TOKYO Hammer star Ethan Katzberg and 1500m legend Faith Kipyegon successfully defended their titles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with displays of pure dominance.

By contrast, the other finals on day four – the men’s high jump and 110m hurdles – were incredibly competitive and went down to the wire. New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr added the world high jump title to his Olympic gold, equalling his own Oceanian record with a world-leading 2.36m. USA’s Cordell Tinch, meanwhile, emerged from the sprint hurdles with victory in 12.99.

Katzberg, the Olympic champion, started strongly in the men’s hammer final with an opening effort of 82.66m. But moments later, Germany’s Merlin Hummel threw 82.77m to end the first round in pole position.

Katzberg responded well in round two, sending his hammer out to 84.70m – the longest throw in the world for 20 years – to break the championship record and his own North American record. It remained the best mark of the day as the Canadian secured his third global title in as many years.

Hummel held on to second place ahead of Bence Halasz (82.69m) and Mykhaylo Kokhan (82.02m), marking the first time four men have thrown beyond 82 metres in one hammer competition.

Faith Kipyegon maintained her reign in the 1500m, winning her fourth world title at the distance.

The three-time Olympic champion from Kenya clocked 3:52.15 to add another title to her sensational CV, finishing well clear ahead of her compatriot Dorcus Ewoi, who ran a 3:54.92 PB to secure silver, and Australia’s Jess Hull, who got bronze in 3:55.16.

Kipyegon becomes only the second woman to win four world titles in the same track event after Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who has won five 100m titles.

In the men’s high jump, Kerr shared the lead up to 2.28m, but world indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok took it with his second-time clearance at 2.31m. Both Woo and Kerr got over 2.34m on their third tries with Woo still leading on countback. But a flawless clearance at 2.36m gave Kerr the outright victory as Woo was unable to go any higher.

Czechia’s Jan Stefela and Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk tied for bronze with 2.31m.

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