And that’s today over, athletics-wise at least. It’s been a blast. Bye!
Here’s our report on the women’s 100m final:
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce seems happy with herself, the world and all things.
I think 10.60 is there. Hopefully in my next race I’ll get it together. I just trust in god and I work hard, and focus on executing. I don’t focus on just winning but on executing. I did the hair myself in Venice. I couldn’t find somebody to do it and then I wanted to colour it and the colour took long to come, and I had these green braids so I just said, what the heck.
Jamaica’s two sprint sensations: an incredibly tall man with short hair, and an unusually short woman with long, green locks.
WOOOOOOIIIII Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce WINS Women's 100M in 10.76. #Jaminate #TeamJamaica #Beijing2015 #WorldChamps pic.twitter.com/yfHQkharwc
— Team Jamaica (@JamaicaOlympics) August 24, 2015
Dafne Schippers has spoken to the BBC:
So happy! It’s a national record, I’m second in the world, it’s crazy! I was a little bit nervous in the semi-finals, and after that I think, OK, I’m in the final, anything is possible. My start was good, I thought I was close enough to medal. Wow!
She says wow quite a few times.
That 100m final in full:
#100metreswomen #IAAFWorldChampionships #Beijing2015 #Fraser-Pryce pic.twitter.com/sfsZVuzDV5
— Rafagranadinista (@Lpez133) August 24, 2015
Schippers was probably the slowest of the eight finalists out of the blocks. Could that have cost her? Fraser-Pryce didn’t start as well as she often does, but ‘twas good enough.
Dafne Schippers didn't get a great start: might she have even won if she wasn't two metres down from the blocks? She was certainly closing
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) August 24, 2015
Gold for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the women's 100m!
It’s easy! And then it’s hard! And then it was easy all along! Fraser-Pryce starts excellently, middles incredibly, and then with the race all but over Schippers suddenly turns on the afterburners, and given another 10m she’d have won it! In the end Fraser-Pryce runs 10.76, Schippers 10.81, and Tori Bowie takes third in 10.86.
They’re ready to go in the 100m final. Can anyone stop Fraser-Pryce? Dafne Schippers, the most likely candidate, is directly to her right.
And that leaves just one more race to run today – the women’s 100m final. Not a bad way to finish off, all things considered.
Steeplechase gold for Ezekiel Kemboi!
Kemboi holds on, with Conseslus Kipruto second, and Jairus Birech third. Kenya ended up taking the top four places. That’s his fourth world title – nobody’s beaten the 33-year-old in this tournament since 2007. He’s also got three silvers!
Ezekiel Kemboi storms clear!
The bell rings, and the sprint begins. Birech moves into the lead, and Jager falls back …
Jager is right on the shoulder of Conseslus Kipruto, with Brahim Taleb of Morocco the only other non-Kenyan in the leading six.
Now Kipruto leads, with Ethiopia’s Haile Amare disrupting a Kenyan quartet.
Four laps to go, and Kenyan athletes are first, second and third, led by Jairus Birech.
There’s one European in the steeplechase final – Poland’s Krytian Zalewski. Meanwhile there are four Kenyans, including the pre-race favourite, Jairus Birech, and the second-favourite, Ezekiel Kemboi, though the American Evan Jager might have a chance.
Next on the track: the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Lovely touch by Evan Jager. Moments before 3,000m steeplechase he dashed to hug his team-mate Emily Infield, who won bronze in women's 10k
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) August 24, 2015
Gold for Shawn Barber in the men's pole vault!
Close! But not good enough. It’s silver for Holzdeppe, and gold for Shawn Barber, the 21-year-old Canadian.
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Here comes the Holzdeppe …
In the pole vault, both remaining athletes have twice failed to clear 6.00. Holzdeppe must make it over with his next go, otherwise he’ll have to settle for silver.
An email! “My friends Paul & Christine forgot to choose a first dance song for their wedding reception,” writes Matt Emrson. “In his infinite wisdom the DJ chose Here Comes the Hotstepper. I’ve never forgotten them trying to waltz to it…” The mind boggles.
