BLITZING BUDAPEST MEDAL HAUL LED BY WA'S KENNEDY AND MARSCHALL

Australia's 64-strong athlete team return home as the country's most prolific World Athletics Championship team with a record six medals to claim eighth place on the medal tally. WA's Nina Kennedy led the way with her golden performance in the Women's pole vault final and capped off the state's strongest-ever result with WA athletes picking up two medals and a world Top-8 performance.

Newly minted World Champion Nina Kennedy (UWA, Paul Burgess and James Fitzpatrick) has electrified the World Athletics community with an endearing gold medal performance on the world's largest stage. Her win alongside USA's Katie Moon has captivated the globe as the duo's sportsmanship has enamoured her to fans new and old. The 26-year-old twice broke her national record (4.82m) when clearing 4.85m on the first attempt, and once again on her final attempt at 4.90m. Moon matched Kennedy jump for jump, with both women attempting but unable to clear 4.95m after three attempts. Ultimately deciding to share the World Championship title, Kennedy left Budapest with the gold medal, a new Australian record and has jumped to ninth on the world all-time list.

“It is unbelievable. It’s a huge honour to share this gold with Katie. It shows that dreams really do come true,”

“I have been planning the competition in my head for so many months now, it’s such a battle. Katie is the Olympic champion, she’s the world champion and she’s honestly one of the greatest in the sport, so to share it with her is an honour and a privilege and will mean that we’ll be connected forever."

“Last year I didn’t really believe that I belonged on the podium but tonight I was going for gold and really, deep down, I believed in myself and came up with the goods" 

Kennedy's triumph makes her Australia's 11th World Champion in Track and Field and is Australia's first pole vault champion since Steve Hooker's win in 2009.

Continuing the medal-winning formula of WA's pole vaulting pedigree, Kurtis Marschall (UWA, Paul Burgess and James Fitzpatrick) produced a sensational collection of jumps to share equal bronze with USA's Christopher Nilsen. 

Marschall demonstrated nerves of steel to secure the podium in a tightly fought final and clear a career-best 5.95m. Undeterred and focused on bringing home his first World Championship medal, Marschall was able to shake off an early miss at 5.90m and stay in the mix for a podium. Backing himself, the WA-based athlete passed his remaining attempts at 5.90m and instead shifted his attention to 5.95m. Needing a first-round clearance to ensure a podium spot, Marschall delivered the clutch jump of his life and soared over 5.95m. 

“Chris and I wanted to do exactly what Nina (Kennedy) and Katie (Moon) did the other night. We were both so stoked to clear 5.95 on our first jump. Usually that gets you more than just equal bronze, but I couldn’t be more stoked,” Marschall said.

“It has been a while since we’ve won a Men’s Pole Vault medal in Australia. Nina is obviously doing amazing at the moment and I’m trying to copy what she’s doing. She got a bronze last year, I got a bronze this year. She got a gold this year… you never know what is going to happen next year!”

Ranked fifth going into the World Athletics Championships, Kurtis Marschall became Australia's fifth World Championship medalist in pole vault and the first Australian male athlete to step up onto the podium since long jumper Fabrice Lapierre claimed silver in 2015. 

Declan Tingay (WA, Brent Vallance) launched the Australian campaign in Budapest with a huge effort in the Men's 20km Race Walk. Crossing the line to secure eighth, Tingay achieved the fastest time by any Australian at a World Athletics Championships in a time of 1:18.30. Tingay's performance broke his own State Record with a massive 16-second personal best to solidify his position as Australia's second fastest race walk over the distance, behind only 2007 World Champion Nathan Deakes. 

“I knew it was going to be quick, but I didn’t think it would be that quick. We hit halfway in 38:50 and that’s one of my fastest 10km road times ever. I knew everybody else was hurting around that time so I just leant into that pain and sucked it up. I saw everybody else in front of me start to suffer and that spurs you forward and there is your top-8 finish.” Tingay said

Australian team stalwart Matthew Ramsden (WA, Nic Bideau) had a rough start to his campaign in the Men's 1500m. In his opening round, Ramsden was tripped with 500m to go and forced the WA runner to play catch up. However, after review, he was advanced to the semi-final by the decision of the referee and produced a valiant effort to cross 13th in 3:36.83. 

While fan favourite Peter Bol (WA, Justin Rinaldi) returned to the World Championship stage in the Men's 800m heats but was unable to progress and crossed the line in 1:46.75 to place sixth. 

Collecting one gold, two silver and three bronze medals, Australia’s competing team of 64 delivered memorable performances that saw them place eighth on the overall placing table after nine days of competition. The team also achieved seven Top-8 performances, and 14 Top-16 placings as well as a further three national records, three personal bests and four season’s bests.

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By David Smith, Athletics West

Extra Reporting Athletics Australia

Posted 28 August 2023