Marileidy Paulino created history on Wednesday when she stormed to victory in the final of Women’s 400m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

After winning silver medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and again at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, the 26–year-old from Don Gregorio Village in the Dominican Republic blew away the field down the home stretch to clock a massive lifetime best of 48.77 for victory and become the first woman from her country to win a gold medal in that event at the championships that began in 1983.

Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek won silver running 49.57, just managing to hold off Barbados Sada Williams, who ran 49.60 for her second bronze medal in as medal championships.

Williams created some history of her own as no athlete from Barbados had ever won medals in back-to-back championships.

Candice McLeod of Jamaica ran 51.08 for seventh.

Paulino, a two-time silver medalist in the event, took advantage of the absence of Shauna Miller-Uibo and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to cop the first global gold medal of her international career.

Great Britain’s Josh Kerr stunned Jakob Ingebrigtsen to take the 1500m title in style at the World Championships.

The Scot clocked three minutes 29.38 seconds to win a massive battle with Ingebrigtsen, who came second, over the final 300m.

He emulated Jake Wightman’s win in Eugene last year, with Wightman missing through injury this year, to deny Norway’s Ingebrigtsen – who also had to settle for silver in 2022 – the world crown again.

Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent and Danielle Williams, as well as Bahamian Devynne Charlton secured their spot in the women’s 100 metres hurdles final, after safely navigating their respective semi-finals on Wednesday’s fifth day of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

While it was unbridled joy for those three, it was heartbreak for another Jamaican Megan Tapper, as the Olympic medallist placed fourth and her time was not good enough to see her through to tomorrow’s final scheduled for 2:25pm Jamaica time.

Charlton and Tapper both ran from semi-final one, where they placed second and fourth respectively. Charlton, 27, secured the second automatic qualifying spot in 12.49s, behind American Kendra Harrison, who won in 12.33s.

Despite running her heart out, Tapper (12.55s) was out dipped by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji (12.50s), who progressed to tomorrow’s final as one of the two fastest qualifiers on time ahead of the Jamaican.

The second semi-final was just an exciting with Ackera Nugent leading for most of the way but was pipped on the line by Nigeria’s World Record holder Tobi Amusan. Nugent stopped the clock in 12.60s, behind Amusan’s 12.56s.

The last of the three semi-finals saw Jamaica’s former World Champion Danielle Williams off to a blistering start, but she lost her composure close to the end and had to settle for third in a season’s best 12.50s. Fortunately, for her the time was good enough to progress to the final.

Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn produced a late burst to win in 21.41s, with American Nia Ali (12.49s), just bettering Williams on the line.

You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.

Shanieka Ricketts and Kimberly Williams advanced to the finals of the Women’s Triple Jump during the evening session of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday. However, Jamaica’s third entrant Ackelia Smith fell short of the qualification standard and did not make it into the final.

Meanwhile, Dominica’s Thea LaFond also advanced with a record-setting performance as well as three-time world champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela.

Ricketts, the two-time World Championships silver medalist produced a season’s best effort of 14.67m, which is the best mark heading into the finals. LaFond was not far behind with her mark of 14.62, a new national record. Williams, who has been struggling for form this season, also produced a season’s best 14.30m to make it into the finals.

Rojas, who is going for her fourth title, just did enough to qualify. The world record holder bounded to a mark of 14.59m with medal contender Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk also through with her qualifying effort of 14.55m.

The in-form Leyanis Perez Fernandez of Cuba, whose mark of 14.98m is the second best in the world this year, soared out to 14.50m to book her spot. Jasmine Moore (14.13m) and Tori Franklin (14.13m) are also through.

Ackelia Smith’s best jump of 13.95m was 17^th best overall and so she misses out on the finals set for Friday.

Gold-medal favourite Steven Gardiner has revealed the nature of the injury that saw him crash out of the 400m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Tuesday.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Gardiner of the Bahamas, was leading his semi-final heat when he winced in pain and fell to the track, his dreams of winning another world championship title dashed.

The 2019 world champion was widely anticipated to dominate the competition once again. However, fate had a different plan for him. This was a particularly bitter pill to swallow, considering he had missed out on defending his title in the previous championship due to UTE tendon inflammation.

