Posted: August 9, 2005

Athletics: World Champions Smith, Bergqvist And Inzikuru Rise To The Top Of The Event Rankings

Monte Carlo - The 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki brought a number of changes at the top of various Event Rankings. This week only events which have already concluded in the Finnish capital will be updated, as a number of disciplines have not yet reached the final stages.

Jamaica's Trecia Smith won the Triple Jump gold medal with a world leading jump of 15.11m (1509 points) and overtook Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva for first place in the Event Rankings.

Lebedeva's compatriot, Anna Pyatykh took silver in Helsinki with a best of 14.78m (1411 points) and moved up to third just behind the former champion.

In the women's High Jump Event Rankings, Sweden's Kajsa Bergqvist continued her strong form this season and took the World title with 2.02m (1515 points). Only 13 months ago Bergqvist tore her Achilles tendon and was forced to miss the entire season, but returned not only to the top of the podium in Finland, but also rose to the top of the Women's High Jump Event Rankings all the way from 5th place.

Surprise silver medallist Chaunte Howard of the United States took a giant step in the Rankings by rising from 17th to 6th. 21-year-old Howard cleared 2.00m (1454 points) to overtake compatriot Amy Acuff for the best US position in the Rankings. The bronze medal went to Bergqvist's compatriot Emma Green, who set a personal best of 1.96m (1380 points) and moved up ten places to 11th in the Rankings, which means she has a good chance of being invited for the 3rd World Athletics Final in Monaco in September.

Olympic champion Justin Gatlin of the United States posted the 6th best performance ever when he added the World 100m title to his collection of medals on the second day of the championships. Gatlin's time of 9.88 seconds together with the win is worth 1557 points, which means he is now within nine points of Event leader Asafa Powell of Jamaica.

Kim Collins and Michael Frater had equal times in the final of the men's 100m, and now they are also tied in the Event Rankings. Both Collins and Frater are ranked 6th in the Event Rankings, just behind Leonard Scott of the United States who competed in his first World Championships in Helsinki and finished 6th with 10.13 (1345 points).

Please click here for the latest IAAF World Rankings: IAAF.org.