Yego makes history, Krause surprises

Julius Yego of Kenya recorded the longest javelin throw in 14 years with a mark of 92.72 meters to win his first world championship gold medal on a day of competition marred by the news that two athletes from his country tested positive for doping.

Yego was in eighth position before his third attempt in the final, when he landed chest-down behind the line after unleashing the world-leading throw. It was the first time in history five throwers recorded marks beyond 87 meters in a championship final. Ihab Abdelrahman El Sayed of Egypt took silver (88.99), with Tero Pitkamaki of Finland, the 2007 world champion, took bronze at 87.64, followed by Germany's Thomas Röhler in fourth.

South African Wayde van Niekerk scorched to a remarkable victory in the men's 400m, becoming South Africa's first world sprint champion in the process. van Niekerk stormed around the one-lap race in 43.48 seconds, becoming the fourth fastest athlete in the event and the quickest non-American. Defending champion Lawshawn Merritt, who also won the world title in Berlin in 2009, timed a personal best of 43.65 for silver, while Grenada's Olympic champion Kirani James claimed bronze in a season's best of 43.78.

Krause picks up surprise medal

Cuba's Yarisley Silva won gold in the women's pole vault title. Silva, the silver medalist at the London Olympics, vaulted a best of 4.90 meters ahead of Fabiana Murer of Brazil, who set a new South American record of 4.85m and Greece's Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou. Martina Strutz and Lisa Ryzih, who is German champion, both finished in eighth and 12th respectively.

In the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase, Kenya's Hyvin Jepkemoi won an exciting race in a time of, but the real winner was Germany's Gesa Krause who won bronze. It was Germany's first medal in this event and Krause finished only 0.01 seconds behind silver and 0.14 behind gold.

Olympic finalist Alysia Johnson Montano was in the leading bunch when she tripped and tumbled to the track with 200 meters to go, ending her chances of advancing in the 800 at the world championships. Montano, who always competes with a flower in her hair, appealed but the IAAF rejected the protest after reviewing video of the race.

Justin Gatlin breezed through in the 200 meter semifinals on Wednesday, winning in a time of 19.87. As comfortable as the American was, Usain Bolt went one step further securing a season best of 19.95 to win his heat even though he was able to power down from around the 120-meter mark.

jh/ (AFP)