Jasmine Trapnell – World Athetics/AIPS MDP Reporter

GLASGOW, March 3, 2024 – Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas stormed through the 60m hurdles to break her own world record – setting the new record at 7.65 seconds. This is the Bahamians first senior international gold medal, expressing “this means a whole lot because I have set myself goals. “I have not changed my technique much, just a few tweaks, but I have been working hard off the track, making sure my mental health is good and working with a sports psychologist.”

Charlton was extremely quick out of the blocks as the crowd erupted in awe as they witnessed the only world record of the night. After glancing at the clock, Charlton pounded her chest in pride and celebration, her family watching on with tears of joy.

THE AMERICAN DREAM Team USA doubled their medal total in just one day, adding two gold, six silver and two bronze medals to their total. The Americans were particularly dominant in both the men’s and women’s 4×400 relay – narrowly missing out on golds just before the finish line. Noah Lyles made an unexpected appearance in the relay running the third leg, later he explained “I already told people I wanted to run the 4×400 in Paris, so I had to prove that.”

America also secured two medals in the women’s 1500m from Emily Mackay, silver, and Nikki Hiltz, bronze, with both women putting up a fight but not quite being able to keep up with Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu who took gold.

DUPLANTIS FROM DESPAIR TO ECSTASY Armondo Duplantis, the world record holder, kept the fans of their toes in the pole vault – failing twice at 5.85m, a height he has cleared easily countless times. For each attempt the crowd watched anxiously as Duplantis failed at several heights that even he expected to clear with ease, shaking his head showing his disappointment. He expressed “This was the hardest I have ever worked.
“I had my back against the wall quite a few times today, and I am glad I was able to pull it out on the third attempts.
“I gave my mum too many scares tonight, more than she would have liked.
“I think she got quite nervous watching me there.
“I knew I had it under control.
“I will have to say sorry about that.
“I am glad I could pull out the win for her, she is my inspiration.”
Despite worrying himself and fans, Duplantis retained his world title yet again. Also
attempting to give the audience what they desired – a world record jump at 6.24m –
however he failed 3 attempts at this height.

DAVIS-WOODHALL DEDICATES MEDAL TO GRANDMOTHER Tara Davis-Woodhall, leaped to gold in the women’s long jump with 7.07m – upgrading her silver medal from the World Championships in Budapest 2023. Davis-Woodhall remains the only woman to have jumped over 7m this year, a distance she has now exceed three times already in 2024. This is her first senior international gold, which she described still had not sunk in “every time someone says I am a world champion it really hits me; I really did this.
“I am so happy, so grateful, Glasgow has been so welcoming, and I am excited to go home and celebrate this medal before I start training again.
“This medal is for my all-time hero, my grandmother.”
Davis-Woodhall also detailed how a lively atmosphere, especially with music, helps to keep her focused as someone with ADHD “I mean, I’m out there for two, two and a half hours.
“So, if I sit down and I’m just like zoned out, my legs are gonna get tired, I’m gonna go to sleep and my ADHD is just going to go.”

ONE ATHLETE ONE GOLD Thea Lafond, the only athlete here representing Dominica took gold in the women’s triple jump with a jump of 15.01m. Lafond overwhelmed with honour said “This feels absolutely surreal.
“We are just a little island with a population of 70,000 people, so this one is for my people, all of my people.”
Lafond hopes that her performance inspires other young Dominican athletes and “lights a little flame in their heart that can drive them to something amazing.”

Other outstanding performances of the day came in the men’s high jump and the men’s decathlon. Hamish Kerr of New Zealand won the men’s high jump with a world lead of 2.36m which is also a national record. The event was the last to finish in the morning session, but the crowd awaited on the edge of their seats to see Kerr take the gold.