Warholm saves Norway’s honor, Ingebrigtsen denied in 1500m again

BUDAPEST: Norway’s Karsten Warholm produced a fighting performance to regain his 400m hurdles title but teammate Jakob Ingebrigtsen once again fell short in the 1500m on a pulsating night at the world championships on Wednesday.

Warholm declared “that is what we do best, us Vikings” after holding off the field to win his third world title.

The two women’s finals were polar opposites of each other.

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic finally secured her first global title in the 400m after settling for silver at the Tokyo Olympics and last year’s world championships, timing a national record of 48.76sec.

The pole vault, though, was a back and forth duel between Olympic champion Katie Moon of the US and Australian Nina Kennedy.

In the end they shared a hug and the gold medal on a mark of 4.90m instead of holding a jump-off, echoing the men’s high jump at the Tokyo Olympics when Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy agreed to share the honors.

In the 400m hurdles, Warholm pulled away down the finishing straight after being pressured by perennial rival Rai Benjamin on the final bend, to time 46.89sec.

Having won in London in 2017 and in Doha in 2019 he could only finish seventh in Eugene last year after returning from injury prematurely.

“I feel like the gold medal is back where it belongs,” said Warholm.

“It feels a bit sweeter this year. I’m still hungry for more and more.”

For Ingebrigtsen it was a case of Groundhog Day as he once again started favorite only to see a British runner pip him to the line.

This time though instead of Jake Wightman — injured this year — it was Josh Kerr who took gold.

Kerr stuck to the Norwegian and pounced coming round the bend. Ingebrigtsen battled