Hamish Kerr has got the World Championships qualification monkey off his back, jumping 2.25m to advance to tomorrow night’s 13-strong high jump final in Tokyo.
The New Zealand Olympic champion had fallen short in the last two World Championships qualifying rounds, failing to make the final in 2022 (Eugene) and2023 (Budapest).
It was a marathon of a qualifying round for the jumpers, with Kerr out on the track for over two-and-a-half hours, as overlaps with the track programme caused delays.
In the end, 13 athletes advanced to the final, including world leader Oleh Doroshchuk and 2025 World Indoor champion Sanghyeok Woo. Completing the Oceania contingent is Australian Yual Reath, making his first World Championships final.
On the track, Kiwi sprinter Zoe Hobbs came within 0.06s of making the final in the 100m, running 11.09s in the semifinals to finish 12th overall.
The performance caps off a huge year for Hobbs that included a new New Zealand record and a milestone Diamond League podium.
Compatriot Sam Tanner finished 10th with a time of 3m 43.73s in his heat of the 1500m, failing to advance to the final. Lauren Bruce threw a 69.19m second-round best in the women’s hammer qualifying, but also did not advance to the final.
Olivia McTaggart, Eliza McCartney and Imogen Ayris compete in the women’s pole vault qualifying from 12.05pm today.
George Beamish returns to the track tomorrow in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final (12.55am) after his viral fall in the heats captured international attention.
