Olympic Track and Field 2016: Women's Hammer Throw Medal Winners and Results
Aug 15, 2016
Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk competes in the Women's Hammer Throw Qualifying Round during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 12, 2016. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk broke her own world record in the women's hammer throw final on Monday, as a throw of 82.29 metres was enough to secure gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Zhang Wenxiu of China took home the silver medal after notching a score of 76.75 metres, while Great Britain's Sophie Hitchon threw a British record of 74.54 metres to snatch the bronze with her last attempt.
Wlodarczyk established the previous world record after throwing for a distance of 81.08 metres in August 2015, but her new record entry was more than a metre superior to that and four metres greater than the old Olympic record.
BBC Sport confirmed Wlodarczyk's historic achievement, not to mention what could be her secret to success:
Wlodarczyk could hardly have hoped for a better result on Monday after coming to Rio hoping to improve upon the silver she won at the 2012 London Olympics.
Not only did the 31-year-old smash her existing world record, but her fifth-round throw of 81.74 metres was the second-longest throw by a woman in the hammer ever. That meant Wlodarczyk now boasts the three longest throws in history, two of which came on Monday, per Athletics Weekly:
Anita Wlodarczyk follows up her hammer WR 82.29m in round 3 with 81.74m in round 5! #Rio2016
The Pole's world record-breaking throw was all the more impressive when one considers she also finished four-and-a-half metres clear of any competition in the qualifying stages—and that was with a throw of 76.93.
Wlodarczyk cleared that distance by a substantial margin when it mattered, though, and athletics commentator Will Downing provided an overview of the final leaderboard in full:
Zhang clinched a bronze medal in front of a home audience at the 2008 Beijing Games and went one better than that with a silver medal-worthy display in Rio on Monday.
Of the three podium finishers, she was, however, the only athlete who failed to break some form of record in the final:
#Rio2016 hammer GOLD Anita Wlodarczyk 82.29m WORLD RECORD SILVER Zhang Wenxiu 76.75m BRONZE Sophie Hitchon 74.54m BRITISH RECORD
Hitchon's bronze almost appeared to be as much of a surprise to herself as anyone else, considering it was Germany's Betty Heidler who sat in the third-place bubble heading into the final few throws.
But it was there that Hitchon summoned all her might to record the greatest distance ever thrown by a British woman, and it was perhaps the late nature of the decision that made it all the sweeter:
British record ✔ Lifetime best ✔ Olympic Bronze medal ✔ GB's first ever in women's hammer ✔
Heidler was dismayed to lose her place on the podium, but it's been something of a theme at these Games for athletes to conjure up their best at the last hurdle.
The track and field events have entered their final week, but Monday's hammer throw final showed the adrenaline is by no means liable to take a backseat in the home stretch.
Olympic Track and Field 2016: Women's 10,000M Medal Winners, Times and Results
Aug 12, 2016
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia celebrates winning the Women's 10000 Meters Final and setting a new world record of 29:17.45 on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana demolished the women's 10,000-metre world record to win gold in the first athletics final of the 2016 Rio Olympics on Friday, finishing her race in a time of 29 minutes and 17.45 seconds.
Ayana wasn't the only runner to break new ground, though, as compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba finished with a bronze and a new personal best, while Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot took silver, 15 seconds behind the winner, per Athletics Weekly:
Well, what a first athletics final! GOLD Almaz Ayana 29:17.45 WR SILVER Vivian Cheruiyot 29:32.53 NR BRONZE Tirunesh Dibaba 29:42.56 PB
To put the podium's sensational finishes into context, only five women had completed the 10,000 metres in less than 30 minutes prior to Friday's race, but the Ethiopian blitzed her way past that figure, and then some.
The Guardian's Barney Ronay simplified just how dominant Ayana was as she sealed her first-ever title over 10,000 metres:
Almaz Ayana sprints the final lap of the 10,000m final to destroy the world record
The first athletics final of the Summer Games could hardly have been more conclusive, and Ayana obliterated the old world record of 29 minutes and 31.78 seconds, set by China's Junxia Wang in 1993.
Here's how the overall medal table looks following Friday's 10,000-metre race, with Ethiopia sauntering their way to a first medal of Rio 2016, and a stylish one at that:
What's even more incredible about Ayana's achievement is this was only her second time running 10,000 metres on a track, and one might be tempted to believe she's found a new forte.