Taking to his Instagram account, Gardiner candidly shared the nature of the injury he sustained during the crucial race. “Heartbroken but will not give up. Today (Tuesday) during my 400m semi-final I suffered a grade 1 sprain of the tendon extending into the knee of the right posterior thigh. Unfortunately, this is season-ending but I will be okay," he said.

This announcement left fans and the athletics community in shock. A grade 1 sprain of the tendon extending into the knee is no minor setback. The injury would not only put an end to his aspirations for this championship but also his entire season.

Gardiner's message on Instagram continued with gratitude for those who supported him throughout his journey:

“I would kindly like to thank the Budapest medical staff, team Bahamas, my management team (ontrackmanagement), coaches, fans, and sponsors for always believing in me.”

Despite missing out on the final, Rhema Otabor of Bahamas, had much to be proud of, as she was the lone Caribbean representative in a stacked women’s javelin event on day five of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.

Otabor, the NCAA champion, entered the championship in good knick, having recently broken the girls’ Under-23 record at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Under-18 and Under-23 championships, but was unable to replicate that form on the day.

The 20-year-old, competing in Pool B of the qualifiers launched the instrument to a best mark of 53.62m, which was well off her personal best of 59.75m. Prior to that, Otabor threw a mere 48.34m and later failed to achieve a mark on her final attempt.

You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.

Andrew Hudson and Rasheed Dwyer of Jamaica both advanced to the semi-final round of the 200m during the opening session of Day 5 of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.

Hudson, the Jamaican champion, came home in second place in Heat 2 that was won by 100m champion Noah Lyles. The American who is favoured to win the sprint double, cruised through the finish line in an impressive-looking 20.05, barely breaking a sweat in sweltering conditions.

Hudson, meanwhile, who challenged Lyles over the first 150m, visibly backed off to take an automatic qualifying spot in 20.25. Ondřej Macik of the Czech Republic also advanced from the heat after finishing third in 20.40.

Dwyer also ran 20.40 for third place in Heat 5.

Towa Uzawa of Japan surged to the lead late to win the heat in 20.34 with the USA’s Courtney Lindsay close behind in 20.39.

Also through to the semi-final round are medal contenders, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and Erriyon Knighton of the USA.

Tebogo, the 100m silver medalist, who is expected to challenge Lyles for the gold medal, was in complete command of Heat 3, striding to victory in an easy 20.22 while Knighton won Heat 6 in 20.17 over Canada’s Andre DeGrasse, who ran 20.28.

Hughes, the bronze medallist in the 100m, easily won the opening heat in 19.99, the fastest time heading into the semi-finals with Canada’s Aaron Brown a close second in 20.08.

Brown’s compatriot, Brendon Rodney won Heat 4 in a season’s best 20.14 as did the USA's Kenny Bednarek, who sped to a 20.01 clocking to win the final of the seven heats. Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic crossed in second place in a time of 20.14.

There were mixed fortunes for the Caribbean men in long jump qualifying, as a Jamaican trio of Wayne Pinnock, Carey McLeod and Tajay Gayle all progressed to the final, while Bahamian LaQuan Nairn missed out on day five of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.

It is the first time ever that Jamaica will have three athletes in the long jump final at a global athletics championships.

It was one and done for Jamaica’s Pinnock and McLeod, while Gayle took his time to get going before hitting a reasonable mark to secure a spot in the final scheduled for Thursday at 12:30pm Jamaica time.

The 22-year-old Pinnock was poetry in motion where execution is concerned, as he was perfect off the board and that propelled him to a big world-leading mark of 8.54m in a positive 1.2 metres per second reading, which left him in shock.

“The first thing was just to execute as coach told me, push off on the first six steps, maintain my transition and then just run through the board which is what I did. But when I saw the distance, I was like ‘wow’, I wasn’t expecting that, but I’ve thought of this moment every night before I go to bed,” Pinnock said after his leap.

McLeod followed suit on his try, as he also cleared the automatic qualifying mark of 8.15m, cutting the sand at 8.19m in a positive 0.5m/s wind, on his first attempt.

