JEFFERSON-WOODEN AND BEDNAREK COMPLETE DOUBLES AS JAMAICA CLOSES WITH TOP-SIX FINISHES
By Khimani Clarke | Budapest
September 13, 2026, 2:34pm
Day 3 of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship closed with doubles on the track and another bittersweet night for Jamaica in Budapest.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was once again a class apart. Twenty-four hours after storming to the women's 100m title in a world-leading 10.62s, the American returned to take the 200m in a world-leading 21.47s. It was a dominant double, won from the bend. Gabrielle Thomas took silver for the USA in 21.77s, with teammate Kayla White third in 21.93s. Britain's Amy Hunt was fourth in a season's best 22.10s, while Jamaica's Ashanti Moore closed well for fifth in 22.34s, with a quick 0.132 reaction time.
Kenneth Bednarek did the same on the men's side. The American, who took the 100m on Day 2 in 9.85s, pulled away off the turn to win the 200m title in a world-leading 19.52s. Botswana's Letsile Tebogo took silver in a season's best 19.76s, while American Courtney Lindsey claimed bronze in a season's best 19.79s. Jamaica's Bryan Levell finished sixth.
In the women's 400m hurdles, American Jasmine Jones won gold in a season's best 52.45s, holding off Slovakia's Emma Zapletalová, who took silver in 52.68s. Anna Cockrell of the USA was third in 53.09s. Jamaica's Sanique Walker was fifth in a personal best 53.61s. The men's 400m hurdles belonged to Brazil's Alison dos Santos, who powered to gold in 45.98s. Rai Benjamin of the USA took silver in a season's best 46.40s, with Norway's Karsten Warholm third in 46.78s.
Algeria's Djamel Sedjati won a stacked men's 800m final in 1:41.91, just edging Canada's Marco Arop, who took silver, and Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who claimed bronze, in what was one of the races of the championship. Great Britain's Josh Kerr played it perfectly in the men's 1500m, winning in 3:29.35, ahead of Australia's Cameron Myers in 3:29.68. American Hobbs Kessler took bronze in 3:30.73. Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw won the women's 5000m in 14:30.36, with Australia's Jessica Hull second in a personal best 14:32.39 and Ethiopia's Fantaye Belayneh third in 14:32.62.
In the men's high jump, Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi found his best when it mattered, clearing a world-leading 2.37m to take gold. American JuVaughn Harrison was second with 2.30m, while Mexico's Erick Portillo took bronze with 2.26m. Jamaica's Romaine Beckford also cleared 2.26m but finished fifth after failing at 2.30m.
Senegal's Saly Sarr won the women's triple jump with 15.06m (+0.3). Cuba took two medals, with Davisleydi Velazco second with 15.04m (+0.5) and Leyanis Pérez Hernández third with 14.90m (+0.7). Dominica's Thea LaFond was fourth with 14.47m, while Jamaica's Ackelia Smith was fifth with 14.23m (+0.3).
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage dominated the men's javelin, throwing 91.09m for gold. Grenada's Anderson Peters took silver with 86.18m, while Germany's Julian Weber claimed bronze with 85.89m. Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott was fourth with 82.41m.
The mixed 4x400m relay saw the United States win in 3:08.32 through Chris Bailey, Alexis Holmes, Jacory Patterson and Aaliyah Butler. Great Britain and Northern Ireland took silver in a season's best 3:09.40, with the Netherlands third in a season's best 3:09.57. Jamaica faded down the home straight but held on for sixth in 3:11.46 with Zandrion Barnes, Shana Kaye Anderson, Assinie Wilson and Stacey Ann Williams.
Mondo Duplantis closed the night with his single, "Gold", bringing the inaugural Ultimate Championship to an end in Budapest.
