American Katie Moon became the first woman to win a third consecutive World Athletics Championships pole vault title on Wednesday when she cleared a season's best 4.90m to edge out compatriot Sandi Morris in a nail-biting contest in Tokyo.
Morris, the Rio Olympic silver medallist from 2016, collected a fourth world silver after clearing 4.85m, while Slovenia's Tina Sutej took bronze with 4.80m.
"It was incredible, it was such a battle," said Moon. "I kept telling myself I would need to jump over 4.90m to win. I knew Sandi was in a good shape. I am just happy and relieved it ended up the best for me."
Italy's Mattia Furlani underlined his status as the coming man in long jump when he won the world title with a personal best leap of 8.39m, while heavy favourite Miltiadis Tentoglou failed to make it to the second round of jumps.
The 20-year-old Furlani, the world indoor champion, became the youngest and first Italian winner of the title after speeding down the runway and soaring into the humid Tokyo night on his fifth attempt.
Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, world champion six years ago and bronze medallist in 2023, took silver with 8.34m, ahead of China’s Shi Yuhao in 8.33m.
"This is a most special evening. I worked so hard and put so much determination into getting a medal," Furlani said.
"At the beginning I had a small problem with my run-up, but as usual I tried to stay calm and save the best for last. Now I am here with this gold medal. This is a perfect year for me."
Kenya's Faith Cherotich overhauled defending champion Winfred Yavi on an incident-packed last lap to win the 3,000m steeplechase gold.
Still only 21, Cherotich added her first world title to the world bronze she won as a teenager in Budapest two years ago and the Olympic bronze she won in Paris last year.
Cherotich nailed an obstacle that Bahrain's Yavi stumbled over on the final run down the back straight and soared over the last water jump before her kick took her to the tape.
She crossed the line in eight minutes 51.59 seconds - the fastest time ever at a Worlds.
"I am so happy to win today. Improving from bronze to gold is amazing to me," Cherotich said.
"I believed in my kick. In the last 400, I said, 'This is my moment.' I remember my coach told me, 'Faith, you can do it'. He told me to not be afraid and to follow the best no matter who the best is, and I might be the winner."
Olympic champion Yavi took silver in 8:56.46, while bronze went to Ethiopian 20-year-old Sembo Almayew in a personal best time of 8:58.86.
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