UW alum Brian Fay doesn't get out of prelims in men's 5000 at world championships...
BUDAPEST, Hungary--Recent University of Washington graduate Brian Fay (Paul Merca photo) of Ireland's debut at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest was a slightly rough experience, as the 2023 Pac-12 double winner at 5000 and 10000 meters could not pull the magic and finished 16th in his heat at the National Athletics Centre Thursday night.
Running in the first of two heats, Fay was in the middle of the pack, as it went through the first kilometer in 2:51.18.
He stayed there through the second kilometer; however, there were signs that the leaders were starting to separate themselves, as Fay was almost two seconds back at 3000, going through in 8:35.10.
Fay managed to maintain the gap behind the leaders in the penultimate kilometer, going through in 11:13.46.
In the final kilometer, the field, which included the likes of the Norwegian duo of Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Narve Gilje Nordas, who finished second and third in Wednesday night's 1500 finals, sharply accelerated, with heat winner Mohamed Katir of Spain running a final 400 of 53.84 to cross the line in 13:35.90.
Fay, who last month set a new Irish national record of 13:01.40 in Heusden, Belgium, managed a final lap of 57.18 to finish in 13:42.86.
Courtesy of Athletics Ireland, here's what he had to say to the media in the mixed zone after the race:
Five finals were contested at the National Athletics Centre Thursday night, as former world champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece regained the long jump title he lost in Eugene, winning with a final round leap of 27-11.5 (8.52m) over University of Arkansas sophomore Wayne Pinnock of Jamaica's 27-10.75 (8.50m).
University of California alum Camryn Rogers upgraded her silver medal from Eugene to gold by winning the women's hammer with a best of 253-4 (77.22m), with Americans Janee' Kassanavoid (250-6/76.36m) and 2019 world champ DeAnna Price third (247-5/75.41m).
On the track, Danielle Williams of Jamaica won the women's 100 hurdles in a season best 12.43, with Keni Harrison third at 12.46.
In the men's 400, Jamaica's Antonio Watson won in 44.22, while the USA's Quincy Hall was third in a personal best 44.37.
In the evening's final race, Femke Bol of the Netherlands won the women's 400 hurdles convincingly in 51.70, ahead of American Shamier Little's season best 52.80 for second.
On Friday, Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts is the only Washington affiliated athlete competing, as she runs in the first of three semifinals in the 800 meters at 8:25 pm local time (11:25 am Pacific).
The top two, plus the two fastest time qualifiers advance to Sunday's final at 8:45 pm local time (11:45 am Pacific).
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NOTE: World Athletics, the WABudapest 23 Organizing Committee, Athletics Ireland, and USA Track & Field contributed to this report.
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