Duplantis and Mahuchikh claim wins at inaugural Ultimate Championship in Budapest
Sweden's Armand Duplantis won the pole vault and Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh topped the high jump on the opening day of the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. Latvia's sole representative, javelin thrower Anete Sietiņa, competes on Saturday.
Budapest is hosting the first-ever Ultimate Championship, a World Athletics event running from September 11 to 13 that brings together current Olympic and world champions, Diamond League winners and top-ranked athletes.
In the pole vault, Armand Duplantis secured victory by clearing 6.20 metres. Greece's Emmanouil Karalis took second place with 6.15 metres, while Norway's Sondre Guttormsen rounded out the podium at 5.95 metres.
In the women's high jump, Olympic and European champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine won with a height of 1.99 metres, ahead of Australians Nicola Olyslagers (1.95 m) and Eleanor Patterson (1.91 m).
Other event results
Germany's Merlin Hummel won the hammer throw with 81.46 metres, followed by European champion Bence Halász of Hungary (80.30 m) and Ukraine's Mykhaylo Kokhan (78.90 m). In the 5000 metres, Olympic and European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway won in 12:59.24, ahead of Americans Cole Hocker and Parker Wolfe.
Italy's Larissa Iapichino won the women's long jump with 6.90 metres, while American Masai Russell took the 100m hurdles in 12.22 seconds. In the men's 110m hurdles, American Jakobi Tharpe won in 12.94 seconds, and the United States also won the mixed 4x100m relay.
A total of 381 athletes from 65 countries are competing in 28 disciplines. The only athlete representing Latvia and the Baltic states is world championship silver medallist javelin thrower Anete Sietiņa, who competes on Saturday. The total prize fund is around ten million US dollars, with each event winner receiving $150,000.
