for the line in Xiamen (&copy; Marta Gorczynska / Diamond League AG)
Greek two-time Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou matched the world lead of 8.46m to win the long jump. He opened with 8.37m and followed with 8.46m in the third round before deciding to pass his remaining attempts. Jamaica&rsquo;s Tajay Gayle was second with 8.32m, while Bulgaria&rsquo;s Bozhidar Sar&acirc;boyukov was third with 8.29m.
Italy&rsquo;s world champion Mattia Furlani, who jumped a PB of 8.43m to win in Shanghai, finished fourth on 8.28m after retiring from the competition in the fifth round due to a thigh injury.
Jamaica&rsquo;s Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell dominated the shot put contest, improving his national record by three centimetres to 22.34m for his first Diamond League win. Any of his three valid throws would have been enough to win as he backed up that fifth-round 22.34m with 21.80m in the second round and 21.88m in the third. USA&rsquo;s world indoor silver medallist Jordan Geist was second with 21.52m while world record-holder Ryan Crouser was third with 21.41m in his first Diamond League competition since September 2024.
USA&rsquo;s Olympic and world champion Valarie Sion threw 68.45m to win the discus by more than three metres. She also surpassed 67 metres with three of her other attempts. China&rsquo;s 2022 world champion Feng Bin was second on 65.03m and Dutch world silver medallist Jorinde van Klinken was third on 64.27m.
Ukraine&rsquo;s world indoor silver medallist Yuliia Levchenko won the high jump thanks to her third-time clearance of 1.99m. Her compatriot Iryna Gerashchenko, the Olympic bronze medallist, was second on 1.97m.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s 2022 world U20 champion Addisu Yihune pipped Germany&rsquo;s surprise Shanghai 3000m winner Mohamed Abdilaahi to win the 5000m, clocking a world-leading meeting record of 12:57.32 to Abdilaahi&rsquo;s 12:57.90. Biniam Mehary also dipped under 13 minutes, finishing third in 12:58.51.
Australia&rsquo;s Abbey Caldwell overtook Ethiopia&rsquo;s longtime leader Birke Haylom in the closing stages to win the 1500m &ndash; 3:57.26 to 3:57.79 &ndash; one week on from Haylom&rsquo;s world lead of 3:55.56 to triumph in Shanghai. USA&rsquo;s Emily Mackay followed them home for third in 3:58.13.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/calendar-results/7214017/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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China’s Yan Ziyi and USA’s Masai Russell achieved the second-best performances of all time in the javelin and 100m hurdles, respectively

Yan and Russell reign supreme in Xiamen with second-best marks in history

Aidan Murphy continued his remarkable breakthrough season by completing a 200m and 400m double at the Oceania Championships, held at Arafura Stadium in Darwin from 18-22 May.
The Australian first struck gold in the 400m on Tuesday (19), winning in a championship record of 44.44 &ndash; the second-fastest time ever by an Oceania athlete. Murphy took 1.40 seconds off the previous championship record held by defending champion Luke van Ratingen, who finished third this time in 45.04. Thomas Reynolds was second in 44.69.
Two days later, Murphy returned to win his 200m heat in a championship record of 20.28 (-0.4m/s), then he went even quicker in the final just two-and-a-half hours later in 20.05 (0.6m/s), his second-fastest time to date.
It marked the latest step in a rapid rise for the 22-year-old. Before this year, his 200m PB stood at 20.41, set in 2022 when he was an U20 athlete, while he had only once broken 46 seconds for 400m, with a best of 45.97.
He lowered his 400m PB to 45.12 in his first race of the year, then broke 45 seconds with 44.81 in February. Two weeks later, he improved his 100m PB to 10.23, before smashing his 200m PB with 19.88 at the Australian Championships, finishing runner-up to Gout Gout and becoming the second-fastest Oceanian man in history at the distance.
More recently, Murphy represented Australia in the 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, where the team finished third in 2:55.20 to become the fourth-fastest nation in history. Murphy anchored the team with a 43.79 split.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had my head down for two years in silence and I&rsquo;m just happy to be here right now, finally seeing it all pay off,&rdquo; said Murphy.
&ldquo;I think I ran the perfect race,&rdquo; he added of his 400m win. &ldquo;It was really satisfying to take out the win. I was glad I had Tom next to me, he pushed me all the way to the line. I couldn&rsquo;t have done it without him and Luke.
&ldquo;If the national record isn&rsquo;t broken this year, it will be next year. It&rsquo;s just a matter of time.&rdquo;
<h2>Hobbs, Azzopardi and McEntyre among record-breakers</h2>
Of the many championship records that fell in Darwin, the majority came in sprints and hurdles events.
Zoe Hobbs broke the championship record in the women&rsquo;s 100m, winning in 11.00 (0.9m/s). The New Zealander improved on her own championship record of 11.09 set in 2022, finishing well clear of Australia&rsquo;s Ebony Lane, who was second in 11.32.
Joshua Azzopardi won the men&rsquo;s 100m title in 10.21 (-1.0m/s), having equalled the championship record of 10.19 in the semifinals. Jackson Rowe, who had clocked a wind-assisted 10.19 in the heats, took silver in the final in 10.26.
Cameron McEntyre became the first athlete to throw beyond 80 metres in the men&rsquo;s javelin at the Oceania Championships, winning with a second-round throw of 80.53m.
In a highly competitive women&rsquo;s long jump contest, Brooke Buschkuehl won with 6.70m from 19-year-old Delta Amidzovski, who jumped 6.69m. Both athletes went well beyond the previous championship record of 6.50m, set in 2019.
Buschkuehl took the early lead with 6.59m in the first round, but Amidzovski responded with 6.69m in round two. Buschkuehl improved to 6.65m in the third round, then produced the winning jump in round five.
Michelle Jenneke won the women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles in a championship record of 12.87 (1.1m/s), while Sarah Carli improved her own 400m hurdles championship record from 2022 with 55.33.
Australia&rsquo;s Matthew Hunt won the men&rsquo;s 400m hurdles in a championship record of 49.77, and the senior programme came to a close on Friday with New Zealand winning the mixed 4x400m in 3:19.39, also a championship record.
Elsewhere, Australia&rsquo;s Luke Boyes won the men&rsquo;s 800m by more than three seconds, clocking 1:46.83, while compatriot Yual Reath cleared 2.28m to win the men&rsquo;s high jump.
New Zealand&rsquo;s Jacko Gill won the men&rsquo;s shot put with 19.97m from teammate Nick Palmer, who threw 19.85m. Palmer led after the opening round, but Gill moved ahead in round three and held on for victory.
There was another New Zealand win in the women&rsquo;s javelin, where Tori Moorby threw 60.40m to beat Mackenzie Little, who reached 60.18m.
Lauren Bruce added another title for New Zealand in the women&rsquo;s hammer, winning with 70.64m.