There was the notion Friday was a particularly good day for the runners in attendance, however, as pointed out by former Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders:
This track seems fast! WR Ayana, NR's and an AR for Molly Huddle at 6th place! Way to go amazing women! #Rio2016 10,000m
Ayana ended up lapping numerous opponents en route to her world-record dash, where her second 5,000 metres displayed an indomitable desire to taste Olympic gold for the first time in her career.
United States football star Sydney Leroux may be cheering on her compatriots in Rio, but she was also all for seeing a new world record realised at the Olympic Stadium:
Ready to see Ayana crush this world record! Can people who are being lapped move to the side?!
Dibaba may well have been glad it was at least a countrywoman of her's who took her Olympic title, and the 31-year-old was forced to settle for a bronze this time around, the third of her career, albeit her first in the 10,000 metres.
Friday's result was also memorable for Kenyan Cheruiyot, who took home her second-ever Olympic silver, but again, her first over this distance.
Kenyan pair Alice Aprot Nawowuna and Betsy Saina finished fourth and fifth, respectively, before sixth-placed Molly Huddle was the highest-finishing non-African competitor.
Rio 2016 announced the arrival of its athletics events in style on Friday, and supporters can only hope the remaining track finals hold quite as much drama as Ayana's classy finish.
US Olympic Trials 2016: Latest Track and Field Results and Updated Schedule
Jul 5, 2016
Kate Grace wins the during the women's 800-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Monday, July 4, 2016, in Eugene Ore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The finals of the men's and women's 800-meter run were held on Monday at the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials, as were the men's javelin and pole vault finals.
In the javelin, a throw surpassing 272 feet and four inches was needed for qualification, and just one athlete made the grade. However, in the other events, the top three finishers in each will head to Rio 2016 having met the required standard.
Read on for a look at the latest results from the action at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, but first, here is the upcoming schedule following Monday's events:
The most dramatic event of the day was undoubtedly the women's 800-meter final, which saw a collision on the final curve end the hopes of expected contenders Alysia Montano and Brenda Martinez.
Kate Grace took full advantage of the fall as she powered home to victory ahead of Ajee Wilson and Chrishuna Williams, both of whom have also qualified for Rio.
Per NBC Olympics, Montano was visibly distraught after the fall:
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 5, 2016
She spoke to Dan O'Brien of NBC Sports (via USA Today) after the race:
I started to go at 115. I had so much in me. We rehearsed it a thousand times ... and I was there. Brenda tripped, and she darted out and stopped ... I thought I was going to be able to dodge her, and I just didn't. ...
My heart hurts so bad. ... I struggled so much emotionally in this last year in the sport, and held onto every little last bit of hope ... hoping that the sport would be better, and that my voice would help the sport be better.
Montano also took to Twitter to thank her fans for the outpouring of support she'd received:
Track fans are the best fans. Truly. Thank you for your continual support and outpouring of love. 💔
Though Grace's race was made much easier by the crash, she "had shown the ability to finish strong throughout the earlier rounds," which bodes well for her prospects at the Games.
Wilson is also a strong contender, but she could do with some better race management in order to ensure she has enough energy to power over the finish line.
Men's 800
Place
Athlete
Time
1
Clayton Murphy
1:44.76
2
Boris Berian
1:44.92
3
Charles Jock
1:45.48
4
Craig Engels
1:46.03
5
Erik Sowinski
1:46.44
6
Isaiah Harris
1:46.47
7
Harun Abda
1:47.05
8
Brandon Johnson
1:47.41
9
Casimir Loxsom
1:49.18
There were no heartbreaking collisions in the men's race, but there was still plenty of drama as a late twist saw Clayton Murphy take the top spot ahead of favorite Boris Berian.
The world indoor champion was showing his credentials as he led the race into the final 100 meters, but Murphy overhauled him to finish with a time of one minute, 44.76 seconds.
Per Andrew Greif of the Oregonian, Murphy said: "I wasn't sure if I was able to get him with 30 meters to go. I just wanted to keep pushing to the line, and I was able to get him in the last couple steps."
Berian also qualified for the Games, as did Charles Jock, who finished third in just over a half-second behind Berian.
Men's Pole Vault
Place
Athlete
Result (Meters)
Last Successful Vault: Attempts
1
Sam Kendricks
5.91
XXO
2
Cale Simmons
5.65
O
3
Logan Cunningham
5.60
O
4
Tray Oates
5.60
XO (Passed 5.65; Failed 5.70)
4
Mark Hollis
5.60
XO
6
Dylan Bell
5.60
XO (XXO on 5.50)
7
Jacob Blankenship
5.60
XXO
8
Jordan Scott
5.50
XXO
9
Michael Woepse
5.50
XXO (XO on 5.40)
Sam Kendricks topped the standings in the men's pole vault, clearing 5.91 meters—almost a foot higher than second-placed Cale Simmons' 5.65—and setting a new Olympic trials record in the process, per USATF.
