Saturday At World Indoors: Michelle Carter Comes Up Totally Clutch, Ashton Eaton Crushes Field Again, Dafne Schippers Is Beaten and Much More

by LetsRun.com
March 19, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. — Saturday night at the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championships was full of finals as medals were handed out in the women’s 60m, 400m, 1500m and shot put and the men’s 400, 800, triple jump, high jump and heptathlon before a sellout crowd of 7,173.

We recap the non-distance finals from today below.

Our recap of the men’s 800 final, which was won by American Boris Berian, got its own article: Boris Berian’s Gutsy Run Gets 800m Gold At World Indoors 2016; Bronze for Erik Sowinski. Our recap of the women’s 800 prelims from earlier today is here: Ajee Wilson And Laura Roesler Look Excellent In Qualifying As Francine Niyonsaba Shows She’s Here To Contend.

Talk about the exciting action tonight on our world famous fan forum / messageboard:

Ashton Eaton Crosses the Line for Gold (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)" Ashton Eaton Crosses the Line for Gold (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)

Men’s Heptathlon: Ashton Eaton Wins Again

Ashton Eaton made it three straight world indoor titles in three tries as he won with a world-leading score 6470, winning gold a day after his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton won gold in the women’s pentathlonEaton dominated the competition as the Ukraine’s Oleksiy Kasyanov was second (just as he was in 2012) with 6182. The real excitement today came in the battle for third. Germany’s Mathias Brugger entered the final event – the 1000 – with a 67-point lead on American Curtis Beach, who was in 6th but had his best event coming up as his 1k pb is a stellar 2:23.63. Would Beach be able to catch up to Brugger, who had a 2:38.05 pb? If Beach beat Brugger by 5.8 seconds, the bronze would be his.

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Beach certainly went for it as he had the lead from start to finish, winning the event in 2:29.04. But Brugger really wanted the medal and tracked Beach throughout. He was about three seconds back entering the final lap but Beach’s lead expanded from there to the finish. Yet in the end, Brugger came through with a massive pb of 2:34.10. Beach won by just 5.06 – not the 5.8 that he needed. Brugger won bronze with 6126 to Beach’s 6118.

While Eaton was totally dominant over the last two days, it’s worth pointing out that his marks this year were worse in every single event than when he set the world indoor record of 6645 in 2012.

60m LJ SP HJ 60mh PV 1000
2012 6.79 8.16 14.56 2.03 7.68 5.2 2:32.77
Pts 958 1102 763 831 1064 972 955
2016 6.81 8.08 14.16 1.99 7.78 5.1 2:35.22
Pts 951 1081 738 794 1038 941 927
Difference -7 -21 -25 -37 -26 -31 -28

Eaton, however, was still within striking distance of the world record during the pole vault. He cleared 5.10 (16’8″), then passed and took two attempts at over 5.50 (18’0″) which would have made the world record feasible in the 1000. Once he missed 5.50, the world record wasn’t a possibility.

Quick Take #1: Great weekend for the Eatons and coach Harry Marra

Eaton and his coach Harry Marra are always philosophical about the sport. Eaton said he would have loved to give the fans a world record, “I really wanted to set another world record and give everyone here a little treat, but hopefully they still got something out of this.”

Marra coached two gold medallists this weekend as Eaton’s wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton won gold in the pentathlon Friday night. When asked how he felt he said, “I’m numb. I’m numb.” Marra is going to retire after next season and said then he will hopefully have ten years to go to his home in California and reflect more. Before that happens, he has to prepare the Eaton’s for Rio. Marra said the only issue with Ashton was he was a bit rusty as he had more sponsorship commitments this winter.

Quick Take #2: Curtis Beach Thought He Could Run a 2:23 PR Today And That Would Have Gotten Him the Silver Medal

Curtis Beach just missed out the medals, finishing 8 points away from a bronze after running 2:29.04 in the 1000m. Beach’s lifetime best is 2:23.63, which is the heptathlon world record. Although Beach was nowhere near that today, he told LRC afterwards that he thought he could run a PR today. His workouts had been going well and he had the incentive to set a personal best as he was in contention for the medals.

