Well that was a memorable way to finish another entertaining night of athletics. That’s all from me, thanks for reading. Bye.
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Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake: “I wasn’t sure [if we’d won]. I gave it my all, I dipped, but in my periphery I saw Coleman. I’m still trying to register that we’re actually world champions.”
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CJ Ujah is told it’s the third fastest time of all time and his stunned face says it all. “It’s unbelievable, world champions,” says Adam Gemili. “This is just a dream and it’s a reality tonight.”
The ecstatic reaction of the British women’s relay team watching from trackside, who had just won silver themselves, is brilliant to watch.
It’s a shame Bolt didn’t have the chance to challenge on the home straight but in truth he had probably been given too much to do after a couple of sloppy changes by the Jamaican team. Replays show what looks like Bolt’s hamstring snapping after only a few strides, followed by a grimace and his collapse on to the track. A huge shame to see the greatest sprinter of all time sign off in that way but it’s certainly not going to taint what he has achieved.
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Every single part of the British team’s race was exceptional but two parts in particular stand out: Chijindu Ujah’s outrageously good start and Adam Gemili’s rapid second leg down the back straight which seemed to extend their lead from USA and the new world champion, Justin Gatlin. Danny Talbot completed a tidy top bend and Mitchell-Blake did just enough on the anchor.
Japan, by the way, claimed bronze, edging out China. What an extraordinary race.
The winning time of 37.47sec is the third fastest time in men’s 4x100m relay history, I’m told, and the replay shows why: inch-perfect changes in every box. Brilliant from the British team and they needed to be perfect to beat the Americans.
In the drama, a sad sight: Usain Bolt pulled up sprinting the final leg and is hurt. He hauls himself up and limps across the line before applauding the crowd and crouching back down in some pain.
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Great Britain & NI win men's 4x100m gold!
Britain make an explosive start and lead right from the beginning, all the way into Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake on the anchor leg. Jamaica have faltered with the baton and he only has Christian Coleman to hold off, which he does by a tiny fraction! Remarkable.
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Here they go with the men’s 4x100m relay final. Usain Bolt’s final act. Can he sign off with another gold?
Bolt waves to the crowd, looking extremely relaxed alongside the talented Christian Coleman of America, Christophe Lemaitre of France and Britain’s Mitchell-Blake all ready for the final leg.
The 4x100m relay competitors stride out on to the track. Japan give a nice bow before the camera, China offer a pose, the British runners clap and cheer, and Jamaica give a jaunty shoulder drop with rhythm. A confident swagger from the US, a salute by Turkey and finally Canada who give up a Hammers sign, very appropriate for the stadium. Enough of all that, it’s race time. On commentary, Michael Johnson predicts a US victory.
The teams: Canada, Turkey, USA, Jamaica, France, GB, China, Japan. Chijindu Ujah leads Britain off with Adam Gemili, Daniel Talbot and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake anchoring. France have a strong lineup with Christophe Lemaitre on the anchor leg, while the USA features Justin Gatlin on leg two and Christian Coleman bringing it home and might just be the favourites, but all eyes will be on Usain Bolt in his final major track appearance. The 110m hurdle champion Omar McLeod leads Jamaica off, handing to Julian Forte before Yohan Blake passes to Bolt.
Behind the scenes Usain Bolt and Mo Farah share a warm embrace, before the Briton’s medal ceremony. Farah takes to the podium to collect his silver with a smile, and even offers up one last Mobot. Muktar Edris of Ethiopia takes the gold medal with America’s Paul Chelimo collecting bronze.
While we wait for the Usain Bolt show to arrive, a friendly nudge towards The Recap for all your Guardian Sport needs:
The replay shows that the change to Dina Asher-Smith for the third leg was a little messy and that may just have prevented the British team starting the anchor leg in the lead. Even so, a good medal claimed up against a strong field.
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USA win women's 4x100m relay gold!
As they come off the final bend it’s close between USA, Britain, Germany and Jamaica but Torie Bowie shows the pace which won her the 100m world title to win by a comfortable margin, with Britain taking a well-earned silver ahead of Jamaica in third!
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So here we go: the women’s 4x100m final...
The teams: Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, USA, GB, Germany, Jamaica, Brazil, Switzerland. Asha Philip will lead off for the British team with Daryll Neita bringing it home. The US have Allyson Felix going on the second leg with the 100m world champion Torie Bowie anchoring.
It’s been a busy evening and only the relays are left tonight. First up, the women’s 4x100m final. They come out in their teams and fun/dramatic poses are the order of the day in front of the camera. Britain’s is a bit of a mess, which hopefully indicates that they have been practicing their baton passing instead.
