Doha (AFP)
No world record but the double for Karsten Warholm: the Norwegian remained master of the 400 m hurdles at the Doha World Championships on Monday after a race that did not go as fast as hoped, but which logically consecrated the most impressive hurdler of the season.
It was expected an anthology final and perhaps a historic clash between Karsten Warholm, American Rai Benjamin and Qatar's Abderrahman Samba, three men who blow a new wind on a discipline long dormant. But the outcome was not up to a timekeeping point of view and the old reference time of Kevin Young (46 sec 78 in 1992) was not beaten.
No matter for Warholm, winner in 47 sec 42, who will still managed the feat of saving his title of 2017 against two rivals of great caliber. At only 23 years old, the one who has improved three times the record of Europe in 2019, increased to 46 sec 92 on August 29 in Zurich, is the indisputable boss of the 400m hurdles.
It was necessary to see him motivate himself before the shot by slamming his face, thighs and shouting loudly at the announcement of his name by the speaker. The facetious Viking, 2nd performer in history, had not come to laugh and did not bend over the pressure that may have inhibited his two opponents.
- Supersonic departure -
Author of a supersonic departure as usual, the Norwegian flew over the proceedings before a Benjamin also very well gone but unable to keep pace in the home straight (47 sec 66). At 22, the American, also down under 47 seconds this season, will have the opportunity to rebuild.
For Samba, on the other hand, who dreamed of an apotheosis at home, the disillusion is immense but the Qatari, born in Saudi Arabia of a Mauritanian father and a Saudi mother and naturalized in 2016, was probably handicapped by his recent injuries (hip, thigh), he who had not run since July 12 before the Worlds. He is satisfied with bronze (48 sec 03), very far from Warholm.
The Norwegian was not the only one to stay at the top on Monday night. At the height of ladies, Queen Mariya Lasitskene was pushed to its limits by a young Ukrainian girl of only 18, Yarsolava Mahuchikh. But the Russian has once again out, winning her third world crown in the number of tests (2.04 m).
The two middle-distance races (5000m and 3000m steeplechase) were the other highlights of the evening. In a stadium built for their cause, Ethiopians and Kenyans have shared the laurels. The 3000m steeplechase was one-way with the first big title won by world record holder Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech (8:57:48), leading from start to finish with a huge margin over American Emma Coburn (9 min 02 sec 35), sacred two years ago.
- Suspense -
The suspense was however intense on 5000 m, the Ethiopians doing the spectacle to mater the Norwegian siblings of Ingebrigtsen. And this little game, it is still Muktar Edris who distinguished himself by offering a magnificent double (12 min 58 sec 86) in front of his compatriot Selemon Barega (12 min 59 sec 70), two years after having dethroned the King Mo Farah in London.
While the atmosphere was hitherto moribund Khalifa stadium, the Ethiopian and Kenyan colonies present in number in stands have woken the enclosure as never since the beginning of the competition. A small thumbs up to the leaders of the International Federation (IAAF), who decided to make disappear the 5000 m of the program of the Diamond League next season.
Finally, for the first 800m ladies of a big championship disputed since the implementation of the regulation on hyperandrogenic athletes, it is the Ugandan Halimah Nakaayi (1 min 58 sec 04) who succeeded the great absent of these Worlds , the South African Caster Semenya.
© 2019 AFP