According to the USATF heptathlon tables, if Beach had equaled his PR today, he would have won the silver medal by 1 point. Instead he missed the bronze by 8 points. To tie for bronze, Beach would have needed to run 2:28.41.

Both Beach and Ashton Eaton said the 1000m was particularly hard today and they weren’t sure why. There are uncertainties to the heptathlon from event to event, with athletes exerting more in certain events than they thought they would and events taking longer than they thought they would.

Beach now turns his attention to the outdoor season. First he’ll take a little break and maybe have some time to watch the NCAA tournament where his Duke Blue Devils advanced to the Sweet 16 by beating Yale today. Beach gained some points with LRC by saying some kind words about Yale (LRC founder Weldon Johnson went to Yale).

Results

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY POINTS 60 METRES LONG JUMP SHOT PUT HIGH JUMP 60 METRES HURDLES POLE VAULT 1000 METRES
1 Ashton EATON USAUSA 6470 WL Points
Mark
Wind m/s
951
6.81
1081
8.08
738
14.16
794
1.99
1038
7.78
941
5.10
927
2:35.22
2 Oleksiy KASYANOV UKRUKR 6182 SB Points
Mark
Wind m/s
933
6.86
932
7.49
761
14.53
794
1.99
1005
7.91
880
4.90
877
2:39.64
3 Mathias BRUGGER GERGER 6126 PB Points
Mark
Wind m/s
830
7.15
886
7.30
757
14.47
850
2.05
922
8.24
941
5.10
940
2:34.10
4 Curtis BEACH USAUSA 6118 SB Points
Mark
Wind m/s
868
7.04
972
7.65
675
13.12
822
2.02
872
8.45
910
5.00
999
2:29.04
5 Adam Sebastian HELCELET CZECZE 6003 SB Points
Mark
Wind m/s
865
7.05
859
7.19
787
14.96
822
2.02
972
8.04
880
4.90
818
2:45.06
6 Kurt FELIX GRNGRN 5986 NIR Points
Mark
Wind m/s
882
7.00
922
7.45
791
15.02
906
2.11
898
8.34
760
4.50
827
2:44.23
7 Tim NOWAK GERGER 5832 PB Points
Mark
Wind m/s
819
7.18
795
6.92
747
14.31
794
1.99
930
8.21
880
4.90
867
2:40.57
8 Jérémy LELIÉVRE FRAFRA 5769 Points
Mark
Wind m/s
875
7.02
847
7.14
731
14.04
687
1.87
922
8.24
790
4.60
917
2:36.15
9 Samuel REMÉDIOS PORPOR 5733 Points
Mark
Wind m/s
907
6.93
852
7.16
697
13.48
740
1.93
949
8.13
790
4.60
798
2:46.92
10 Petter OLSON SWESWE 5697 Points
Mark
Wind m/s
823
7.17
811
6.99
723
13.92
740
1.93
920
8.25
849
4.80
831
2:43.85
Jorge UREÑA ESPESP DNF Points
Mark
Wind m/s
847
7.10
850
7.15
621
12.24
767
1.96
925
8.23
0
DNS

Michelle Carter New America Record Holder (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)" Michelle Carter, New America Record Holder (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)

Women’s Shot Put: Michelle Carter Crushes The American Record With Clutch Sixth-Round Throw

Michelle Carter was totally clutch. As she entered the ring for her sixth and final throw, she trailed Hungary’s Anita Márton’s 63′ 5″ (19.33m) by three-quarters of an inch.

The 30-year-old American then came up with a massive heave of 66′ 3¾” (20.21m) to grab gold by nearly three feet and also destroy Jill Camerana-Williams’ American record of 65-3¼ (19.89m) in the process.

Carter’s winning mark was just 1.25 inches off her American outdoor record of 66’5”.  

7-time World (4 outdoor, 3 indoor) and 2-time Olympic champ Valerie Adams was third at 63′ 2″ (19.25 m).

