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Tentoglou’s golden run ended by sixth-round magic from Wang Jianan

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If gold medals were awarded for excellence and consistency Miltiadis Tentoglou would have a world title to go with the Olympic and world indoor versions he has collected within the last year. 

But despite a massively superior sequence of efforts in the men’s long jump final on day two of the World Athletics Championships on Saturday (16), the 24-year-old had to settle for silver with a best of 8.32m as China’s Wang Jianan, previously fifth on 8.03m, claimed gold with a final effort of 8.36m. 

For Wang, who won the world U20 title at Hayward Field in 2014, it was a magical and dramatic return.  

Tentoglou at least had the satisfaction of beating decathlete specialist Simon Ehammer, who heads this year’s world list with a Swiss record of 8.45m set in multi-sport competition at Gotzis.  

Ehammer, 22, who was concentrating his efforts in Eugene on the long jump, has now earned tangible reward for his decision. He will return his full attention to the decathlon at next month’s European Athletics Championships in Munich.  

World Athletics Championships Oregon22 - Day Two

Wang, as it happened, is also a former decathlete. But Tentoglou could not surpass the Chinese athlete with his own final effort.  

Wang and Ehammer stood side-by-side, joining in the rhythmic clap as Tentoglou took to the runway. But an effort of 8.20m proved insufficient to defend his season’s unbeaten run and win the only title missing from his collection..  

“I came here for the gold and I couldn't jump over 8.45m,” said Tentoglou, whose sequence after an initial foul was 8.30m, 8.29m, 8.24m, 8.32m and 8.20m. “Nothing worked out for me.   

“Yes, I'm still Olympic and world indoor champion, but I'm really sad that I lost my greatest chance to become world champion. On the other hand, we don't need to wait two years for another one (World Championships). So, I'm looking forward to Budapest 2023 – it’s only one year away.”  

And Tentoglou will have a more immediate opportunity to return to the very top of the podium again at next month's European Athletics Championships in Munich from 15-21 August when he will seek to retain his title.

Olympic champion Jacobs a no-show in the 100m semifinals

On an evening when the hosts celebrated a men’s 100m clean sweep, as Fred Kerley won in 9.86 ahead of Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell, there was only a defiant message from Italy’s Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, who scratched from the semi-finals with a recurrence of the hamstring injury that has restricted his racing throughout the outdoor season. 

"A painful choice, I am forced to stop,” he tweeted. "I am a fighter and this is why I decided to be in Eugene.  

"Now, in order not to compromise the rest of the season by risking a more serious injury, I have to postpone the challenge. I promise, I will do my best to make you dream!"

Meanwhile a Dutch record of 19.77m earned Jessica Schilder bronze in a women’s shot put final where the opening effort of 20.49m from Chase Ealey proved enough to earn the host nation its first gold medal of the championships, with China’s Olympic and defending champion Gong Lijiao settling for silver with 20.39m, her seventh successive medal at the World Athletics Championships.

Schilder, 23, bettered her own record by nine centimetres not once but twice, replicating her second-round flourish in the fifth round. This proved significant in the context of the medals as Schilder only won bronze on countback from Canada's Sarah Mitton whose best effort was also measured at 19.77m.

World Athletics Championships Oregon22 - Day Two

This mark added an outdoor bronze to go with the world indoor version she earned in Belgrade earlier this year behind gold medallist Auriol Dongmo of Portugal – fifth in the final with 19.62m – and Ealey. 

Reflecting upon her achievement, Schilder announced: “I’m going to celebrate with a lot of chocolate.” 

This was the Netherlands' second medal of the championships after their mixed relay team battled to silver on the first evening session.

Britain’s world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith, whose Olympic aspirations were undermined by a hamstring injury, was fastest qualifier to tomorrow’s women’s 100m semifinals in a season’s best of 10.84 - just 0.01 off her national record and lifetime best.

Norway’s 21-year-old Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen eased through his heat in third place, clocking 3:35.12, a place ahead of Britain’s Jake Wightman, with the semifinals scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Full results here.




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