By Sam Tonks
It was going to be hard to top the second Saturday of the IAAF World Athletic Championships with Britain’s heroics, Mo Farah’s silver send-off and the last race in the proud legacy of Usain Bolt. Yet, there was enough to action to make Day Ten and the last of London Stadium’s athletics summer, worth the watch.
Team GB proved their speciality for relay runs with two more medals to bring the total to the pre-championship target of six. The women claimed silver and a fourth consecutive podium in the event. The quartet of Zoey Clark, Laivai Nelson, Elidh Doyle and Emily Diamond celebrated as USA took gold and Poland the bronze.
As for the men, it was a hard-fought bronze. Only making the final as fastest losers, they battled for a place on the podium, anchored by Martyn Rooney, and matched their bronze from two years ago. USA didn’t win an eighth title in a row as Trinidad and Tobago caused an upset, snatching gold.
These were the highlights for Team GB on the closing evening. Robbie Grabarz couldn’t clear 2.29m and finished sixth in the High Jump. Mutaz Essa Barshim finally ended his golden drought, clearing 2.35m. Silver went to independent athlete Danil Lysenko and a bronze for Syria and Majd Eddin Ghazal, sparking wild celebrations.
Laura Muir and Elish McColgan couldn’t keep up in the 5,000m as Hellen Obiri stormed to gold for Kenya. Almaz Ayana couldn’t do the long-distance double and settled for silver, Sifan Hassan took bronze.
Kenya were dominant later in the night in the men’s 1500m. Elijah Manangoi edging team-mate Timothy Cheruiyot whilst Filip Ingebrightsen won a brilliant bronze for Norway.
Casta Semenya swept over the line in the 800m, adding to her Olympic gold. Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba got silver and American record holder Ajee Wilson the bronze.
Elsewhere, Sandra Perkovic won the women’s discus. Australia’s Dani Stevens won silver, bronze to France’s Melina Robert-Michon.
