BUDAPEST: Spain’s Alvaro Martin won the men’s 20km race walk to claim the first gold of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Saturday as a host of hot favourites negotiated their qualifying rounds.

The two-time European champion clocked 1hr 17min 32sec for the victory on the streets of the Hungarian capital in a fast race that saw five of the first six finishers break national records.

“I was fourth at the last Olympic Games, I missed the bronze which motivated me to work hard,” Martin said.

“In Tokyo, I felt when I was in the fourth position that I could win a medal. Unfortunately, it did not happen and that is why this gold medal is next step towards the next Olympic Games” in Paris next year.

The race walk was delayed for two hours because of a heavy storm and the opening day’s action at the National Athletics Centre was put back an hour.

Sifan Hassan kicked off her audacious bid for a world treble by safely negotiating the opening round of the 1500m.

The Dutch runner completed an unprecedented triple at the Tokyo Olympics by winning gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m and a bronze in the 1500m.

Also safely through into Sunday’s 1500m semi-final (with the final on Tuesday) was Faith Kipyegon, who has enjoyed a stunning season in which she has set three world records.

The Kenyan is also entered in the 5,000m, with qualifiers over that distance to be raced on Wednesday and the final set for the penultimate day of action on Aug 26.

Reigning world shot put champion Ryan Crouser, suffering with blood clots in his lower leg, also sailed through qualification, going out to 21.48m on his first attempt.

Earlier, Bence Halasz, Hungary’s best hope for a medal at their own World Championships, earned the biggest roar of the opening morning when he launched his hammer 78.13 metres to sail into Sunday’s final at the first attempt.

Halasz launched his first throw and surpassed the automatic qualifying mark of 77 metres to the delight of the vocal morning crowd.

He will return to a bigger attendance and even louder roar on Sunday, Hungary’s National Day. Canada’s Ethan Katzberg smashed his personal best by more than two metres with an enormous throw of 81.18 — a national record and the second-longest by anyone this year behind Pole Wojciech Nowicki’s 81.92.

Nowicki also advanced on Saturday with 78.04.

With double Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium out injured and unable to defend her title, American Anna Hall took charge of the heptathlon after the opening two events, the 100m hurdles and high jump.Hall clocked 12.97sec in the hurdles and registered a best of 1.83 in the high jump for a total of 2,145 points.

US team-mates Talyah Brooks (2,136) and Chari Hawkins (2,134) were hot on her tail, with Britain’s 2019 world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson in fourth (2,104).

Meanwhile, hot favourites the US led the way in qualifying for the world championships mixed 4x400 metres relay, but defending champions the Dominican Republic did not appear on the start line in the morning heats.

With 200m specialist Gabby Thomas held in reserve for Saturday’s final, the US team of Ryan Willie, Rosey Effiong, Justin Robinson and Alexis Holmes looked impressive.

A brilliant second leg by Britain’s Laviai Nielsen swept her past the US’ Effiong and into the lead but the favourites pulled it back with the impressive Holmes leading them home in 3:10.41. Yemi Mary John, sporting an eye-catching one leg legging, ensured Britain finished second in a national record 3:11.19, with Belgium third for the other automatic qualifying slot.

The Netherlands are probably best equipped to challenge the US for gold and won the second leg with the peerless Femke Bol looking as if she was out for a morning jog as she brought them home in 3:12.12. France finished strongly for second in a national record 3:12.25.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2023