BUDAPEST — Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the men’s 5,000 metres, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis claimed another pole vault title and Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh took the women’s high jump crown as the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship began in Budapest on Friday.
Ingebrigtsen surged late to win in 12 minutes 59.24 seconds, seven months after undergoing Achilles surgery.
Duplantis cleared 6.20 metres to add another title to his collection, while Olympic champion Mahuchikh won the women’s high jump with a 1.99-metre clearance.
Germany’s Merlin Hummel won the hammer throw with a 81.46-metre effort. Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg of Canada fouled both of his attempts and was eliminated under the event’s unusual format, which gives athletes only two throws in the opening round.
American world record-holders won both sprint hurdles titles, with Masai Russell taking the women’s 100 metres hurdles in 12.22 seconds and Ja’Kobe Tharp winning the men’s 110m hurdles in 12.94.
The United States edged Jamaica by 0.08 seconds to win the mixed 4x100m relay, while Italy’s Larissa Iapichino took the women’s long jump with 6.90 metres.
Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson won a women’s 800m semi-final that was marred by a heavy fall for Veronica Vancardo.
“I was talking with Veronica, who fell unfortunately. She still has her teeth and she will be OK,” Hodgkinson said. “Actually, this is one of my worst nightmares but this is sport and it happens sometimes.”
The three-day championship continues on Saturday, with a total prize fund of $10 million. Individual winners receive $150,000, with $75,000 for runners-up and $40,000 for third place. Victorious relay teams share $80,000