Oh no! The replays lay bare the reason for Molly Huddle’s distress – the medal was hers! At least, it was hers until, with 10 yards to go, she slowed down and threw her arms in the air to celebrate, at which point Infeld storms through to take the medal by the merest smidgeon!
Most gutted post-race face belongs to Molly Huddle, who led at the bell and ended up fourth.
Gold for Vivian Cheruiyot in the 10,000m
Gelete Burker comes second having given it a good old go. America’s Emily Infeld meanwhile stormed through in the final 200m to take bronze!
The bell rings out, and the 10,000m leaders launch into the final lap. Gelete Burka leads at the moment, though now Vivian Cheruiyot storms past!
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On the subject of Holzdeppe, it’s nice of Ini Kamoze to provide him with a personal theme tune.
And Raphael Holzdeppe clears it! That’s silver at least for the German, who is now in a two-man shoot-out with Barber for gold!
Kévin Ménaldo follows his compatriot Lavillenie out of the men’s pole vault. Raphael Marcel Holzdeppe has one more chance to follow Shawnacy Barber over the bar at 5.90, otherwise it’s all over. Lavillenie is currently joint second, with the two Poles, Pawel Wojciechowski and Lisek.
Renaul Lavillenie has failed for a third time to clear 5.90m, and he will not win a gold medal here.
The women’s 10,000m is chugging along, not particularly quickly. There’s about 3,000m still to go.
Colombia’s president is happy.
En este momento @tripleCIbarguen se corona como la reina del triple salto en el Mundial de Atletismo. ¡Nuevamente orgullo para Colombia!
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) August 24, 2015
It's gold for Ibargüen in the women's triple jump
She records 14.70 with her final jump, her third-best of the evening (it would still have won her fourth place on its own) but it doesn’t matter, and Colombia has its first medal of the championships – and it’s a good ‘un!
In the pole vault nobody has followed Shawnacy Barber over the bar set at 5.90m. Renauld Lavillenie, the Olympic champion and pre-event favourite, has failed twice (the irony being that his first attempt at 5.80m was so good he’d have cleared 5.90 with no problem at all).
Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko fouls for the third jump in succession, and will take silver behind Caterine Ibargüen, who has a final jump under no pressure for posterity.
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The women’s triple jump is all but over. Just the top two to jump in the sixth and final round, and they can’t be caught. Olga Rypakova will take bronze with her first-round jump of 14.77.
Next up is 21-year-old Canada’s Shawn Barber... and he nails his opening jump at 5.90m to put himself in pole position (pun intended) for gold.
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The men’s pole vault final has been whittled down to six athletes who will take on 5.90m. First up is France Renaud Lavillenie, but the Olympic champion clips the bar with his knee on the way down and lands with a frown.
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The women’s 10,000m is under way and the opening laps bob along at a leisurely pace, in part a result of the warm and humid conditions in the stadium. Avery positions herself in the middle of the bunch.
Next up on the track: the women’s 10,000m. Kate Avery is representing the UK, with Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya the bookies’ pick.
In the women’s triple jump they’re in the middle of the fourth round, and Caterine Ibargüen has extended her lead with a leap of 14.90m. Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko remains second, and Olga Rypakova third.
Rooney has also had a chat with the BBC:
I really wanted to make that final, it’s what I came here to do. I had a great opportunity to do it, but it just wasn’t there today unfortunately. I ran a PB yesterday, I felt if I could do that today I’d be OK. It just takes a lot out of your body. Today I was a lot further down on where I should be. I came here to fight for my place, fight for my team, but it just wasn’t good enough.
I wish I could have just made the final. There could have been two Brits in the final. Rabah did incredibly well. Looking forward to running the relay now, and getting my head right for that.
Van Niekerk starts fast, chasing down Rooney on his right, who comes round the bend in second-last position and fading. Van Niekerk keeps going, though, and he and Merritt take the first two places. Rooney departs with a shake of the head. On the plus side, Rabah Yousif’s place in the final is confirmed, and he’ll be joined by the third-place finisher in this race, Machel Cedenio from Trinidad.