Johannes Vetter wins men's javelin gold for Germany!
Jakub Vadlejch can’t pull out a killer throw with his final effort and settles for silver ahead of his Czech Republic team-mate Petr Frydrych who takes bronze. An emotional Johannes Vetter lies on the track, before rushing to hug his coach and letting the tears flow. He launched the javelin 94 metres in qualifying but 89.89m was enough in the final.
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Thomas Röhler needs a monster. He bounces at the top of his run up before charging into his throw. It’s a good effort, but it’s not nearing the 90m mark which he needed to claim a medal and he will miss out.
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Wow – in the men’s javelin final Petr Frydrych of the Czech Republic throws a huge personal best of 88.32m to oust the Olympic champion Röhler from the bronze medal position! Röhler will have only one throw to get himself back on the podium.
Only two more races to come on the track: first up is the women’s 4x100m followed by Usain Bolt’s final act on the track in the men’s relay.
None of the leading three – the current leader Johannes Vetter, Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch and the Olympic champion Thomas Röhler – improve on their best marks and they will continue in that order heading into their final throws.
No change to the men’s javelin final after the fourth round. Here come the medal contenders with their penultimate throw...
Sir Mo Farah speaks! “It’s been a long journey, it’s been incredible. I realised this is it. To be honest, the 10k took a lot more out of me than I realised. They had a gameplan and the better man won on the day. My legs had it. I got boxed in and by the time I got out I had nothing.”
Reflecting on his career, he says: “I remember in 2008 I was so disappointed with myself, I had to make decisions, I had to move to the other side of the world to become a champion. This chapter’s closed now, it’s done.”
The men’s javelin final is well on its way, and at the top two fancied Germans are right up there: the Olympic champion Thomas Röhler is currently third after three throws with 88.26m and his team-mate Johannes Vetter leads the way with 89.89m. Between them lies Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic with a mark of 89.73m.
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Kevin Mayer wins the men's decathlon gold for France!
Mayer cruises around 1500m of track in the final event in the men’s decathlon and becomes the world champion. With Ashton Eaton now retired the chance is there for Mayer to create an era for himself. Rico Freimuth claims silver and Kai Kazmirek bronze, both for Germany.
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It’s worth noting the achievement by the 19-year-old Yuliia Levchenko who set a personal best with 2.01m to claim the high jump silver medal and looks set to be a star of the future.
Maria Lasitskene wins women's high jump gold!
Back to the women’s high jump final, where Britain’s KJT and Morgan Lake both fell at the 1.95m height during that 5,000m final. Only three made it – Poland’s Kamila Licwinko, Ukraine’s Yuliia Levchenko and the favourite Maria Lasitskene. The latter two cleared 2.01m, but only Lasitskene could clear 2.03m and with that she claimed gold and the world title! A reminder that she is representing herself as an authorised neutral athlete, rather than her home country of Russia.
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So Farah signs off with 10 major medals – six world titles and four Olympic golds. Some track career. He is still out there taking photos, signing autographs, and forcing a smile for selfies even though he is clearly hurting.
Our initial race report:
An emotional Farah takes a lap of the London Stadium, venue for his most famous triumph, to applaud his home crowd who give him a rapturous reception.
America’s Paul Chelimo narrowly missed out on silver, just shy of Farah, and takes bronze. Credit to the little powerhouse Muktar Edris, a former junior world champion, who got stronger as he attacked the home straight and actually extended his lead over the final 50 metres, which doesn’t often happen to Mo.
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Farah lies on the track at the finish in a ball of disappointment, holding his head in his hands. He looks gutted, understandably so, but at the end of an incredible track career it is yet another medal. Eventually he pulls himself up and goes to find his family.
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Muktar Edris wins men's 5,000m gold for Ethiopia!
Farah chases Edris and Kejelcha up the home straight, finding a route up the inside, but he can’t keep pace with Edris’s sprint and the Ethiopian wins gold by several metres with Farah settling for silver.
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They turn on the home straight, Farah has to find a way past...
Suddenly Andy Butchart puts in a little sprint, and it sparks the Ethiopians who hit the front hard. Yomif Kejelcha and Muktar Edris lead Farah at the bell...
Tiernan continues to lead this 5,000m final with two and a half laps to go. Farah fronts the chasing group who seem content to wait for the Briton to make a move. This is tense. Who will blink first?
The Australian Patrick Tiernan is the latest to zoom away from the nose of the group but he isn’t somebody Farah is too worried about, and the rest allow him to run perhaps 15 metres clear.
