Unstoppable Adams putts another world title on her résumé

There were notable upsets at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland over the weekend but there was no stopping New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams, who won her 44th consecutive major title.

Adams has been almost invincible in the women’s shot put. She was briefly beaten at the 2012 Olympics but was later awarded the gold with Nadia Ostaphchuk of Belarus failing multiple drugs tests.

This was the 29-year-old’s fourth world indoor title, with her best throw measuring 20.67m. Christina Schwanitz of Germany was second with 19.94m and China’s Lijiao Gong third with 19.24m.

There was no fourth title for the veteran of the track, USA’s Bernard Lagat, who had to settle for silver in the 3000m in 7:55.22. Kenya’s Caleb Ndiku streaked to victory in his dyed red hair in 7:54.94. Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel rounded out the medals claiming bronze in 7:55.39.

In the women’s 1500m and 3,000m, it wasn’t a question of who would win but by how much, with Ethiopians Abeba Aregawi, now running for Sweden, and Genzebe Dibaba dominant. Aregawi won the 1500m in 4:00.61 with Axumawite Embaye (Ethiopia) and Nicole Sifuentes (Canada) trailing behind in 4:07.12 and 4:07.61 respectively.

Dibaba, running for her country of birth, cruised to victory in the 3,000m in 8:55.04 ahead of Kenya’s Helen Obiri in 8:57.72 and Qatar’s Maryam Jamal in 8:59.16.

Sally Pearson (Australia) was expected to hurdle to victory in the women’s 60m but clipping the last barrier to let USA’s Nia Ali deliver a knockout blow and snatch the title in 7.80 seconds to Pearson’s 7.85.

Great Britain’s Richard Kilty, with Irish roots, surprised everyone in the men’s 60m by winning in 6.49 seconds. The USA’s Marvin Bracy, who switched from American Football, won the silver in 6.51 with Femi Ogunde of Qatar bronze in 6.52.

In the men’s high jump, Ivan Ukhov (Russia) was unable to break the world record of 2.43m and had to settle for silver behind Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim losing on count back — both jumped 2.38m.

Ukraine’s Andriy Protsenko took the bronze with a 2.36m effort.