Dunfee and Perez Secure Opening Golds at World Championships
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Canada’s Evan Dunfee and Spain’s Maria Perez claim the first gold medals of the Athletics World Championships as field stars advance in Tokyo.
Canadian and Spanish racewalkers shine in Tokyo as field event stars advance through qualifiers
The Athletics World Championships began with a dramatic morning of racewalking, where Evan Dunfee of Canada and Spain’s Maria Perez claimed the first gold medals of the tournament.
Dunfee Realizes a Childhood Dream
For 34-year-old Dunfee, victory in 2:28:22 marked his first global title. “My coach and I have been together since I was 10 years old,” he said. “Back then, we set goals to become world champion and set the world record. We managed to do both this year it really is a dream come true.”
Perez Dominates Yet Again
Perez, the world record holder, powered to another commanding win in 2:39:01. Already the defending champion, she remains on course to repeat her remarkable 20km-35km double from Budapest two years ago.
Humid Conditions Challenge Walkers
Despite an early morning start, the Tokyo humidity tested athletes. Yet Dunfee and Perez showed grit, navigating the conditions to secure their gold medals and kick off the championships in style.
Field Events Take Center Stage
After the walkers cleared the track, attention turned to the field. A vibrant crowd created a different atmosphere from the eerily empty stands of the COVID-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Allman Qualifies with Ease
American discus star Valarie Allman, a double Olympic champion, qualified comfortably with a throw of 66.07m. The five-time Diamond League winner is still chasing her first world title, despite dominating the sport for two years.
Eyes on the Podium
Allman’s world-leading 73.52m throw in April the longest in over 35 years reinforced her credentials, though critics noted the “weather doping” effects of the venue. After back-to-back world bronzes, she hopes Tokyo will finally deliver gold.
Teammates and Rivals Advance
Allman’s teammate Laulauga Tausaga, who beat her to gold in Paris, advanced with 64.99m. Croatia’s Sandra Elkasevic, a two-time Olympic and world champion, also progressed with 66.72m her sixth career medal bid at the world stage.
Crouser Returns from Injury
In the men’s shot put, Ryan Crouser returned with a bang. Despite missing the season with an elbow injury, the American produced a massive 23.37m opening throw to reach the final.
U.S. Dominance in Shot Put Qualifying
Crouser was joined by compatriots Josh Awotunde and Adrian Piperi, underscoring America’s shot put dominance with 11 golds in the last 15 championships. New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, the 2017 world champion, led qualifiers with 21.74m.
Relay Teams Impress the Crowd
Defending champions the U.S. cruised into the mixed 4x400m relay final, setting the fastest time. Olympic champions the Netherlands also advanced, while South Africa posted an African record and Japan thrilled home fans with a new national mark.
Entertainment in the 100m Prelims
The men’s 100m preliminaries provided both drama and heartwarming stories. Athletes from smaller nations relished their moments, even without medal hopes. For some, simply competing was a personal triumph.
Trials and Triumphs of the Sprinters
Brunei’s Abdul Rahim Abdullah pulled up injured after just 40m, while Gibraltar’s Sean Penalver clocked 11.87s a personal best despite trailing elite competitors. Haiti’s Christopher Borzor impressed most, finishing as the fastest qualifier in 10.41s.
Championships Off to a Flying Start
From Dunfee’s childhood dream fulfilled to Perez’s continued dominance, and from Allman’s golden ambition to Crouser’s stunning comeback, the first day of the World Championships delivered inspiration and intrigue — a promising start to a packed schedule in Tokyo.
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