IAAF World Championship, day 6: Bondarenko attempts the World record

Men's high jump was the highlight of the day 6. Seven athletes were over 2.32 m, including two Russians Aleksandr Shustov and Ivan Ukhov. Shustov couldn't clear 2.35 m. Ukhov cleared the bar at this height on the first attempt and shared the first place with the World leader Bohdan Bondarenko (Ukraine), Derek Drouin (Canada) and Mutaz Barshim (Qatar). The Olympic champion Ukhov couldn't clear 2.38 m and there were three jumpers left: Barshim flew over the bar in the first attempt, Drouin did it at the second try and set the national record while Bondarenko skipped this height. At 2.41 m the first attempt was unsuccessful for everyone. Bondarenko was successful in his second attempt. Drouin had three fouls and gained the bronze while Barshim passed two attempts to 2.44 m, but couldn't clear this height, he is the silver medallist. Bondarenko then tried to set the World record - 2.46 m, but the bar fell three times. 

Bohdan Bondarenko:

"I skipped 2.38 just because my foot was hurting, I couldn't do much jumping. Of course that was a bit of an adventure, I had to stake my all. This injury has been bothering me for a long time, in the beginning of the season it was much better, but before Moscow it flared up. I still hope to jump the World record once, but I don't have specific time or meeting in mind. I don't even know if I will keep competing this season. I was fighting with the bar today, not with my rivals. I knew that I had to jump high and I did it."

The Colombian Caterine Ibarguen stayes ubeaten this season. The Olympic silver medallist and Daegu bronze medallist became the World champion. She took the lead after the second round equalling Olga Saladuha's World lead of 14.85 m (+0.2). The Universiade champion Yekaterina Koneva (Russia) responded with 14.81 m (+0.9). Saladukha couldn't defeat her title from Daegu 2011, she placed third with a14.65 m (+0.9) jump.

Caterine Ibaeguen:

"I'm extremely happy right now. This gold means a lot to me and to my country. Actually, I haven't recognized that I won until the very end, it was kind of a surprise for me. I love you all! I want to thank my mom, my beloved granny, all my friends and all my fans who was cheering up for me. I worked hardly for this championship and to become the first gold medal winner from Colombia feels so good! I'm proud to make that contribution into the history of my country. Now I'm going to the hotel to have some rest, but I'm so exited and happy"

The World leader in the 1500 m Abeba Aregawi (Sweden) gained an expected victory in 4:02.67. Daegu 2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson (USA) placed second (4:02.99). The Kenyan Hellen Obiri was third in 4:03.86.\

Abeba Aregawi:

"I feel good. I am so happy with the gold. After my failure at the Olympics last year, I worked specifically on the final 400m and on improving my finish. Today the race suited me perfectly".

In the men's 400 m hurdles Jehue Gordon (Trinidad and Tobago) dipped on the line and won in 47.69, just 0.01 ahead of the London 2012 silver medallist Michael Tinsley, who clocked a PB of 47.70. Serbia's Emir Bekric surprisingly took the bronze and set a national recird of 48.05.

Jehue Gordon:

"To win the gold here was one of my goals and I'm just so happy I have achieved it, I don't know what to say. My next goals are to become the PanAm champion, the Olympic champion. Those victories won't come easy, I know, but I'll just keep working and believing in myself. After I crossed the line my heart stopped for a minute, I just wanted to look up the screen and to see my name there. I give 150% credit to my coach, he kept telling me that my body is capable of incredible things. This victory will change my life, but won't change me as a person. After i finish my season in Brussels, I'll continue my sports management studies."

In the women's 400 m hurdles race the Olympic 2012 bronze medallist Zuzana Hejnova (Czech Republic) improved her World lead to 52.83, which is close to Yuliya Pechonkina's World record. The American Dalilah Muhammad placed second - 54.09. Her training partner and defeding World champion Lashina Demus (USA) was third in 54.27.

Zuzana Hejnova:

"It is a fantastic season for me. I'm still unbeate. I didn't expect to win gold, I just wanted to get a medal. And I broke my personal best and also the national record. To run under 53 seconds, it is fantastic. The reason of my improvement is that I changed my coach and now I train with boys, they are faster so they are my motivation."

Twice Olympic steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya) became twice World champion. He won the final of the 3000 m steeple in 8:06.01. Second place was taken by the World Junior champion Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya). Third place went to multiple Olympic champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad - 8:07.86.

Ezekiel Kemboi:

"It is good to be the king. Oh, at the Olympics, it was just too cold. Today, it was good for me to have the same hairstyle. I am wearing a t-shirt under my national gear with a dedication to the President of Kenya because this year we have elections in Kenya and I am supporting him. I do not know what my next aims could be, I have to get a rest and after the break I will see."