Meanwhile, 2019 World Champion Gayle needed two jumps to find his rhythm, cutting the sand at 7.84m and 7.68m, respectively before leaping to 8.12m in a negative 0.7m/s wind, which was good enough to get him into the final.

Cuba’s Alejandro Parada (8.13m), will also line up in the medal event.

You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.

Six Caribbean ladies will line up in Thursday’s 200 metres semi-finals, following contrasting performances in their respective heats on day five of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.

The six, a Jamaican trio of reigning champion Shericka Jackson, Kevona Davis and Natalliah Whyte will be joined by Bahamian Anthonique Strachan, St Lucian Julien Alfred and young British Virgin Islands sensation, Adaejah Hodge. Another Jamaican Ashanti Moore was the only Caribbean athlete to miss out.

Strachan, running from lane nine, got the show going in the first heat, where she was comfortable from start to finish, stopping the clock in 22.31s, ahead of Great Britain’s Daryll Neita (22.39s), with Jael Betsue (22.58s) of Spain taking the third automatic spot.

Moore, who was giving the opportunity to run the event following Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal, found herself in a tough second heat. Though she went out hard, Moore had to settle for fifth in 23.12s, which was not good enough for one of the six non-automatic qualifying spots.

The heat was easily won by newly minted 100m champion American, Sha’Carri Richardson in 22.16s, ahead of Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who clocked a season’s best 22.26s. Olivia Fotopoulou of Cyprus clocked a new personal best 22.65s for the third spot.

Jackson, the reigning 200m champion, expectedly made light work of rivals in heat three, as she cruised to 22.51s. Singapore’s Veronica Shanti Pereira, was second in a national record 22.57s, with Jessika Gbai (22.78s) of Ivory Coast in third.

Though Hodge was fourth, her time of 22.82s, was good enough to progress as one of the non-automatic qualifiers.

St Lucia’s Alfred was tops in heat four, as she powered her way to 22.31s, ahead of Jamaica’s Whyte 22.44s, with Great Britain’s Bianca Williams (22.67s) in third.

The fifth and penultimate heat saw another young Jamaican Davis (22.49s), also booking her semi-final spot with a second-place finish behind American Gabrielle Thomas, who clocked 22.26s.

Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith justified favouritism in the final heat which she won in 22.46s.

You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.

Jamaica’s pair of Natoya Goule-Toppin and Adelle Tracey both safely progressed to the women’s 800 metres semi-finals, as they had little problems navigating their respective heats on day five of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.

Goule-Toppin, who entered the championships ranked second in the world, contested the last of the seven heats, where she bided her time in the early stages, before challenging and pushing America’s reigning World Champion Athing Mu in the homestretch.

In the end, Goule-Toppin finished second in 1:59.64, behind Mu, who stopped the clock in 1:59.59. Switzerland’s Lore Hoffman clocked a season’s best 2:00.14 to secure the third automatic qualifying spot.

Though she ran a national record of 3:58.77 in the 1,500m semi-finals, where she shaved 3.07 seconds off the previous mark set by Yvonne Graham in Monaco in 1995, Tracey was more at home in the two-lap event, and she performed accordingly to book her spot in the next round.

The 30-year-old occupied the inside lane for most of the way before finding space in between competitors in the home stretch to close fast for second in heat four.

She stopped the clock in a season’s best 1:59.92, behind Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi (1:59.68), with French athlete, Renelle Lamote (2:00.22, taking the third automatic qualifying spot from the heat.

Meanwhile, Cuba’s Rose Mary Almanza, who contested heat six, placed sixth in 2:01.33 and failed to progress.

The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday.

You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.

Though disheartened by the manner in which Jaydon Hibbert’s debut showing at the World Athletic Championships ended, coach Travis Geopfert believes the minor setback is merely setting up his young charge for a major comeback next season.

Geopfert, like many Jamaicans and track and field enthusiasts at large, had high expectations about the gold medal prospects of the exciting triple jumper, who entered the Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with a world leading mark of 17.87m. Those expectations would have peaked when Hibbert topped the qualifiers in Saturday's first round with 17.70m.

