Jorinde van Klinken made history on Sunday, becoming the first Dutch woman to win a medal in the discus at the World Championships. She celebrated a season-best throw of 67.50 meters (221 feet, 5 inches) on her first attempt. This follows her impressive performance as the 2023 NCAA discus champion.
After finishing fourth in her last two World Championships, her silver medal marks a significant achievement. She will share the podium with gold medalist Valerie Allman from the U.S. and Cuba’s Silinda Moralas, who took home bronze.
In addition to the discus, van Klinken is also competing in the shot put, alongside her former University of Oregon teammate, Jaida Ross. That event kicks off on Saturday at 6 p.m. PT.
Cole Hocker, the reigning Olympic champion, also made strides in the 1500 meters. He topped his heat with a time of 3:41.88 to secure a spot in the semifinals. Hocker is one of three American men moving forward, along with Jonah Koech and Ethan Strand.
The men’s semifinals will take place on Monday at 5:30 a.m. PT, available to stream on Peacock. On the women’s side, Jessica Hull and Klaudia Kazimierska, both Oregon alumni, qualified for the 1500 final. Hull won silver at the last Olympics in Paris.
In other results, Alaysha Johnson finished second in her heat in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking 12.76 seconds to earn her place in the semifinals. The hurdles final is scheduled for Monday, shortly after the semifinals.
Jillian Weir participated in her fourth World Championships but did not advance in the hammer throw, finishing 26th overall with a best throw of 67.98 meters (223 feet).
Athletes training at high-level collegiate programs often show greater success on the world stage. A recent study indicated that 60% of Olympic athletes have collegiate backgrounds, pointing to the crucial role of universities in nurturing athletic talent.
As the championships continue, fans can look forward to more spectacular performances, maintaining the excitement across social media platforms where hashtags like #WorldChampionships2023 are trending, showcasing personal stories and results from these elite athletes.
For the latest updates on the championships, you can check out the broadcast schedule here.
Day 1 Results Summary:
Men
- 1500 Meters: Cole Hocker (USA) – 3:41.88Q
- 10,000 Meters (final): Aaron Bienenfeld (GER) – 29:51.41
Women
- 1500 Meters: Jessica Hull (AUS) – 4:06.87Q; Klaudia Kazimierska (POL) – 4:07.83Q
- 100m Hurdles: Alaysha Johnson (USA) – 12.76Q
- Discus (final): Jorinde van Klinken (NED) – 67.50m (SB)
- Hammer (qualification): Jillian Weir (CAN) – 67.98m
Upcoming Schedule for Day 3:
- 5:06 a.m. – Women’s 100H Semifinals: Johnson
- 5:30 a.m. – Men’s 1500 Semifinals: Hocker
- 6:20 a.m. – Women’s 100H Final: TBD
Stay tuned for more updates!