Cunningham finished third after clearing 5.60 meters. Tray Oates cleared 5.60 at the second attempt, but he passed on 5.65 meters and went straight for 5.70. However, he was unable to clear in three tries and finished fourth.
Men's Javelin
Place
Athlete
Result (Meters)
1
Cyrus Hostetler
83.24
2
Curtis Thompson
82.88
3
Riley Dolezal
79.67
4
Sam Crouser
78.06
5
Sam Humphreys
76.00
6
Robert Robbins
73.42
7
Timothy VanLiew
72.15
8
Capers Williamson
70.97
9
Damien Odle
70.49
10
Christopher Carper
69.66
11
Sean Furey
69.45
12
Carson Fuller
68.94
Cyrus Hostetler was the only thrower to secure qualification for the Olympic team on Monday, though Sam Crouser and Sean Furey had already booked their places earlier in the year after meeting the required distance elsewhere.
Hostetler overtook Curtis Thompson with his fifth throw—his sixth and final throw being a foul—to make the cut, per TrackTown USA:
🚨 MEET RECORD ALERT -- AGAIN 🚨@chostetler15 betters Thompson's previous record with a mark of 83.24m in the #TrackTown16 men's javelin!
Qualifying for the women's javelin will begin on Thursday, with the final taking place on Saturday.
IAAF Athletics World Championships 2015: Sunday Results and Final Medal Table
Aug 30, 2015
Kenya's Asbel Kiprop (C) reacts as he croses the finish line ahead of Kenya's Elijah Motonei Manangoi, Morocco's Abdalaati Iguider (lower) and Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi in the final of the men's 1500 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium in Beijing on August 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop took gold in the men’s 1,500 metres at the IAAF World Championships on Sunday, as the curtain fell on an enthralling nine days of action.
In the other marquee race, Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana took the women’s 5,000 metres in style, getting the better of the great Genzebe Dibaba. The other women to take victory were Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba and Kathrina Molitor of Germany, in the marathon and javelin, respectively. In the other men’s event, there was a win for Canada from Derek Drouin in the high jump.
The 4x400-metre relays rounded off the championships, with Jamaica continuing their wonderful championships with a win in the women’s race. The United States were too good in the men’s version.
Here’s a closer look back at the action and the final medal table from the championships.
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Women's Marathon
Mare Dibaba (ETH)
Helah Kiprop (KEN)
Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa (BRN)
Men's High Jump
Derek Drouin (CAN)
Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR)
Guowei Zhang (CHI)*
Women's Javelin Throw
Kathrina Molitor (GER)
Huihui Lyu (CHN)
Sunette Viljoen (RSA)
Women's 5,000M
Almaz Ayana (ETH)
Senbere Teferi (ETH)
Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)
Men's 1,500M
Asbel Kiprop (KEN)
Elijah Motonei Manangoi (KEN)
Abdalaati Iguider (MAR)
Women's 4x400M Relay
Jamaica
United States
Great Britain & N.I.
Men's 4x400M Relay
United States
Trinidad & Tobago
Great Britain & N.I.
Rank
Country
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
1
Kenya
7
6
3
16
2
Jamaica
7
2
3
12
3
United States
6
6
6
18
4
Great Britain & N.I.
4
1
2
7
5
Ethiopia
3
3
2
8
6
Poland
3
1
4
8
7
Canada
2
3
3
8
7
Germany
2
3
3
8
9
Russia
2
1
1
4
10
Cuba
2
1
0
3
*Zhang shares the silver medal with Bondarenko.
Sunday Recap: Kiprop Races to Glory
BEIJING, CHINA - AUGUST 30: Gold medalist Asbel Kiprop of Kenya celebrates after the Men's 1500 metres final during day nine of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 30, 2015 in Beijing, China. (P
Kiprop sauntered to the front of a thrilling 1,500 metres finale down the homestretch, with four athletes in a tight scrap for the minor medals behind him.
The Kenyan turned on the afterburners with the post in sight, finishing in a time of 3:34.40. He just got the better of compatriot Elijah Motonei Manangoi (3:34.63) and Abdalaati Iguider (3:34.67), who finished in the silver and bronze medal positions, respectively.
