Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet of Kenya captured her first world title Saturday with victory in the women's 10,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships, reported Xinhua.
The 25-year-old, who swept the 5,000m and 10,000m at last year's Paris Olympics, pulled away on the final bend from a lead pack that included defending champion Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia, Olympic silver medalist Nadia Battocletti of Italy and fellow Kenyan Agnes Ngetich.
Chebet crossed the line in 30 minutes and 37.61 seconds, well outside her world record of 28:54.14. Battocletti took silver in a national record of 30:38.23, while Tsegay earned bronze in 30:39.65.
"It was a tough, very tactical race, but I pushed hard over the last 800 meters," Chebet said. "I wanted that gold medal so much. I had never won a world title, so I told myself I had to get it. This means a lot to me."
In the field, Ryan Crouser of the United States claimed his third straight world title in the shot put with a throw of 22.34 meters. The world record holder and three-time Olympic champion edged Mexico's Uziel Munoz by 37 centimeters. Munoz took silver with 21.97, and Italy's Leonardo Fabbri earned bronze at 21.94.
The United States finished the opening day with two golds after also winning the mixed 4x400-meter relay.
In the morning session, Spain's Maria Perez defended her 35-kilometer race walk crown, while Canada's Evan Dunfee surged late to claim his first world title in the men's event.
The 34-year-old Dunfee stayed in the chase pack early before reeling in Japan's Masatora Kawano and Hayato Katsuki after 30 kilometers, spoiling the host nation's hopes of a golden start. He slowed slightly on the final lap but held on to win in 2:28:22. Perez led the women's race from the start to win in 2:39:01.
Italy's Antonella Palmisano, the Tokyo Olympic champion at 20km, finished second in 2:42:24, more than three minutes behind. Paula Milena Torres of Ecuador claimed bronze in a national record 2:42:44, edging China's Peng Li in the final kilometers.
South Africa's Gift Leotlela produced the shock of the evening in the men's 100 meters, running a personal best 9.87 to lead the first round. The 23-year-old, ranked 28th in the world, won Heat 1 to top a field of 56 sprinters.
Olympic and world champion Noah Lyles of the United States advanced comfortably, winning Heat 3 in 9.95 to qualify fourth overall. Nigeria's Kayinsola Ajayi ran 9.88 for second, and Jamaica's Oblique Seville clocked 9.93 for third.
Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs, the Olympic champion in the same stadium four years ago, grabbed the final semifinal spot in 24th place.
In the women's 100 meters, Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia eased into the semifinals with the fastest time of 10.93. Britain's Daryll Neita followed in 10.94, while American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was third in 10.99.
Ten-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, competing in her ninth and final world championships, also advanced, finishing second in her heat in 11.09.