Moon wins third straight world pole vault title; Moll twins tie for sixth, while Woodruff sets Panamanian record...
TOKYO--Former Pullman resident Katie Moon (Paul Merca photo) won her third straight world title in the women's pole vault to highlight the fifth day of competition at the World Athletics Championships-Tokyo 2025 at Japan National Stadium on a hot and muggy night in the Japanese capital city.
The path to another world title for Moon was cleared when co-champion Nina Kennedy of Australia withdrew from the meet days before her scheduled arrival into Tokyo with a leg injury.
World indoor champ Molly Caudery of Great Britain was also forced to withdraw when she hurt herself in warmups before Monday's qualifying round.
Moon and the Moll twins, Hana and Amanda, got off to a good start, each clearing the opening height of 14-7.25 (4.45m) on their first attempts.
Moon then cleared the next three bars--15-3 (4.65m), 15-7 (4.75m) and 15-9 (4.80m) on her first attempts, while the Moll twins each needed second attempts to clear the second bar of 15-3 (4.65m), before ultimately being eliminated at the third bar of 15-7 (4.75m).
The Moll twins ultimately finished in a tie for sixth, their highest placing in a senior level championship meet.
Meanwhile, Moon missed for the first time at 15-11 (4.85m), a height that fellow American Sandi Morris cleared on her first attempt.
Moon passed to the next height of 16-0.75 (4.90m), ultimately clearing on her second attempt, and putting the pressure back on Morris.
Morris missed both attempts at 16-0.75, then after Moon's make, passed her remaining attempt for an all-or-nothing shot at a world lead of 16-2.75 (4.95m).
With Morris' miss, that gave Moon her third straight world title.
“It was incredible. It was such a battle – I knew it was going to be,” said Moon. “I kept telling myself I would need to jump over 4.90m to win. I knew Sandi was in good shape, I am just happy and relieved it ended up the best for me.
“All my medals are special, but this one is the one. The older you get, it gets harder. I don't know how many years I still have in me, and to have my family here made it very special."
In the first of three semifinal heats in the women's 400 hurdles, Washington alum Gianna Woodruff (Paul Merca photo) stormed to a Panamanian national record and South American area record, running 52.66.
"I didn't think it was going to be that fast. Coach (Boogie) Johnson told me to stop running scared, and that's exactly what I did. We always peak at the right time, and this was the right time to do that."
Woodruff moves on to the finals Friday night at 9:27 pm (5:27 am Pacific).
In perhaps one of the most shocking results, Josh Kerr of the Brooks Beasts finished last in the finals of the men's 1500 meters,
In the build-up to the final, defending champion Kerr had warned his rivals to prepare for “a real battle for whoever wants to come and take it off me”. And despite looking relaxed and all smiles on the start line, as it transpired, the biggest battle was from within as his body appeared to fail him with a lap and a half to go.
Just past the 800 meter mark, Kerr popped up straight into the air as if something had happened to his leg.
With Kerr obviously out of contention, Isaac Nader of Portugal stole the win, outleaning former world champion Jake Wightman of Great Britain, 3:34.10 to 3:34.12.
Former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell finished tenth in the women's 3000 steeplechase, running 9:18.66.
Faith Cherotich of Kenya won in a championship record 8:51.59.
In other finals contested Wednesday night, Mattia Furlani of Italy won the men's long jump in a personal best 27-6.5 (8.39m).
No athletes with Washington ties will be competing Thursday night.
Washington alum Brian Fay of Ireland runs in the first round of the men's 5000 meters at 8:05 pm local time (4:05 am Pacific time), while Gianna Woodruff goes in the finals of the women's 400 hurdles at 9:27 pm local time (5:27 am Pacific time).
NOTE: World Athletics contributed to this report.
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