The final heat features America’s LaShawn Merritt and Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa, as well as Britain’s team captain Martyn Rooney.
Rabah Yousif seems happy with himself. He’s got a good backstory – read more in this Daily Telegraph interview, if you like. This is what he’s just said to the BBC:
I’m ready to go. Yesterday was about setting it up. Today was about coming here and trying to get the win. I’m racing against a world-class field and for me to get third place …
I’ve been turned down so many times. I’m asking Allah for just a little bit of help this time. I hope I get it, because I’m working hard for this.
It’s been a crazy journey, but I’m a hard worker and a very competitive individual. It’s been a crazy journey and I hope it ends with a big smile.
Did I think this moment would come? Yes. I always believed in myself.
Isaac Makwala wins the second 400m heat by a good five metres, crossing the line in 44.11 and pulling everyone else around with him – bad news for David Verburg, third in the first heat in 44.71 but now out of contention for the final. Yousef Masrahi came second, with Rabah Yousif third with a massive PB of 44.54 and could well find himself in the final. Lalonde Gordon came fourth in 44.70.
Here’s some Justin Gatlin video action, while you wait. Enjoy it while you can – sounds like he won’t be speaking to us again any time soon.
Back to the men’s 400m, where Rabah Yousif represents Great Britain. Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald, Yousef Masrahi and Isaac Makwala have all run under 44sec this season, the latter starting out in lane nine.
In the men’s pole vault, the 2012 Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie, joins the fray with the bar set to 5.80, and absolutely flies over it.
Kirani James absolutely controls that race, winning in some comfort, with Luguelín Santos of Domenica on his shoulder at the finish. Those two are through, with David Verburg crossing his fingers and hoping for the best having finished third in 44.71.
Next on the track: the men’s 400m semi-finals. The first of three heats features the overall favourite, Granada’s Kirani James. Belgium’s Kévin Borlée is the only European in this race, which also features two Americans – David Verburg and Vernon Norwood – and five – count ‘em – Caribbeans.
In the women’s triple jump final Caterine Ibargüen leads the way after the second round, with 14.80 – 2cm further than Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko, once of Ukraine but now representing Israel. Gabriela Petrova’s first-attempt 14.52 is still good enough for third.
And she does! The Dutchwoman sets a new personal best in storming through. Veronica Campbell-Brown, to her left, started better, but was overhauled towards the end. Even so, she goes through in second place. Trinidad’s Michelle-Lee Ahye comes third in 10.97 and qualifies for the final, along with Natasha Morrison. Murielle Ahouré of the Ivory Coast, silver medallist in 100m and 200m in Moscow two years ago, came fourth in the final heat in 11.98, and misses out by a hundredth of a second.
Now for the final women’s 100m semi-final, where Dafne Schippers is expected to go through.
Meanwhile in the men’s javelin, Ryohei Arai of Japan, Argentina’s Braian Toledo, and Thomas Röhler of Germany have all qualified from the first of two groups, the second of which starts in half an hour or so.
All the B’s, Bowie and Baptiste, storm through to the final. Bowie started excellently and stormed clear, before slowing down in the final 20m when victory appeared sewn up. Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison came third in 10.96, a personal best, and as it stands would qualify unless whoever finishes fourth in the final heat beats that time.
Updated
On, then, to the second women’s 100m semi-final. America’s Tori Bowie, the (distant) second-favourite for gold, is the big name here.
Asha Philip has a quick chat with the BBC, during which an insect flies into her eye. But also, she says this:
I’m a bit disappointed in myself. I always want more. It was a bit of a mess, but I tried and gave it a go. I can only learn from this. I just have to keep pushing and hopefully one day I’ll make the final.
I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve gone through the diamond league so I’m always competing with these girls anyway. Hopefully, this is my place.
Fraser-Pryce wins in some style, in 10.82sec. Blessing Okagbare also seals her place in the final. As for English Gardner, she finished sixth in 11.13 and is emphatically out, so not such a great tip. Asha Philip trailed in behind her in 11.21.