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No sooner had Barega raised the pace than he brings it back in and rejoins the pack. Paul Chelimo takes it on once more, but still the pace is slow and Farah is very comfortable on the American’s shoulder with five laps remaining.
This jogging pace is playing into Mo Farah’s hands, even if Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha does have a tremendous kick to call on. Selemon Barega decides enough is enough, and with seven laps to go the 17-year-old steps up the speed at the front.
Farah’s British team-mate, the Scot Andy Butchart, moves into the picture at the front of the race. Mo gives him a nudge of encouragement as they keep a steady pace. Muktar Edris comes around the outside and joins them, but seems reluctant to kick on.
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Chelimo, the American Olympic silver medalist, dictates from the front. As they pass the top of the track Katarina Johnson-Thompson takes her final attempt at 1.95m in the women’s high jump final, and brings down the bar to end her championships.
Yomif Kejelcha, Muktar Edris and Selemon Barega of Ethiopia are three to watch as they line up before this final. Off they go and straight away Farah moves on to the shoulder of Paul Chelimo on the front.
It’s Mo-time. Farah is out on the track applauding the crowd while warming up with a classic sidestep like a Sunday League footballer who turned up late. Presumably he’s done the real stuff backstage. A pre-race email from Guy Hornsby: “I was in the stadium last Friday, and it was agonising to watch. So I have to say I’m a little nervous about the 5,000 tonight. Mo is a supreme champion, but the heats were chaotic, and brutal, with a fearsome 10,000 in his legs already, a while his odds may be ridiculous, he’s going to have to be his brilliant best to get the golden sign off we all crave.”
Next on the track? Mo Farah and the men’s 5,000m final. In the women’s high jump final Johnson-Thompson has failed her first attempt at 1.97m. So too has Jungfleisch, Licwinko twice, and KJT’s team-mate Morgan Lake. Only Yuliia Levchenko and Maria Lasitskene have cleared it, and they will face 1.99m when they next go.
That, by the way, is Australia’s first medal of these championships.
At 30 Pearson has claimed her second world title, six years after her first in Daegu. The winning time was 12.59sec and Pearson looked utterly stunned crossing the line, a fine reward following two injury-ravaged years. Pamela Dutkiewicz grabbed bronze on the line for Germany behind USA’s Harper Nelson in second.
Sally Pearson wins the women's 100m hurdles for Australia!
Kendra Harrison gets to the first hurdle before Sally Pearson and leads into the third barrier, but clips a couple and falls away. Pearson comes to the fore, clearing the hurdles cleanly and holding off Dawn Harper Nelson on the line!
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The crowd quietens for the women’s 100m hurdles final. Sally Pearson gives a nervous wave to the camera. She goes in lane four just outside Kendra Harrison and that is where we are expecting fireworks.
Back to the women’s high jump final and Britain’s Morgan Lake clears 1.95m to join the group going for 1.97m. Very coolly done and the 20-year-old from Reading is closing in on her personal best of 1.96m. Kamila Licwinko from Poland follows her over as a couple of others challengers fail. The field is thinning out as they near the business end.
First up on the track tonight is the women’s 100m hurdles final, and Australia’s Sally Pearson will be going for her second world title. She is up against a high quality field featuring the world record holder Kendra Harrison and three other talented Americans – Christina Manning, Nia Ali and Dawn Harper Nelson.
KJT aces 1.95m with a perfect leap! It didn’t even graze the bar. She’s the fourth high jump finalist to clear the height, although the one blot on her card at 1.92m means she is technically fourth and outside the medals.
Britain’s Morgan Lake has a perfect card so far, clearing 1.84m, 1.88m and 1.92m comfortably. She raises her arms to get the home crowd behind her before steaming into her arced approach, but nudges the bar and it’s her first failure of the competition, at 1.95m. She is followed by the 19-year-old Ukrainian Yuliia Levchenko, who makes it look easy, and the teenager will join Lasitskene at 1.97m, as will the German Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch. Next up, it’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
Maria Lasitskene is the first to clear 1.95m, at her first attempt, with plenty of room to spare it would seem. She is clearly the one to beat in this women’s high jump final. Next up is Vashti Cunningham from the US, who nicks the bar and will have to go again.
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A surprise in the women’s high jump as the Olympic champion, Spain’s Ruth Beitia, racks up three fouls at 1.92m and is out of the competition. She had been struggling with a shoulder injury, in fairness, and at 38 that may be Beitia’s final world championship tilt. Katarina Johnson-Thompson clears the height at the second attempt and her challenge goes on.
