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GB's Jake Wightman clinches 1500m title at World Athletics Championships

GB's Jake Wightman clinches 1500m title at World Athletics Championships
© Reuters
Jake Wightman wins Great Britain's first gold medal of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the men's 1500m final in Eugene.

Jake Wightman won Great Britain's first gold medal of the 2022 World Athletics Championships with a stunning effort in the men's 1500m final in Eugene.

The 28-year-old - who won European and Commonwealth bronze in the event in 2018 - crossed the line with a world-leading time of 3:29.23 to win his first-ever medal at the World Championships.

Wightman burst past the Norway's Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen with about 200m to go, as his Nordic counterpart was forced to settle for silver after posting 3:29.47.

Mohamed Katir of Spain clinched the bronze medal with a time of 3:29.90, as Wightman's compatriot Josh Kerr (3:30.60) placed fifth.

Wightman's victory saw him end a 39-year drought without a world title for Great Britain in the men's 1500m, emulating Steve Cram's feat from 1983, and his father was the one announcing his victory in the stadium.

"It probably won't sink in until I've retired!" a starstruck Wightman told BBC Sport after the race. "It's mad. I had such a disappointing year in Tokyo last year and I don't think people realised how crushing it was.

"I just knew here that I could take the pressure off, the only thing that could happen was that I produce a better run than last year. I was just running for my life in that home straight!

Dina Asher-Smith in action at the World Athletics Championships on July 16, 2022© Reuters

"I have given up so much to get to this point, such a lot of things sacrificed, and this makes everything worth it. I'm so glad that I've been able to do what I've dreamed of since I was a kid."

Wightman's gold in the 1500m was GB's second medal of the World Championships after Laura Muir took bronze in the women's 1500m event on Monday.

Elsewhere, Dina Asher-Smith is seeking to make up for her 100m disappointment by defending her 200m title, and the 2019 champion placed second in her semi-final with 21.96 to progress to the final.

Tamara Clark of the USA finished just 0.01 seconds quicker than Asher-Smith, while Jamaica's Shericka Jackson led the way in her semi-final with 21.67.

However, there was disappointment in the men's 200m semi-finals for British duo Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Joe Ferguson, who both failed to advance to the showpiece event.

Further gold medals on day five went to Australia's Eleanor Patterson in the women's high jump with an area record of 2.02, and Slovenia's Kristjan Ceh won the men's discus throw with 71.13.

In the men's 400m hurdles final, Brazil's Alison dos Santos broke the Championship record with a time of 46.29 - the third fastest in history - to win gold.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Laura Muir pictured at the World Athletics Championships on July 18, 2022
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