The IAAF Twitter feed paid tribute to an exceptional performance from Kiprop, who is now a three-time world champion:
Kiprop defies superlatives at this point. Three consecutive world championships in five consecutive world championship finals. #beijing2015
In the women’s 5,000 metres, much was expected of Genzebe Dibaba, who was tipped to become the first woman ever to double the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres at the same championships. But Ayana (14:26.83) set a blistering early tempo that the rest of the field was unable to cope with, taking the win in a championship-record time.
Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana celebrates setting a championship record after winning the final of the women's 5000 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium in Beijing on August 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRANC
Dibaba (14:44.14) was eventually pushed down to third after a game chase from Senbere Teferi (14:44.07), giving the Ethiopians a clean sweep of the medals. As Sean Ingle of the Guardian notes, it was quite a race:
Ethiopian 1-2-3 in the women's 5,000m as Almaz Ayana wins by a street and Senbere Teferi somehow makes up 20m on Genzebe Dibaba on last lap
For another Dibaba, no relation to Genzebe, it was a much better day, as Mare Dibaba (2:27:35) raced to a superb marathon victory. She waited until the last 100 metres of the 26.2-mile race to run away from Kenya’s Helah Kiprop (2:27:36), winning by just one second. Bahraini athlete Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa (2:27:39) grabbed bronze.
As noted by FloTrack, it was the closest finish in the event’s history:
In the field, it was gold for Drouin in the high jump, as he prevailed in a jump-off against China's Guowei Zhang and Ukraine's Bohdan Bondarenko, who both take home a silver medal. The Canadian was the only man to clear a height of 2.34 metres when the bar was reset after an initial deadlock.
Canada's Derek Drouin competes in the final of the men's high jump athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium in Beijing on August 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN
The women’s javelin produced an astonishing finish, as Molitor broke the hearts of the home crowd. She produced the longest throw in the world this year (67.69 metres) with the very last effort of the competition, snatching the gold medal out of the hands of China’s Huihui Lyu (66.13 metres).Bronze went to South Africa’s Sunette Viljoen with a throw of 65.79 metres.
Rounding off the evening were the relay races, and there was delight for Jamaica in the women's event, as Novlene Williams-Mills reeled in the United States' Francena McCorory in the home straight. Great Britain did superbly to finish third.
Eilidh Child, who ran the second leg for the British team, was delighted with third place, per BBC Sport: "I didn't have a great championship individually, but to come out with these girls, they pick you up, and you get another chance to get a medal."
BEIJING, CHINA - AUGUST 30: Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica crosses the line to win gold ahead of Francena McCorory of the United States in the Women's 4x400 Relay Final during day nine of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Bei
In the men's race, the imperious quartet of David Verburg, Tony McQuay, Bryshon Nellum and LaShawn Merritt gave the United States an easy win.
These championships have bewitched us all, and the standard showcased from the competitors has been immaculate. But for these determined athletes, thoughts will already be turning to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next summer, as the champions from Beijing bid to back up their status as the world’s best with the most prestigious title of all.
European Athletics Indoor Championships 2015: Events Schedule, Live Stream, More
Mar 4, 2015
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain and Northern Ireland competes in the Women's Long Jump final of Great Britain and Northern Ireland competes in the Women's Long Jump final during the Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix at Barclaycard Arena on February 21, 2015 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
The 2015 European Athletics Indoor Championships gets under way on Thursday in Prague, with some of the continent's finest athletes set to descend on Czech Republic's capital for four days of intense competition.
The host squad is set to include 46 athletes—27 men and 19 women—the largest team at the event, including home favourites Pavel Maslak (400m) and hurdler Petr Svoboda.
The British team of 39 includes skipper Lawrence Clarke, going for gold in the 60m hurdles, and pentathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
Read on for all the details ahead of the event at Prague's O2 Arena.
Dates: March 5-8
Time: First event (shot put) begins on March 5 at 3:30 p.m. GMT, final event (4x400m) begins at 4:55 p.m. on March 8
Schedule: Full event schedule available via Praha2015
Preview
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - AUGUST 15: Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands celebrates after winning gold in the Women's 200 metres final during day four of the 22nd European Athletics Championships at Stadium Letzigrund on August 15, 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland
Johnson-Thompson is the clear front-runner for the pentathlon gold in Prague, having broken British records in indoor high jump and long jump in recent weeks, and she now sits at the top of the world heptathlon rankings.
She may well look to break Jessica Ennis-Hill's British record in the coming few days, with performance director of British Athletics Neil Black clearly confident she can perform, per Giles Richards in The Guardian:
"I don’t want to put any pressure on Kat but she has got high expectations so I would be very surprised if it [the record] isn’t a target."