However, Hibbert’s first appearance on the global stage ended in disappointment, as he suffered a right hamstring injury on his first attempt in Monday’s final and wasn't able to continue competing.

Geopfert, who works with Hibbert at the University of Arkansas, confirmed the injury as a Grade one hamstring strain. He pointed out that they have already started treatment and, by extension, processing the way forward, as he maintains a bright outlook for the 18-year-old.

“There is obviously a bright future ahead, I think one thing right now is that we have to make sure we do the right thing (going forward). We got the image last night, there is a small amount of swelling, but it is not a major injury which is a good thing. He is going to get treatment today; we have great medical support that is here, so we will do the things necessary to make sure that the healing process starts correctly,” Geopfert told journalists during a virtual press conference.

He continued: “The other thing that we are going to try to do is troubleshoot. There was no indication that there was going to be an issue yesterday (Monday), he was moving well, warm up was great, no cramping, no issue at all. So, what we need to do is go back and assess to get information, we need to do a sweat test to see how he sweats and what electrolytes and nutrients are being lost in his sweat so we can get some answers.

“We need to do some labs in terms of blood work and see if there are any deficiencies that we are missing…we often do labs, but we need to do it post exercise to see if there are any calcium deficiencies. From there we will then build for next year with a better plan in place to ensure that he continues to train and stays healthy and then we look for more exciting things through the NCAA season and into the Olympics.

Reflecting on the buildup to the final, Geopfert believes Hibbert’s warm-up alone, was a good indicator that he was very much on course to land what would have been a sensational gold medal, but for the heart-wrenching injury.

“His warmup was phenomenal…it (the gold medal) was very much on, I was excited as I thought the first attempt was going to be a monster jump, so this (injury) was out of the blue, this was not something that we never anticipated in any way at all,” Geopfert explained.

“When he came back, he said that the hamstring grabbed and so we were hoping for the best and that it was a cramp, so we went through what we needed to try to get it to release but there is only so much medical attention that is allowed at the moment in the stadium so there was very little that could really be done.

“He was trying to get ready to take the second jump, I was keeping an eye on whether he would have jumped out of order, but in a final you can’t jump out of order everything stays in order and then it became obvious that he couldn’t take the second jump,” he added.

While waiting for the jump cycle to come back around, Geopfert said he advised Hibbert to test the hamstring before going on the runway, but after being told that there is still a slight pain, the decision was taken to forgo the third jump as well.

“I tell athletes all the time that we can’t make emotional decisions, we have to deal with the information we have and make educated decisions. I understand being in the moment, but I also grasp a bigger picture for this young man, and I feel a sense of responsibility for him to always keep the bigger picture in mind,” the coach noted.

“So, I believe fully that it was the right call for him to skip that third jump, it wasn’t easy, but it was the right decision for him long term.  It wasn’t until after that the emotions hit me personally and it was tough, but the kid is tough, and he is handling it extremely well. I am proud of him for a lot of reasons, not just for the results but about his growth and how he handled the moment and how he communicated so effectively in that difficult moment,” Geopfert reasoned.

On that note, Geopfert recollected the remarkable season Hibbert enjoyed leading up to the championships and declared it an extreme positive to build on after recovery.

During his debut season for Arkansas, Hibbert yielded numerous records. He won the NCAA indoor triple jump with a first attempt jump of 17.54m, a feat that earned him the World Athletics moment of the month award for March.

Additionally, he was named the SEC Indoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year in the same month.

His mark surpassed the indoor Under-20 record of 17.20m set by Melvin Raffin of France in 2017, as well as the outdoor Under-20 standard of 17.50m set by Germany's Volker Mai in 1985.

Heading into the SEC Outdoors, the World Under-20 champion was unbeaten in three indoor competitions and two outdoor competitions. In Baton Rouge, he surpassed his opening leap of 17.02m with an impressive jump of 17.87m, setting a new world Under-20 record.

