World Champs Womenâ€s LJ — Davis-Woodhall From The Start

“Itâ€s awesome to have this medal around my neck,†declared Tara Davis-Woodhall after biting off a de rigeur medallion for any elite résumé. (JEFF COHEN)

IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD from Budapest to Tokyo, albeit with plenty of successful stops on the way including the top of the â€24 Olympic podium. Having traveled it without a loss, Tara Davis-Woodhall took the world title that had eluded her in the Hungarian capital two summers ago.

After leading the qualifying round with a one-and-done 22-7 (6.88), she was seeded to jump first in the final — according to WAâ€s opaque description of its protocol, “based on… performance results from the qualification period, particularly… world rankings.” Regardless of exactly how field event orders were drawn, Davis-Woodhall threw the gauntlet straight down with a 23-2¾ (7.08).

It was a great effort, better than anyone else other than TDW herself had managed in â€25 but with two other 7-meter-plus jumpers in the final, it was certainly not game over.

Indeed, 2-time world champ Malaika Mihambo of Germany gradually ate into Davis-Woodhallâ€s lead through rounds 2 to 4, jumping 22-8½ (6.92), 22-9¾ (6.95) and 22-11¼ (6.99).

However, having seen Mihambo fall just a fraction short of the 7-meter or 23-feet (7.01) line — whichever you prefer — Davis-Woodhall responded with a â€25 world-leading 23-4¾ (7.13). This prevailed to take the gold with neither woman able to improve in the fifth and sixth stanzas.

Davis-Woodhall now has a 15-meet win streak with her last defeat having come in Budapest.

“Beside the Olympics, this is one of the main goals in track & field,†said Davis-Woodhall. “Itâ€s awesome to have this medal around my neck. ‘Felipe†(my Olympic gold medal) now has a friend!â€

The former Texas Longhorn and current Kansas State volunteer assistant coach added: “I have put in so much work at practice that jumping 7m shouldnâ€t be a problem and itâ€s incredible that Iâ€m able to hit 7m as often as I can.â€

Davis-Woodhall also advertised that for â€26 she has her sights set on closing the gap between her 23-6¾ (7.18) PR — set indoors at altitude in â€24 — and Jackie Joyner-Kerseeâ€s long-standing AR of 24-7 (7.49).

“I feel like I can jump 7.40 [24-3½] but Iâ€d have to get it tight, itâ€s technical,†she said. “Iâ€m only a 5-3 [1.60] woman but itâ€s there and I just have to hit it perfectly on the board.†Reflecting on her last-round foul with the gold already won, Davis-Woodhall added, “I fouled a big one.â€

Behind the leading pair, Colombian surprise package Natalia Linares reached 22-5¾ (6.85) in the second round then equaled her 22-8½ (6.92) PR with her fifth attempt to earn the bronze.

World Indoor winner Claire Bryant and Quanesha Burks finished 5th and 8th with 21-11 (6.68) and 21-8 (6.60) but couldnâ€t challenge for the medals on a steamy, sticky night when the temperatures reached the mid-80s and humidity was around 70%.

As is often the case, the qualifying round saw several notable names eliminated, none more so than Italyâ€s Olympic 4th-placer and Diamond League winner Larissa Iapichino, who is No. 3 on the â€25 world list with 23-2 (7.06).

WOMENâ€S LONG JUMP RESULTS

1. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 23-4¾ (7.13) (WL, AL);

23-2¾, 22-5¼, f, 23-4¾, f, 22-9) (7.08, 6.84, f, 7.13, f, 6.93);

2. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 22-11¼ (6.99);

21-8, 22-8½, 22-9¾, 22-11¼, f, f) (6.60, 6.92, 6.95, 6.99, f, f);

3. Natalia Linares (Col) 22-8½ (6.92) =PR;

22-1¾, 22-5¾, 21-10, f, 22-8½, 21-8¾) (6.75, 6.85, 6.65, f, 6.92, 6.62);

4. Hilary Kpatcha (Fra) 22-4½ (6.82);

21-4¾, f, 22-4½, 22-3, 21-4, 21-1¼) (6.52, f, 6.82, 6.78, 6.50, 6.43);

5. Claire Bryant (US) 21-11 (6.68);

21-6¾, 21-7¼, 21-4¼, 21-11, 21-8¾, 21-11) (6.57, 6.58, 6.51, 6.68, 6.62, 6.68);

