| Qualifying was led by Phillips who bounded out to 8.44 (measured from take-off at 8.57), while Rutherford set a UK record with 8.30 (8.42 from toe to heel). Lapierre produced the first good jump of the final – 8.21, but was quickly superceded by Phillips who reached 8.40 from a take-off point 25cm before the board. Watt, the 21 year-old Australian who had leapt 8.43 earlier in the season spanned 8.28, also in the first round. Phillips then improved to 8.54 (measured from take-off at 8.58). Two jumps later, Mokoena, the World Indoor Champion, reached 8.47 with a jump which featured more vertical lift – but less speed – than Phillips. Saladino produced the shock of the final by fouling out. The best efforts remained unchanged until the fifth round when Watt reached 8.37 with 7cm to spare on the board. So Phillips made it three golds from five World Championship finals. A thoughtful touch by the organisers was that the medals were presented by Marlene Dortch – grand-daughter of Berlin 1936 Olympic Champion Jesse Owens – and Kai Long, the son of 1936 silver medallist Luz Long. |
