Zoe Hobbs (file photo) Photo: photosport
New Zealand sprinter Zoe Hobbs has narrowly missed a medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, placing sixth in the 60 metre sprint final in Nanjing.
In a blanket finish, Hobbs placed just 0.06 seconds off a place on the podium and 0.09sec off gold, having clocked a time of 7.13sec.
Swiss sprinter Mujinga Kambundji won in 7.04sec, pipping Italy's pre-race favourite Zaynab Dosso and Luxembourg's Patrizia van der Weken.
It was the second straight year Hobbs had contested the final, placing fourth in Glasgow 12 months ago. On that occasion she clocked an Oceania record time of 7.06sec.
The 27-year-old was the fourth-fasted overall in the heats in Nanjing, winning her opening race in 7.18sec.
There were more tension in the semi-finals, when Hobbs' time of 7.12sec left her third in her race to qualify seventh fastest for the final.
Unstoppable Duplantis
Elsewhere, Sweden's Armand Duplantis won a third consecutive pole vault title, with a leap of 6.15m, and American Grant Holloway cruised to the 60m hurdles crown.
Duplantis was the overwhelming favourite after soaring to 6.27m and breaking the world mark for an 11th time in Clermont-Ferrand last month, and at Nanjing's Cube the 25-year-old completed a century of jumps higher than six metres.
"It's good to compete hard like that," Duplantis said.
"Over 100 jumps over six metres, it's great, it's a magical barrier that I want to clear in my career, and to be able to do it so many times, it's hard to comprehend, really.
"I think we put on a good show for everybody."
Olympic 110m hurdles champion Holloway exploded out of the blocks to capture an unprecedented third straight world indoor gold in 7.42sec, extending a decade-long unbeaten streak over the discipline.
He finished in front of Frenchman Wilhem Belocian, who crossed the line in 7.54sec, while home fans had plenty to cheer with Liu Junxi taking bronze in 7.55sec.
- RNZ/Reuters