After the conclusion of the ninth event in the men’s decathlon, here’s how they stand:
- Kevin Mayer (France) 8067 points
- Rico Freimuth (Germany) 7894
- Kai Kazmirek (Germany) 7796
- Janek Oiglane (Estonia) 7686
A quick check of 1500m personal bests suggests that Oiglane is going to need to run the race of his life to have any chance of stealing a podium spot, while Mayer has the gold all but wrapped up. With Ashton Eaton retired there is a room for a new decathlon king, and in this French 25-year-old we may have found one.
The women’s high jump final is just getting going and this promises to be an entertaining contest. The reigning world champion Mariya Lasitskene – from Russia but competing as an authorised neutral athlete – is the favourite, although she faces Spain’s 38-year-old Olympic champion Ruth Beitia and several talented young entrants. Among the contenders is Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who suffered a disappointing heptathlon but bounced back to win a place in this final, and has already cleared 1.88m without a blemish on her card. Here comes her third jump... she clatters into the bar at 1.92m.
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Kevin Mayer seems to opting against a second javelin throw – his arm is heavily strapped and he knows he has done enough to put himself in charge heading into the 1500m. His closest challenger to take the decathlon crown is Germany’s Rico Freimuth, who has set a mark of 62.34m after two throws, just behind his team-mate Kai Kazmirek’s 62.45m. These two are looking most likely to take silver and bronze but Estonia’s Janek Oiglane, who leads the javelin event with a huge personal best of 71.73m, could leap up to fourth in the overall standings and put himself in contention. Meanwhile, responding to Kevin’s email earlier:
That was after Opening Ceremony had they have never dipped it since. Rather precious about their flag...
— Mark White (@markwhite1977) August 12, 2017
In the men’s decathlon, the javelin is now in full swing. France’s Kevin Mayer has put up a solid mark of 66.10m with his first throw and that will be enough to ensure he leads the pack heading into the final event later tonight, the 1500m.
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An early email from Kevin without surname: “Hi Lawrence, any ideas why the American flag is not – in contrast to other flags – lowered at an angle and unfurled at the medal ceremonies?” I must admit I don’t know. Does a reader have an answer for this one?
If you’d like to catch up on some of the action earlier in the day, including the 4x100m relay semi-finals ahead of tonight’s finals, take a look at Martha Kelner’s report from the London Stadium:
First up tonight is the men’s decathlon, which is nearing its conclusion. The penultimate event of the 10 – the javelin – is under way although the second group of competitors is the one stacked with medal contenders and is yet to start. France’s Kevin Mayer carries a hefty lead of more than 100 points into this and tonight’s final event, the 1500m, and bearing in mind his monstrous personal best in the javelin of over 70 metres would need something pretty terrible to occur not to be crowned world champion and win his first major international title.
Preamble
Home fans at London 2017 may have suffered some oddly comforting flashbacks this week to the late 90s and early naughties, when Brits snatched plucky fourth-placed finishes from the jaws of glory like clockwork. Even then, though, there was always one athlete of rare talent at the top of their field. Paula Radcliffe, head lolloping, would streak away to marathon gold. Jonathan Edwards, the standard bearer for humble Britishness, would defy gravity in the triple jump. Colin Jackson would harness every last drop of gravity to achieve his title-winning dip over the line.
Now it is Mo Farah, whose domination of long distance running has become ludicrously routine, raising him to the top of all the British star athletes before him. In what he says will be his final major race, Farah is aiming to sign off with his seventh world title to add to his four Olympic gold medals in the 5,000m final (8.20pm BST) this evening, but this will be harder assignment than the 10,000m gold he won so impressively a week ago. He has picked out Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei as the main threat once more, while Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris, Yomif Kejelcha and their teenage team-mate Selemon Barega will have drawn up a plan titled ‘How to beat Mo’.
Before Farah, there are three gold medals up for grabs tonight. First is the women’s high jump final (7.05pm BST) where the reigning world champion, Mariya Lasitskene – competing as an authorised neutral athlete – will take on Spain’s 38-year-old Olympic champion Ruth Beitia. Australia’s Sally Pearson will go for the second world championship gold of her career in the women’s 100m hurdles final (8.05pm BST) but faces stiff competition from a pack of American talent including the world record holder, Kendra Harrison, before the men’s javelin final (8.15pm BST) where Germany’s Olympic champion Thomas Röhler will be the man to beat.
The men’s decathlon will be in action at various junctures before the evening wraps up with the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay finals (9.30pm BST), and Usain Bolt’s final act. Expect Jamaica and USA to fight for golds should they get the baton round, while Germany have strong teams and Britain have high hopes of snatching a life-affirming fourth. It is all set up for another brilliant night of athletics in London.
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