The pentathlon takes place on Friday, and Johnson-Thompson will face a challenge to be even the top Brit, with the talented Morgan Lake set to compete.
The British team had also been set to include long-jumper Greg Rutherford, before the Olympic gold medallist withdrew himself from the competition, per BBC Sport:
Olympic champion long jumper Greg Rutherford has withdrawn from the European Athletics Indoor Championships pic.twitter.com/KcKL2kqU9s
However, in-form 800m runner Jenny Meadows will be competing in Prague, the 33-year-old currently topping the European rankings along with various team-mates, per WorldRunning.com's Steven Mills:
With the European Indoor Champs in Prague just over a week away, five Brits lead the 2015 continental rankings. pic.twitter.com/vg2ll0dSLV
Dutch hopes will be high for Dafne Schippers in the women's 60m sprint, the 22-year-old star having taken gold in the 100m and 200m at the European Athletics Championships in August.
Svoboda and Clarke will be going head-to-head in the 60m hurdles, the former set to be a real home favourite considering his long injury troubles since picking up a European Indoor title in 2011 in Paris.
The hosts also have a significant favourite in the shape of Maslak in the 400m, the defending champion from 2013 seemingly very confident, per Praha2015:
Pavel Maslak: "I know Im the favorite, but that makes me calmer."
With huge quality on show from all over Europe, proceedings in Prague are set to be highly competitive, intense and rewarding.
The Olympics is now drawing closer, and each athlete will be looking to Rio 2016, but for now, for all those competing in Prague, there should be only one goal: winning a European Indoor title.
Sainsbury Anniversary Games 2014: Schedule, Lineup and Athletics Event Details
Jul 19, 2014
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Greg Rutherford of Great Britain on his way to winning the gold medal in the Men's Long Jump Final on Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 4, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Central London will be transformed in order to welcome some of the brightest athletics talent from around the world back to the UK's capital on Sunday for the Sainsburys Anniversary Games.
St. James' Park will undergo a metamorphosis as a two-mile track is laid at the Mall, where spectators will be able to watch some events for free.
Meanwhile, a temporary stadium will be built around Horse Guards Parade Ground, where a majority of the gold medal track used at the Olympic Stadium during London 2012 will be used once again for this prestigious event.
Some of the biggest names in the business are set to dazzle once again this Sunday, with London once again recapturing the global influence of sport.
Last Event
4:25 p.m. BST/11:25 a.m. ET
First Event
3:15 p.m. BST/10:15 a.m. ET
Evening Session
(Gates Open at 4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET)
Morning Session
(Gates Open at 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET)
First Event
1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET
Last Event
2:50 p.m. BST/9:50 a.m. ET
First Event
6 p.m. BST/1 p.m. ET
Last Event
7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET
According to the official Sainsburys Anniversary Games spectator guide.
Notable Absences
No London Homecoming for Mo
Away from the short-distance events, this year's two-mile events will miss the talents of Mo Farah, who is still recovering from injury in a bid to make this year's Commonwealth Games.
Athletics Weeklyconfirmed earlier this week that the Somali-born long-distance runner would be absent from Sunday's proceedings, while UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos announced that US athlete Bernard Lagat would be in the line-up:
We are delighted that Bernard Lagat will headline the men’s two-mile race at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.
This race sits alongside the men’s T54 two-mile race featuring multiple Paralympic champion Dave Weir, who returns to the scene of his fourth gold medal at London 2012, and the women’s mile race featuring Geneze Dibaba, world indoor champion and world record holder.
Farah was forced to withdraw from the Glasgow Grand Prix earlier this month with what Sky News described as "abdominal pains" and will be seen as a big loss for the Anniversary Games.
BBC Sport have since confirmed that Farah is on track to make his return in Glasgow, however:
London was, of course, the scene of his 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre gold medal double at London 2012, but medalling at the Commonwealth Games is now the more realistic return.
Rutherford Prioritising Commonwealth Gold
BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY - JUNE 21: Greg Rutherford of Great Britain competes in the Men's Long Jump during first day of the European Athletics Team Championship at Eintracht Stadion on June 21, 2014 in Braunschweig, Germany. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Get
Another British name missing from the London slate on Sunday will be long jumper Greg Rutherford, whom Sky Sports have revealed will sit out this weekend in a bid to regain fitness for Glasgow 2014.
Like Farah, the Olympic champion has set about making his own comeback from injury at the Commonwealth Games later this month, something the competition's organisers were all too pleased about:
Having established his giant presence in the long jump at London 2012—both literally and figuratively—Rutherford would have been an ideal source of entertainment at St. James' Park.
