USA’s Sam Kendricks has come a long way since finishing 9th at the Beijing World Championships two years ago! The US Champion has since won a Silver medal at the 2016 World Indoors, and Bronze at the Rio Olympics, but tonight at the Olympic Stadium in London, the 24-year old clinched his first outdoor title with a clearance of 5.95m.
Kendricks retained his unbeaten streak this year, having won the Diamond League meetings in Shanghai, Eugene, Paris and Lausanne, as well as the Jamaican Invitational in Kingston in May. He went on to join the 6m club after soaring to a lifetime best of 6.00m to win the US Track and Field Championships.
The American maintained a clean sheet, clearing 5.50m, 5.65m, 5.75m, 5.82m and 5.89m at first attempt, before failing twice to clear a height of 5.95m. However, he dug deep to clear the mark on his final attempt, becoming the only man in the field to clear that distance.
World Record (WR) holder Renaud Lavillenie would continue his quest for an elusive world outdoor title after settling for Bronze with a Season’s Best (SB) of 5.89m. The Frenchman claimed Bronze in Beijing two years ago, Silver in Moscow 2013, Bronze in Daegu 2011 and another Bronze medal in Berlin 2009.
He was beaten to the Silver medal by Pole Piotr Lisek who cleared 5.89m on his first attempt, unlike Lavillenie who secured the mark on his second. Defending champion Shawn Barber exited the competition in 8th place with a mark of 5.65m.
Kendricks said: “My goodness, I have never been in a competition like it. The crowd gave everything in their hearts to support me.
“After that final jump, I went to give my mother and father a hug. They mean the world to me. My coach and girlfriend were there as well so it was a great moment. It is all part of a mission for me. I make a goal and chop it down to make it attainable. I’ve finally got that world title and I could not be happier.”
He also added: “I’ve enjoyed 10 straight victories this year, it is a blessing to get another today. I compete against these guys all the time so we are no strangers to one another. It was another fantastic competition today and I had to jump high to take the gold.”
Ten years after winning her first world title, WR holder in the women’s Javelin throw Barbora Spotakova reclaimed GOLD with a throw of 66.76m, the second farthest distance in the world this year.
Meanwhile the Chinese duo of Lingwei Li and Huihui Lyu made their country proud by scooping Silver and Bronze respectively with marks of 66.25m (PB) and 65.26m.
Olympic Champion and World Leader Sara Kolak finished outside the medals zone in 4th with her throw of 64.95m.
