World Championships Day Four: Faith Kipyegon wins Kenya’s first gold

The women’s 1,500m and high jump final made for an exciting evening session on Day Four of the World Athletics Championships from Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya is once again a world champion, in a 1,500m final for the ages.

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay knew, going in, that the only way she would contend for a gold medal is by running a fast race from the start. Tsegay went through the first 400m at a 1,500m world record pace, 58 seconds. Other than Kipyegon and Laura Muir, who went with her, most of the others held back. As they approached the bell lap still on world record pace, Kipyegon made her move and held on to win gold in 3:52.96, with Tsegay taking silver in 3:54.52 and Muir earning Team GB their first bronze in a season’s best 3:55.28.

Congratulations @FaithKipyegon_ for winning gold in 1500m. We are proud of you. pic.twitter.com/f2Bh93HC8g

— David Rudisha (@rudishadavid) July 19, 2022

Jerome Blake and Aaron Brown qualify for 200m semis

The first event of the evening session featured Canada’s Jerome Blake and Aaron Brown, who were in heat one and two of the men’s 200m. After just missing out on the men’s 100m semis, Blake cruised to a 20.30s for a third-place finish, which earned him an automatic qualifying spot to the semis.

“Today felt pretty good and comfortable,” says Blake. “I felt back in my element, once I figured out the blocks.” In the 100m heats, Blake made a mistake by setting his starting blocks to the wrong length.

“The main objective here is to get in championship experience and see how far I can make it,” Blake says.

Brown gave Canadian track fans a scare in heat two, slipping out of the starting blocks due to them not being properly anchored. Luckily, the race was called back, as Brown fought back to earn a spot in Tuesday’s semi-final in 20.60 seconds.

The reigning 200m Olympic champion, Andre De Grasse, scratched from the 200m on the day of the race to shift his focus to the 4x100m relay, after failing to make the final of the 100m due to a recent bout with Covid.

Django Lovett bows out at 2.30m to finish sixth in high jump

After not making a mistake in qualifying and at the first three heights in the final, Canada’s Django Lovett was unable to clear 2.30m on three attempts. Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim put his excellence on display, jumping 2.37m to win his third straight world championship title. 

Barshim was challenged by Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, until he bowed out at 2.37m. Woo won silver and set a Korean national record with a jump of 2.35m.

The 2022 World Athletics Championships are taking place from July 15-25 from Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. All the action will be brought to you by Canadian Running and Asics Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.