An energetic Tara Davis-Woodhall made a grand entrance into the arena for the women's long jump final on the closing night. World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24now shining in his trademark Stetson.
The world silver medalist likes to put on a show, and the 24-year-old American jumper duly did his duty as he swapped hats to claim his first senior world crown.
She decisively blew away the field with a jump of 7.07 meters in the fourth round, and completed a jump of 7.03 meters in the final round.
Davis Woodhall, the world leader at 7.18m, is the only athlete to surpass the magical 7m mark in 2024.
But in the first three rounds, the University of Texas at Austin-based athlete was caught in a see-saw battle with U.S. teammate Monae Nichols, a member of the Texas Tech University track and field team in Lubbock.
In the Scottish city that produced the band Texas, Nicholls took the lead in the opening round, her 6.75m two centimeters ahead of Davis-Woodhall's first attempt.
In the second round, the favorite took the lead with 6.79 meters. Nichols took the lead again in the third round with a jump of 6.83 meters.
Nicholls has only beaten the former U18 world champion twice in their last 14 meetings. She improved her record to 6.83m in the fourth round, but Davis Woodhall clocked 7.07m.
And that was it. Nichols was unable to react and followed up with a foul after scoring 6.68 meters.
In a dramatic fifth round, Spaniard Fatima Diame, who placed sixth in last year's world outdoor finals, jumped 6.78 meters to take bronze by one centimeter over Germany's Michael Assani, the 2021 European U18 bronze medalist. It approached.
Fifth place went to European heptathlon bronze medalist Annick Kalin. Her best time of 6.75 meters also came in the penultimate round.
In sixth place, just one centimeter behind, was Serbian Milica Gardasevic. European indoor silver medalist Larissa Iapichino (Italy), daughter of 1997 world indoor champion Fiona May, had a productive fifth round finishing seventh with 6.69m.
But the gold medal and glory belonged to Davis Woodhall, the fourth American winner of the event, joining Dawn Burrell, Tiana Madison and Brittney Reese.
“Every time someone says I'm a world champion, I'm really shocked,” she reflected. “I really did this. I'm so happy, so grateful.
“This medal is for my eternal hero, my grandmother. She has come a long, long way to reach the top.
“She has her own business and is now retired and happily enjoying my success. I think she would love this medal, so it's for her.”
world athletics champion simon turnbull
Women's long jump medalist | ||
🥇 | Tara Davis Woodhall 🇺🇸 USA | 7.07m |
🥈 | Monae Nichols 🇺🇸 USA | 6.85m |
🥉 | Fatima Diam 🇪🇸 ESP | 6.78m |
complete results |