Western Australia’s Kurtis Marschall soared to new heights Tuesday night in Tokyo, delivering Australia its first medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships with a dramatic bronze in the men’s pole vault—a repeat of his podium feat from 2023 and a testament to his enduring class amid the event’s most competitive era yet.
Marschall’s Bronze in an Unprecedented Final
The 28-year-old Perth native, coached by Paul Burgess, cleared a personal-best-matching 5.95 meters, clinching third place on countback. Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis shattered his own world record with a soaring 6.30 meters, notching a 14th global best, while Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis also scaled rarefied air at 6.00 meters to capture silver. Marschall’s calm under immense pressure contributed to a historic contest: a record seven men cleared 5.90 meters, with six making audacious attempts at the mythical six-meter mark—a standard only Duplantis and Karalis would surpass.
Reflecting in the afterglow, Marschall expressed deep pride. “It would’ve been a crazy night had I jumped six meters. But 5.95 and a bronze medal and the first medal for the team at this Championship—I can’t complain with that. I’m super happy with how I performed,” he said, acknowledging the strength of a generation in which fourth place demanded 5.95 meters, the highest ever at a World Championships.
With his second world championship bronze, Marschall cements his status in a lineage of Australian pole vault luminaries, following in the wake of Steve Hooker’s 2009 gold and Dmitri Markov’s gold (2001) and silver (1999).
Sarah Carli Sprints to Semifinals
In the women’s 400m hurdles, 31-year-old Sarah Carli (NSW) edged into the semifinals after a gut-testing heat. Carli placed fifth but advanced as a non-automatic qualifier in 55.24 seconds—outside her Tokyo Olympic and national championship bests, but quick enough for a coveted second-round berth. “I was very stressed. I know what it’s like not to have a ‘Q’ next to your name … but I found out I had a little ‘q,’ so I’m through, which I’m very relieved about,” Carli admitted.
Alanah Yukich (WA) battled through early rounds but came eighth in a stacked heat dominated by Dutch star Femke Bol, falling short of her season’s best and a finals spot.
Long Jump Hopes Dashed
Australia’s Liam Adcock (QLD) and Chris Mitrevski (VIC) exited early in the men’s long jump. Adcock managed 7.94 meters—agonizingly four centimeters shy of final qualification—while Mitrevski posted 7.83 meters. Both men narrowly missed the cut in a deep field and were left lamenting missed opportunities.
“It’s been a good year for me but tonight I wanted more than what I did … I felt like I deserve a spot in the final with the ability I’ve got and what I’ve shown this year, and to not be able to achieve that is very disappointing,” Adcock said following the meet.
Marathon Debuts in Brutal Conditions
First-time World Championships marathoners Tim Vincent (VIC) and Liam Boudin (QLD) braved punishing Tokyo humidity and a peculiar false start, pacing themselves through the pack. The thriller saw Tanzania’s Felix Simbu claim gold in a photo-finish sprint against Germany’s Amanuel Petros, both clocking 2:09:48. Vincent finished 44th (2:20:12) and Boudin 57th (2:24:39), each showing grit in adversity.
Steeplechase Drama
In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Amy Cashin (VIC) and Cara Feain-Ryan (QLD) fought through adversity. Cashin, rattled by seeing teammate Sarah Tait (GBR) fall at the first water jump, finished 11th in her heat. Feain-Ryan, tripped from behind late in her race, lodged an appeal but was denied a spot in the final.
Looking Ahead
The Championships move into day four with evening events broadcast live across Australian networks, as national hopes remain high for further heroics from the green and gold on the world stage.
Source: Sascha Ryner and Andrew Reid, Australian Athletics