Field events are often given less attention, and coverage, by the media, but the disciplines shone in Moscow with several scintillating finals.
On day two of the championships, Brittney Reese secured her third World Championship gold medal. The American qualified for the final in last position, but the 26-year-old came back strong with her second round winning jump of 7.01 metres.
Just two centimetres separated Reese from silver medallist Blessing Okagbare, after the Nigerian athlete fought hard in the fifth round for her best jump of 6.99 metres.
Okagbare had a busy championships, featuring in the 100 and 200 metre finals too, clinching bronze in the latter.
The men’s pole vault saw one of the biggest upsets of the competition, after Germany’s Raphael Holzdeppe defeated the overwhelming favourite, Renaud Lavellenie, on count back.
Both men failed all three attempts at 5.96 metres, but Lavellenie had previously failed once at 5.65m and 5.82m, and twice at 5.89m, while the German boasted a clean sheet.
Holzdeppe became the first German athlete to claim gold in the event, with his compatriot Björn Otto completing the podium with bronze.
Robert Harting added to Germany’s tally with yet another World Championship gold, after he hurled the discuss out to 69.11m.
After he saw off Piotr Malachowski and Gerd Kanter, in second and third, Harting pleased the crowd with his customary ‘ripping off the shirt’ display.
Valerie Adams is fast becoming an incredibly decorated athlete, and she did not fail to deliver in Moscow. The 28-year-old sealed her victory in the third round after she launched the shot out to 20.88 metres.
Germany’s Christina Schwanitz gave Adams a last minute scare with her final attempt, but her personal best throw of 20.41 metres was not enough to beat the champion.
Adams was left heartbroken last year after drugs cheat Nadzeya Ostapchuk prevented her receiving her gold medal in the Olympic stadium, but the New Zealand athlete came back as strong as ever, and this time got her moment on the podium.
On the fourth day of action, Yelena Isinbaeva gave her home crowd the result they desired with her third world title.
With an evidently increased capacity in the Luzhniki stadium, the Russian athlete created an incredible atmosphere as she regained her title.
Reigning Olympic champion, Jennifer Suhr, settled for second with her best attempt of 4.82 metres, pipping Cuba’s Yarisley Silva to bronze on count back.
The top three in Moscow were the same three athletes that medalled in last years Olympic Games, but this year Isinbaeva was back to winning ways, with her victorious vault of 4.89 metres.
After the Russian had secured gold, she went on to attempt her 29th world record at a height of 5.07 metres, but she was unable to add one centimetre onto her current best of 5.06 metres.
Following her victory, Isinbaeva blurted out some incredibly controversial comments in a press conference, condemning fellow athletes who painted their nails in stance to support LGBT. Nevertheless, it was a thrilling competition.
The men’s high jump turned out to be one of the best finals to date. Last years Olympic winning height of 2.38m was only good enough for the minor medals at these championships, showing just how much the event is progressing.
Ukraine’s favourite, Bohdan Bondarenko, won the competition with finesse, as he glided over the bar with a championship record of 2.41 metres.
After cementing his gold medal, Bondarenko aimed for the world record (2.46 metres), but similar to Isinbaeva, it was not meant to be.
The Ukraine athlete finished seventh at the London Olympics, but the 23-year-old showed fine form all season to defeat his opponents.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, and Canda’s Derek Drouin, finished second and third respectively, with their equal height of 2.38 metres.
On the last day of the championships, Teddy Tamgho stunned spectators after he leaped out to 18.04 metres in the triple jump.
The French athlete became just the third triple jumper ever to exceed 18 metres, and is dubbed the favourite to crack Jonathan Edwards’ 18-year-old record jump of 18.29 metres.
Tamgho saved his best till last, putting down his world leading jump in the final round. Pedro Pichardo finished in second, with 17.68 metres, with America’s Will Claye beating his compatriot, and reigning Olympic champion, Christian Taylor, in third.
Field events might not currently get the recognition and coverage they deserve, but at these championships they certainly showed the strength and excitement they have to offer.