6. Agate De Sousa (Por) 21-10¾ (6.67)

(f, 21-6¾, 21-10¾, 21-9, f, 17-½) (f, 6.57, 6.67, 6.63, f, 5.19);

7. Pauline Hondema (Neth) 21-8 (6.60);

21-8, 21-6¾, 21-6, 20-10½, 21-6¾) (6.60, 6.57, 6.55, 6.36, 6.57);

8. Quanesha Burks (US) 21-8 (6.60);

21-1¼, 21-2¾, 21-8, 20-9¾, 20-11¼) (6.43, 6.47, 6.60, 6.34, 6.38);

9. Maja Åskag (Swe) 21-3½ (6.49);

21-3½, 20-7¾, 20-7, 20-10¾) (6.49, 6.29, 6.27, 6.37);

10. Marthe Yasmine Koala (Bur) 21-3½ (6.49)

(f, 21-3½, f, 19-9½) (f, 6.49, f, 6.03);

11. Esraa Owis (Egy) 20-10¾ (6.37);

20-3¾, 20-10½, 20-10¾) (6.19, 6.36, 6.37);

12. Chantel Malone (BVI) 20-9¼ (6.33);

20-3, 20-9¼, 20-5¼) (6.17, 6.33, 6.23).

* = progression of the leading throw; ¶ = athleteâ€s best of the day

first 3 rounds

Davis-Woodhall
7.08*
6.84
f

Mihambo
6.60
6.92
6.95

Kpatcha
6.52
f
6.82¶

Bryant
6.57
6.58
6.51

Koala
f
6.49¶
f

Linares
6.75
6.85
6.65

Burks
6.43
6.47
6.60¶

Hondema
6.60¶
6.57
6.55

Malone
6.17
6.33¶
6.23

de Sousa
f
6.57
6.67¶

Owis
6.19
6.36
6.37¶

Askag
6.49¶
6.29
6.27

round 4

Koala
6.03

Askag
6.37

Bryant
6.68¶

Burks
6.34

Hondema
6.36

de Sousa
6.63

Kpatcha
6.78

Linares
f

Mihambo
6.99¶

Davis-Woodhall
7.13*¶

round 5

Bryant
6.62

Burks
6.38

Hondema
6.57

de Sousa
f

Kpatcha
6.50

Linares
6.92¶

Mihambo
f

Davis-Woodhall
f

final round

de Sousa
5.19

Bryant
6.68

Kpatcha
6.43

Linares
6.62

Mihambo
f

Davis-Woodhall
6.93

QUALIFYING (September 13; auto-qualifier 22-1¾/6.75)

Qualifiers: Davis-Woodhall 22-7 (6.88), Kpatcha 22-5¾ (6.85), De Sousa 22-4¼w (6.81), Koala 22-2¼ (6.76), Bryant 22-¾ (6.72), Linares & Hondema 21-10¼ (6.66), Burks 21-9 (6.63), Mihambo 21-9 (6.63), Malone 21-8¾ (6.62), Åskag 21-8¼ (6.61), Owis 21-8 (6.60);

Non-Qualifiers: Alysbeth Felix (PR) & Paola Fernandez (PR) 21-7¼ (6.58), Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 21-6¼ (6.56), Jazmin Sawyers (GB) 21-5½ (6.54), Khaddi Sagnia (Swe) & Anna Matuszewicz (Pol) 21-3¼ (6.48), Ese Brume (Ngr) 21-2½ (6.46), Sumire Hata (Jpn) 21-2 (6.45), Milica Gardašević (Ser) 21-½ (6.41), Nikola Horowska (Pol) 20-11¾ (6.39), Shiqi Xiong (Chn) 20-11¼ (6.38), Alina Rotaru-Kottmann (Rom) 20-10¾ (6.37), Annik Kälin (Swi) 20-10½ (6.36), Ackelia Smith (Jam) 20-9¾ (6.34), Delta Amidzovski (Aus) 20-7¼ (6.28), Irati Mitxelena (Spa) 20-7 (6.27), Plamena Mitkova (Bul) 20-6½ (6.26), Filippa Fotopoulou (Cyp) 20-6¼ (6.25), Samantha Dale (Aus) 20-3½ (6.18), Tyra Gittens-Spotsville (Tri) & Prestina Ochonogor (Ngr) 19-10¼ (6.05), Danni Nolte (SA) 19-0 (5.79).

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