Kazimierska beat Hunter Bell by 0.17 seconds, reversing her narrow defeat to the Briton at the European Championships. She closed strongly, covering the final 400 meters in 57.44 seconds. The Polish runner has been one of the season’s standout performers: she won two national titles in July, took silver at the European Championships in August, and broke the Polish 1,500m record twice—in Chorzów and Brussels. On September 5, she set the world’s fastest time of the year at 3:54.05.
“Being the favorite in a race like this was a completely new experience for me. After winning the Diamond League final last week, I put some pressure on myself. The victory in Brussels brought me immense joy, and I hoped to repeat it. The battle with Georgia over the final 100 meters was incredibly exciting. I had raced her several times this year and had a plan. Everything went exactly as I intended,” Kazimierska said. She added that she had gained valuable experience throughout the season and worked on her mental preparation.
The Ultimate Championship is a new competition held in even‑numbered years when the World Championships are not staged. The field includes Olympic and World champions, Diamond League winners, and athletes selected by ranking. The format is simplified, with 16 runners per event and eight competitors in field disciplines. The prize pool totals $10 million, with winners earning $150,000.
Kazimierska said she appreciated the format, noting that “a few big names are missing,” but that she was glad to compete again.
In other events, Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino won the women’s 400m in 49.07 seconds, ahead of Henriette Jaeger (49.28) and Nickisha Pryce (49.56). Natalia Bukowiecka was eliminated in the semifinals.
World champion Busang Kebinatshipi won the men’s 400m in a Botswana record of 43.39 seconds. Rai Benjamin finished second (44.15), and Jareem Richards third (44.23). Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi set a Japanese javelin record of 68.92m, followed by China’s Yan Ziyi (68.15m) and Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado (64.84m). It was the first competition in 14 years in which two athletes surpassed 68 meters.
Kenneth Bednarek won the men’s 100m in 9.85 seconds, ahead of Oblique Seville (9.90) and Ronnie Baker (9.93). Melissa Jefferson‑Wooden claimed the women’s 100m in a world‑leading 10.62 seconds, followed by Julien Alfred (10.74) and Sha’Carri Richardson (10.76).
Audrey Werro won the women’s 800m in 1:55.88, ahead of Keely Hodgkinson (1:56.26) and Femke Broeders‑Bol (1:56.74).
In the pole vault, Sandi Morris won with 4.90m, with Hanna Moll second at the same height and Angelica Moser third at 4.85m. Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou won the long jump with 8.35m, one centimeter ahead of Bozhidar Saraboyukov; Simon Ehammer placed third with 8.07m.
Two Polish athletes will compete on Sunday: Dawid Wegner in the javelin and Mateusz Kołodziejski in the high jump.
(pu)
Source: PAP