Aidan Murphy continued his remarkable breakthrough season by completing a 200m and 400m double at the Oceania Championships

Murphy completes 200m/400m double at Oceania Championships

One week after a series of record-breaking contests in Shanghai, many of the same athletes will renew their rivalries when the Wanda Diamond League moves on to Xiamen on Saturday (23).
The men&rsquo;s 400m hurdles brings together three-time world champion and world record-holder Karsten Warholm and 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos, just seven days after the Brazilian held off the Norwegian to win the 300m hurdles in Shanghai.
That result continued Dos Santos&rsquo; recent edge in their head-to-head contests. Not only did he beat Warholm over the shorter distance in Shanghai, he has also finished ahead of him in their past two races over 400m hurdles.
They will be joined in Xiamen by world leader Trevor Bassitt, the 2022 world bronze medallist, two-time world bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba and two-time Diamond League Final winner Kyron McMaster.
There will also be a rematch in the women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles, where Olympic champion Masai Russell returns after her meeting record and world-leading 12.25 in Shanghai.
Russell will again face a loaded field that includes world champion Ditaji Kambundji, three-time world indoor champion Devynne Charlton, world record-holder Tobi Amusan and two-time world champion Danielle Williams. Charlton finished second behind Russell in Shanghai, setting a national record of 12.38, while Amusan was third.
The women&rsquo;s 200m will also feature three global gold medallists from the Shanghai race, with two-time world champion Shericka Jackson taking on two-time Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo and 2023 world 100m champion Sha&rsquo;Carri Richardson.
Jackson won in Shanghai in 22.07, her fastest time since the 2023 Diamond League Final, while Miller-Uibo was second in 22.26 and Richardson fourth in 22.42.
The men&rsquo;s 100m in Xiamen features the top eight finishers from Shanghai, including South Africa&rsquo;s Gift Leotlela, Kenya&rsquo;s Ferdinand Omanyala and USA&rsquo;s Kenny Bednarek. Leotlela won in Shanghai from lane one in 9.97, edging Omanyala and Bednarek, who both clocked 9.98, with just 0.04 separating the first five men.
The men&rsquo;s 110m hurdles field will also be familiar, as all nine athletes from Shanghai line up again. Jamal Britt, who came through late to win there in an equal PB of 13.07, faces world champion Cordell Tinch and Japanese record-holder Rachid Muratake.
<h2>Chemutai and Cherotich renew steeplechase rivalry</h2>
The women&rsquo;s 3000m steeplechase produced one of the tightest finishes in Shanghai, and the top two will clash again in Xiamen.
Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai won in 8:51.47, just 0.01 ahead of world champion Faith Cherotich. They will be joined this time by Olympic champion Winfred Yavi, who makes her season debut.
The field also includes Tunisia&rsquo;s Marwa Bouzayani and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Kena Tufa, who both dipped inside nine minutes in Shanghai.
Surprise Shanghai 3000m winner Mohamed Abdilaahi steps up to the 5000m in Xiamen after his German record of 7:25.77 last weekend. He faces Sweden&rsquo;s world 10,000m bronze medallist Andreas Almgren, one of six men in the field with a PB faster than 12:50.
In the women&rsquo;s 1500m, Birke Haylom heads to Xiamen after her meeting record of 3:55.56 in Shanghai. The Ethiopian will face world silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi and the quintet of Australians who broke four minutes in Shanghai, including Abbey Caldwell and Jessica Hull.
In his first race since anchoring Botswana to 4x400m victory at the World Relays on home soil in Gaborone, Collen Kebinatshipi heads the men&rsquo;s 400m field in Xiamen. The world champion lines up against teammate and fellow world 4x400m champion Bayapo Ndori, world indoor champion Christopher Morales Williams of Canada, South Africa&rsquo;s Zakithi Nene and Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga.
<h2>Crouser returns to Diamond League action</h2>
World record-holder Ryan Crouser will make his first Diamond League appearance since September 2024 when he contests the men&rsquo;s shot put in Xiamen.
The multiple world and Olympic champion has not competed since winning his third world title in Tokyo last year. His most recent Diamond League appearance was also his last defeat, and the last time he failed to throw beyond 22 metres in a final was in April 2022.
Crouser takes on world leader Leonardo Fabbri, world silver medallist Uziel Munoz, world indoor champion Tom Walsh and Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell.
The men&rsquo;s long jump brings together world champion Mattia Furlani and Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou. Furlani jumped an outdoor world lead and PB of 8.43m to win in Shanghai, where Bozhidar Saraboyukov was second with 8.07m. Both men compete again in Xiamen, where they will be joined by 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle.
The women&rsquo;s discus features Valarie Sion, the world and Olympic champion, along with Jorinde van Klinken, 2023 world champion Laulauga Tausaga and 2022 world champion Feng Bin.
In the women&rsquo;s javelin, Diamond League champion Elina Tzengko faces Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi, European silver medallist Adriana Vilagos, world U20 record-holder Yan Ziyi and 2023 world silver medallist Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado.

