Familiar gold for Venezuela’s Rojas …wins third-straight triple jump title
Untouchable Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas led a raft of familiar faces to glory when she claimed her third straight triple jump title at the World Athletics Championships on Monday.
Day four of action at Hayward Field in Oregon saw experience count as multiple gold medallists from the Tokyo Olympics followed up on their efforts in the Japanese capital with more podium topping.
Rojas was the first of three female two-time Olympic champions to strike gold in Eugene.
Belgium’s Nafi Thiam earlier claimed a last-gasp victory in the heptathlon over Dutch rival Anouk Vetter, while imperious Faith Kipyegon of Kenya won her second 1,500m title.
Not to be left out, there were two male champions from the Tokyo Games who triumphed.
Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar won a thriller of a high jump competition for his third world title.
And there was more gold for the Arab world in the shape of Morocco’s Soufiane El-Bakkali, the Olympic champion producing a tactical masterclass as he brought an end to Kenya’s 15-year dominance of the 3,000m steeplechase. – AFP