World Championships 2015: Laura Muir delighted at 1500m finish

It was Kenya’s first gold medal in any event shorter than 800-meters.

Later that night, when the American sprinter talked to his mother, he found out she actually put the heckler in his place by herself.

Jenny Simpson lost her left shoe after being stepped on and ran the last lap of the 1,500-meter race with her bare foot striking the surface.

It’s all in the past now.

“I achieved a PB (personal best) and NR (national record) this year so I say thanks to God”.

“I went to see my coach (Glen Mills) after the (100m) semifinal and he told me “You’re thinking about it too much”, Bolt said on Sunday.

That’s just the way things have been going for the Americans so far at the world championships.

The United States struggled in the sandpit as Jeff Henderson, who has jumped a world-leading 8.52-meters on the year, did not reach the final; nor did his compatriot Mike Hartfield. Discus throwers Whitney Ashley and Gia Lewis-Smallwood finished ninth and 11th. Natasha Hastings of the U.S. failed to advance. And Nick Symmonds, the 2013 silver medalist in the 800 meters, boycotted the worlds because of a dispute with USA Track and Field.

While Rudisha’s 800 metres victory was not a patch on the brilliant run that won him gold in a world record time at the London Olympics, there was a reminder of one of the great nights of that Games when Britain’s Greg Rutherford won long jump gold.

The 28-year-old Rutherford set the winning mark on his fourth jump and passed on his last two attempts.

Australia’s Fabrice Lapierre also fought through the pain of a hamstring injury to win silver and bronze went to the youngest of the trio of Chinese in the final, Wang Jianan. Amel Tuka, who entered the race having run the world’s fastest time this year of 1:42.51, won the first ever world championship medal for Bosnia Herzegovina with his 1:46.30 for bronze. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands earned bronze, 1.25 behind. She will be seeking to complete a 1,500-5,000 double next weekend.

David Rudisha strained every sinew to win gold, Genzebe Dibaba dominated in the way the Kenyan once did and Usain Bolt’s second sprint showdown with Justin Gatlin moved a step closer at the world athletics championships on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ time).

The Bird’s Nest has never been all that friendly to the Americans.

Two-time world champion Kerron Clement placed fourth in his season-best 48.18 and Michael Tinsley, the Olympic and world silver medalist, placed eighth in 50.02.

The Olympic champion and world record-holder led from gun to tape, clocking 1:45.84 for victory.

Caballero, the Pan-American Games champion, won with a mark of 69.28 meters. “Hopefully I can get my technique right and give it my best in the final”, added Bolt, who returns to the Bird’s Nest for Wednesday’s semis with the final scheduled for Thursday.