Results

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK DETAIL ATTEMPT 1 ATTEMPT 2 ATTEMPT 3 ATTEMPT 4 ATTEMPT 5 ATTEMPT 6
1 817 Michelle CARTER USAUSA 20.21 WL X 18.90 19.31 19.28 X 20.21
2 693 Anita MÁRTON HUNHUN 19.33 NIR 17.99 18.38 19.01 18.71 19.08 19.33
3 759 Valerie ADAMS NZLNZL 19.25 18.49 18.30 19.25 X 19.02 18.31
4 801 Cleopatra BOREL TTOTTO 18.38 SB 17.41 17.73 17.59 17.31 18.38 17.50
5 816 Jillian CAMARENA-WILLIAMS USAUSA 18.17 18.17 X X 17.57 17.52
6 626 Radoslava MAVRODIEVA BULBUL 18.00 SB 17.01 18.00 X X 17.91
7 683 Lena URBANIAK GERGER 17.91 X 17.19 17.55 X 17.91
8 636 Yang GAO CHNCHN 17.67 17.26 17.27 17.65 17.67 17.02
9 614 Aliona DUBITSKAYA BLRBLR 17.45 17.45 X X
10 635 Ka BIAN CHNCHN 17.34 16.86 17.13 17.34
11 702 Chiara ROSA ITAITA 17.10 17.10 X 16.89
Women's 60m Final (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)" Women’s 60m Final (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)

Women’s 60: American Barbara Pierre Holds Off Dafne Schippers

2016 world leader and US champion Barbara Pierre held off co-world leader Dafne Schippers (Netherlands), 7.02 to 7.04. Both had run 7.00 this year.

Schippers, the 200 world champ, was closing hard and if this race had been 80 meters she would have been the winner but Pierre’s superior start gave her the win. Kudos to Schippers, one of track and field’s biggest female stars, for working on her short speed at Worlds.

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK REACTION TIME
1 834 Barbara PIERRE USAUSA 7.02 0.138
2 747 Dafne SCHIPPERS NEDNED 7.04 0.144
3 718 Elaine THOMPSON JAMJAM 7.06 0.174
4 798 Michelle-Lee AHYE TTOTTO 7.11 0.145
5 667 Asha PHILIP GBRGBR 7.14 0.137
6 815 Tori BOWIE USAUSA 7.14 0.125
7 641 Marie-Josee TA LOU CIVCIV 7.29 0.312
664 Dina ASHER-SMITH GBRGBR DNS
A proper celebration by Tamberi (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)" A proper celebration by Tamberi (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)

Men’s High Jump: 23-Year-Old Italian Gianmarco Tamberi Caps Off Undefeated Indoor Campaign

The magical season of 23-year-old Gianmarco Tamberi continued as he capped off an undefeated indoor campaign with a win by clearing 7’9″ (2.36m), a height no one else made tonight, on his first attempt. 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz got the silver and American Erik Kynard the bronze as they both cleared 7′ 7¾” (2.33m).

That’s not to say there wasn’t a lot of drama in this event. Tamberi came into World Indoors a perfect four for four on the year, having cleared at least 7′ 7¾” (2.33m) in all of his wins. However, he almost went home without a medal as he needed three attempts to get over 7′ 6¼” (2.29m). He then needed three more attempts to get over 7′ 7¾” (2.33m) which gave him at least a bronze before getting the win on his next jump.

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK DETAIL 2.20 2.25 2.29 2.33 2.36 2.38 2.40
1 245 Gianmarco TAMBERI ITAITA 2.36 XO O XXO XXO O XXX
2 216 Robert GRABARZ GBRGBR 2.33 SB XO O XO O XXX
3 388 Erik KYNARD USAUSA 2.33 SB O O O XO XXX
4 320 Mutaz Essa BARSHIM QATQAT 2.29 O O O XX- X
5 228 Konstadínos BANIÓTIS GREGRE 2.29 O O XO XXX
6 157 Guowei ZHANG CHNCHN 2.29 O XO XO XXX
7 361 Andriy PROTSENKO UKRUKR 2.29 O XXO XO XXX
8 209 Chris BAKER GBRGBR 2.29 XO O XXO XXX
9 244 Marco FASSINOTTI ITAITA 2.25 XO XO XXX
10 118 Donald THOMAS BAHBAH 2.25 O XXO XXX
11 119 Jamal WILSON BAHBAH 2.20 O XXX
12 392 Ricky ROBERTSON USAUSA 2.20 SB XXO XXX
Ashley Spencer's Comeback Continues (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)" Ashley Spencer’s Comeback Continues (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)