“It has been an unbelievable year for Jaydon, as a freshman, the transition to university in a new setting, he just did an unbelievably good job and then you look at the results that he had through the year and the records that he set, the World Under-20 records, indoor and outdoor, the NCAA records he set…just an unbelievable year across the board,” Geopfert beamed.

“Just watching him grow in terms of his maturity and how he handles things in both good times and bad, it’s been amazing, and I think it’s just been a great year overall. I am just extremely proud of him and the way he navigated it all extremely well and I am excited for the future because of that,” the Razorbacks coach ended.

There were mixed fortunes for the Caribbean men in the 400m semi-finals on day four of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Tuesday.

Antonio Watson was first up and set the track ablaze with a massive personal best 44.13 to take semi-final one over the likes of South African world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk and American Vernon Norwood.

Norwood ran a personal best of his own with 44.26 for second while Van Niekerk ran 44.65 in third and Jereem Richards ran 44.76 in fourth.

Van Niekerk made it through to the final as one of the fastest losers while Richards was just beaten out Norway’s Havard Bentdal Ingvaldsen who ran 44.70 in heat two.

Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson Smith won the second semi-final in a personal best, British and European record 44.26 ahead of 2011 World Champion Kirani James who ran 44.58.

Unfortunately, reigning Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner looked set to book his spot in the final before pulling up injured while leading with about 100m to go in the third semi-final.

The race was eventually won by American Quincy Hall in 44.43 while Jamaica’s Sean Bailey also made it through to the final with 44.94.

Three Jamaicans will contest the medals in the women’s 400m hurdles as the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Budapest after producing excellent semi-final performances on day four on Tuesday.

Clayton was first-up in semi-final one with a personal best 53.30 to win and book her spot in the final. American Anna Cockrell also advanced to the final with a personal best 53.63 in second.

Andrenette Knight had to go up against a loaded field in semi-final two including Femke Bol and former world record holder Dalilah Muhammad. Bol took the win in an easy 52.95 while Knight ran brilliantly to finish second in 53.72. Muhammad ran 54.19 in third and failed to make it to the final.

The third semi-final saw four athletes make it through to the final. Shamier Little produced a season’s best 52.82 to win ahead of Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya (53.69). National champion Janieve Russell ensured that it would be three Jamaicans in the final with 53.83 in third while Italy’s Ayomide Folorunso ran a national record 53.89 to also advance.

Navasky Anderson failed to advance from the heats of the Men’s 800m on day four of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Tuesday.

Anderson, who ran a national record 1:44.70 in July to qualify for the championships, was only able to produce 1:45.81 for fifth in heat two.

After seven heats, Anderson’s time was just .05 slower than the final non-automatic qualifying time.

The 23-year-old also failed to advance from the heats at last year’s edition in Eugene.

Ackera Nugent, Devynne Charlton, Danielle Williams and Megan Tapper all progressed to the semi-finals of the 100m hurdles on day four of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Tuesday.

Nugent, the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion, was first up in heat one, producing 12.60 to narrowly win ahead of American Masai Russell who was credited with the same time. Ireland’s Sarah Lavin (12.69) and France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela (12.71) completed the top four.

2019 World Champion, Nia Ali, ran 12.55 to win the second heat ahead of Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska (12.65), South Africa’s Marione Fourie (12.71) and Hungary’s Luca Kozak (12.71).

2015 World Champion Danielle Williams and 2022 World Indoor Champion Devynne Charlton both lined up in heat three. Charlton and Williams were second and third with 12.44, a new Bahamian national record, and 12.51, respectively, as the race was won by American former world record holder in a blistering 12.24. Great Britain’s Cindy Sember was fourth in 12.83.

Puerto Rico’s Olympic Champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, was next up in heat four. She continued her unbeaten run this season with 12.50 to comfortably win the heat ahead of the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser (12.68) and Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji (12.71). Celeste Mucci of Australia also made it through with 12.90 in fourth.

Jamaican national champion, Megan Tapper, finished second in the fifth and final heat in 12.51 to advance. Nigerian World Champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan ran 12.49 to win the heat while Australia’s Michelle Jenneke and Cyprus’ Natalia Christofi ran 12.71 and 12.90 in third and fourth, respectively.