Now for the women’s 100m semi-finals. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaican favourite, goes in the first of three, and although Asha Philip is also involved – in lane two – UK-based athletics fans might be better advised to get behind English Gardner whose nationality (American) doesn’t match her first name, but who’s season-best time of 10.79sec makes her pretty speedy.
Eilidh Child will represent Britain in the 400m hurdles final, which is on Wednesday. The bookies’ favourites – Hejnova, Kaliese Spencer, Cassandra Tate and Sara Petersen – were the four fastest in the semi-finals, but the Czech is odds-on. That’s even though Shamier Little, the bespectacled, bow-sporting American, has run (slightly) faster than her this year.
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Zuzana Hejnova, the Czech favourite, cruised to victory there in some style, ahead of Jamaica’s Janeive Russell. They both qualify, but Meghan Beesley will not go through, despite coming third. Her time of 55.41 is the 10th best of the semis, so as far as she’s concerned it’s close but not close enough.
Cori Carter, the one American contestant in this third semi-final, has fallen early and is out!
Hello world!
Right, I’ve just taken off the Football Weekly headphones and I’m all set for a couple of hours of athletic action. Specifically (all times BST):
12.30pm Women’s triple jump final
1.05pm Men’s 400m semi-finals
1.35pm Women’s 10,000m final
2.15pm Men’s 3,000m steeplechase final
2.35pm Women’s 100m final
With the women’s 400m hurdles semi-finals currently in progress, with Britain’s own Meghan Beesley about to set off in the third and last of them.
Justin Gatlin’s agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, has told the Guardian:
Justin, as well as I, feel that the British media and journalists have been extremely unkind to him. There’s been nothing positive said about him now for some time. Every characterisation is solely about doping and vilifying him.
So, to maintain his own dignity and self respect, he feels it best not to speak to them. It’s very unfortunate, but he’s been hurt tremendously by these attacks. And as human beings, we should be better than that. The BBC in particular should report without lacing their comments and reporting with biased views.
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While we wait for Simon to be released from the iron grip of Football Weekly, Owen Gibson has the latest news from Beijing – where Justin Gatlin has vowed to boycott the BBC and other British media at the championships in protest at their “biased” reports of his clash with Usain Bolt:
The US sprinter, twice suspended for taking banned substances, was narrowly beaten by just one hundredth of a second by Bolt in a race that had been characterised as a battle for the soul of the sport or a clash between “good and evil”.
“He’s saved his title, he’s saved his reputation – he may have even saved his sport,” enthused the BBC commentator Steve Cram as Bolt crossed the line in 9.79 seconds, fractionally ahead of the seemingly unassailable Gatlin.
Footage posted on Twitter showed Brendan Foster and other BBC commentators celebrating as Bolt crossed the line and Gatlin is understood to have shunned the three different interviewers from the BBC after the race.
The sprinter believes he has been unfairly vilified by not only the BBC but the rest of the British media, who he feels have focused disproportionately on his doping past.
You can read the full story here:
Good morning. Simon will be here shortly. While you wait, here is Owen Gibson on Bolt beating Justin Gatlin to 100m gold in the ‘clash of good against evil’. Enjoy.
When Usain Bolt crossed the line 0.01 seconds ahead of his twice-banned American rival Justin Gatlin to retain his world 100m title, it wasn’t just yet another victory over the doubters. For those who had painted this battle as a nothing less than clash of good against evil in light of the doping issues that have left this sport on life support, Bolt’s victory in the Bird’s Nest stadium, where he made his name, may have even secured its future.
“He’s saved his title, he’s saved his reputation – he may have even saved his sport,” enthused BBC commentator and former world champion Steve Cram as Bolt crossed the line in 9.79 seconds, fractionally ahead of the seemingly unassailable Gatlin.
At 33, the American sprinter was unbeaten in 29 races and had recorded the fastest times in the world this year. Gatlin had sailed through his semi-final with ease, while Bolt, who has carried athletics on his shoulders for seven years but has struggled for form this season, looked uncharacteristically nervous as he crept through. Yet by the end, Bolt was striking his familiar poses and cavorting on the track in the manner to which his fans have become accustomed.
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