Kerr Secures High Jump Gold
Photo: Hiro Komae/AP/TT

Kerr Secures High Jump Gold in Thrilling World Championship Duel

The Olympic champion in high jump, the New Zealander Hamish Kerr, was pressed to a world year's best to take the World Championship gold in Tokyo. I had to fight for the gold, he says.

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The South Korean Woo Sang-hyeok was in the lead after 2.31 meters and pressed Hamish Kerr to higher heights. The New Zealander responded by making the season's best height result, 2.36. Woo passed 2.36 and then jumped at 2.38 – but did not manage to take the height. Thus, Woo had to settle for the World Championship silver on 2.34. The Czech Jan Stefela took the bronze after a jump at 2.31.

Today, I had to fight for the gold. It was not an easy final. Several times, I thought it was over. But to succeed in fighting and not giving up is important. I showed that this evening, it's not over until it's over, says Kerr according to AFP.

All the guys surprised me, this competition was special. To win when the guys are not jumping well is no fun, so to fight with the guys for the gold was special.

The middle-distance queen Faith Kipyegon celebrated her fourth World Championship gold on 1,500 meters. With that, the Kenyan crowned a season where she earlier this year set a world record on the distance with a time of 3.48,68.

The final time in Tokyo was more modest, 3.52,15.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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