One week after a series of record-breaking contests in Shanghai, many of the same athletes will renew their rivalries when the Wanda Diamond League moves on to Xiamen

Shanghai rematches take centre stage in Xiamen

On the track, eight women will be crowned champions at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September, from the sprint queens in the 100m to the distance specialists over 5000m.&nbsp;
In the second instalment of a four-part series, we look at the track tussles looming at this season&rsquo;s athletics climax.
<h3>100m hurdles</h3>
Unpredictability. It&rsquo;s what makes sport so special and few events are harder to predict than the sprint hurdles. Ditaji Kambundji wasn&rsquo;t many people&rsquo;s pick to win the world title last September and, after clocking a massive personal best, her shocked face as she crossed the finish line suggested she hadn&rsquo;t expected it either.
The Swiss athlete&rsquo;s form was good indoors this year but, in an electric world indoor 60m hurdles final in March, she just missed out on a medal despite a season&rsquo;s best. There will also be no shortage of suitors aiming to upstage her in the 2026 outdoor season finale in Budapest.
If 2025 is anything to go by, the event should be rapid. Eight women ran 12.30 or faster last year and the athlete topping those times, Masai Russell, will be keen to translate her 12.17 into a podium place after missing out in Tokyo. The US athlete has started the season well by winning at the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai in 12.25.
So many have shone already this year with four athletes &ndash; Kambundji, Devynne Charlton, Pia Skrzyszowska and Nadine Visser &ndash; all separated by a mere hundredth of a second going into the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Poland, and then there was Charlton&rsquo;s world record there in the final.
<h3>800m</h3>
Prior to this season, Keely Hodgkinson had never won a world title indoors or out. The British athlete righted that wrong in Poland in March and just days before that she broke a 24-year-old world short track record aptly set on the very day she was born.
It has been an impressive return after the disappointment of bronze in Tokyo when she would likely have been a shoo-in for gold had she not been hampered by a double hamstring tear, the second just after a trip to Buckingham Palace.
Kenya&rsquo;s surprise world champion Lilian Odira will once again be aiming to challenge her, while Hodgkinson&rsquo;s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell, the silver medallist in Tokyo, is yet to decide whether to focus on the 800m or 1500m this season.
<h3>400m</h3>
The big question was whether USA&rsquo;s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, a world gold medallist in two different individual disciplines, would stick to the 400m or revert to the 400m hurdles. It turns out neither. Instead, come Budapest, she will be in the early stages of motherhood after announcing her pregnancy at the start of the year.
Even without her, this field is stacked with potential champions, including Olympic gold medallist Marileidy Paulino, who was second to McLaughlin-Levrone in Tokyo.
US athlete Aaliyah Butler will surely aim to be in contention, too, along with Salwa Eid Naser and Amber Anning, who forewent the World Indoors to focus on the outdoor season. Then there&rsquo;s Natalia Bukowiecka who hoped to win gold at the World Indoors in front of her home crowd in Poland but was denied by just eight hundredths of a second by break-out star Lurdes Gloria Manuel.

World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Eight women are set be crowned inaugural Ultimate champions on the track. Ahead of the event in Budapest, we pick out some of the key battles for gold.

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