Women’s 400: Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya Wins

Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain went wire to wire and won the women’s 400 title in a new indoor pb and Bahrain indoor record of 51.45. America went 2-3 as former DII superstar Quanera Hayes (Livingston), who came in with the best seasonal best time of any of the competitors (51.09; NCAA champ Courtney Okolo ran 50.69 at NCAAs last week), ran right behind Adekoya for most of the race before being overtaken just before the line by 2012 and 2013 NCAA champ Ashley Spencer (also the 2012 world junior champ) as Spencer ran 51.72 to Hayes’ 51.76.

Adekoya is 23 years old and was born in Nigeria. Outdoors, she ran 51.11 in 2014 and 50.86 in 2015 but also runs the 400 hurdles (54.12 pb), which is the event she ran at Worlds last summer (DQ’d in first round).

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK REACTION TIME
1 625 Oluwakemi ADEKOYA BRNBRN 51.45 AIR 0.189
2 839 Ashley SPENCER USAUSA 51.72 0.187
3 827 Quanera HAYES USAUSA 51.76 0.197
4 712 Stephenie Ann MCPHERSON JAMJAM 52.20 0.129
5 767 Justyna SWIETY POLPOL 52.46 0.202
6 791 Iveta PUTALOVÁ SVKSVK 54.39 0.277
 (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)" Pavel Maslak for Repeat Gold (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)

Men’s 400: Pavel Maslák Stalks Down Bralon Taplin And Gets The Win

The Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslák’s unbeaten streak indoors continued as he came on late to successfully defend his world indoor crown. Grenada’s Bralon Taplin had the lead for the entire race until the home stretch when Maslák blew by for the win in 45.44. 19-year-old Qatari Abdalelah Haroun – who earlier this winter became the first human under 60.00 in the 500 – ended up second in 45.59 as former Texas A&M star Deon Lendore (Trinidad and Tobago) was third in 46.17. Taplin, who came in as the world leader at 45.20 and also went to Texas A&M, tied up big time in the home stretch and didn’t even end up with a medal as he went from first to fourth (46.56) in a matter of meters.

Maslak hasn’t lost indoors since February 3, 2013.

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK REACTION TIME
1 171 Pavel MASLÁK CZECZE 45.44 0.185
2 321 Abdalelah HAROUN QATQAT 45.59 SB 0.204
3 350 Deon LENDORE TTOTTO 46.17 0.214
4 233 Bralon TAPLIN GRNGRN 46.56 0.138
5 269 Boniface Ontuga MWERESA KENKEN 46.86 0.186
6 349 Lalonde GORDON TTOTTO 47.62 0.135

Bin Dong (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)" Bin Dong (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)

Men’s Triple Jump: China’s Dong Bin Dominates

China’s Dong Bin came into worlds as the world leader by more than a foot (13.75 inches) and he left as a much deserved world champ as he won with a mark of 56′ 10¼” (17.33m). Bin was totally dominant as he had three jumps that were better than the 56′ 2¾” (17.14m) runner-up mark put up by Germany’s Max Hess. France’s Benjamin Compaoré was third at 56′ 1″ (17.09).

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK DETAIL ATTEMPT 1 ATTEMPT 2 ATTEMPT 3 ATTEMPT 4 ATTEMPT 5 ATTEMPT 6
1 150 Bin DONG CHNCHN 17.33 17.18 16.20 17.29 16.98 17.33 X
2 222 Max HESS GERGER 17.14 PB 16.25 16.37 X 17.14 X 17.14
3 203 Benjamin COMPAORÉ FRAFRA 17.09 SB 16.77 X 17.00 17.04 17.09
4 315 Nelson ÉVORA PORPOR 16.89 SB X 16.66 16.63 16.89 16.89 X
5 377 Omar CRADDOCK USAUSA 16.87 16.58 16.33 16.52 16.87
6 295 Tosin OKE NGRNGR 16.73 SB 16.73 16.65 X X 16.64
7 191 Pablo TORRIJOS ESPESP 16.67 16.16 16.20 16.51 16.30 16.67
8 110 Nazim BABAYEV AZEAZE 16.43 X 16.36 16.07 16.43 16.41
9 204 Harold CORREA FRAFRA 16.30 16.12 16.30 X
10 323 Marian OPREA ROUROU 16.27 16.05 15.98 16.27
11 369 Chris BENARD USAUSA 16.15 16.14 X 16.15
12 385 Alphonso JORDAN USAUSA 16.11 16.11 X 15.99
13 283 Jonathan DRACK MRIMRI 16.04 16.04 X 15.82
14 296 Olu OLAMIGOKE NGRNGR 15.94 SB 13.73 15.59 15.94
15 262 Roman VALIYEV KAZKAZ 15.54 X 15.54 X
16 176 Yordanys DURANONA DMADMA 15.27 SB 15.27 X

 

(L-R) Bronze medallist Paraskevi­ Papahristou, Yulimar Rojas, Kristin Gierisch (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)" (L-R) Bronze medallist Paraskevi­ Papahristou, Yulimar Rojas, Kristin Gierisch (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)

Women’s Triple Jump: 20-Year-Old Yulimar Rojas Wins Gold As University of Georgia Sophomore Keturah Orji Nearly Medals

In this event, which was held during the morning session, Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas lived up to her billing as the favorite and won with a mark of 47 feet, 3 ½ inches (14.49m). Rojas, who is just 20, is the word leader (14.69m) for 2016 and won despite only having one legal jump (round 2).

Germany’s Kristin Gierisch got the silver with a seasonal best of 46’11” (14.30m) as Greece’s Paraskeví Papahrístou got the bronze 46’5.25” (14.15), just edging American Keturah Orji by 1 centimeter.

Orji was the story of the day from an American perspective. The 20-year-old collegian, who won the 2015 NCAA outdoors for Georgia as a freshman last year, had never broken 14.00 meters indoors until the SEC championships three weeks ago. There she jumped 14.08m (46’2.5”), which she improved to 14.12m (46′ 4″) to win NCAAs last week and now 14.14m (46’4.75”). So three pbs in three competitions. Her outdoor pb is 46′ 5¼” (14.15).

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY MARK DETAIL ATTEMPT 1 ATTEMPT 2 ATTEMPT 3 ATTEMPT 4 ATTEMPT 5 ATTEMPT 6
1 848 Yulimar ROJAS VENVEN 14.41 X 14.41 X X X X
2 678 Kristin GIERISCH GERGER 14.30 SB 13.73 14.07 13.92 14.16 14.30 14.08
3 687 Paraskeví PAPAHRÍSTOU GREGRE 14.15 X 14.15 X X X X
4 832 Keturah ORJI USAUSA 14.14 SB 14.13 X 14.04 14.08 13.96 14.14
5 775 Elena PANTUROIU ROUROU 14.11 13.96 X 14.02 14.11 14.11
6 660 Kristiina MÄKELÄ FINFIN 14.07 X 14.04 13.92 14.07 13.93
7 662 Jeanine ASSANI ISSOUF FRAFRA 14.07 X 13.65 14.07 13.84 X
8 717 Shanieka THOMAS JAMJAM 13.95 SB 13.73 13.46 13.95 13.85 13.94
9 620 Keila COSTA BRABRA 13.94 SB 13.66 13.94 X
10 822 Christina EPPS USAUSA 13.68 13.68 X X
11 650 Ana PELETEIRO ESPESP 13.59 13.59 13.57 13.37
12 783 Carmen TOMA ROUROU 13.31 13.31 X 13.31
13 619 Iryna VASKOUSKAYA BLRBLR 13.28 13.28 13.19 13.07
14 661 Sanna NYGÅRD FINFIN 13.21 X 13.21 13.20
799 Ayanna ALEXANDER TTOTTO NM X X X

 

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