Photos and words by Chloe Montague, University of Oregon SOJC Track Bureau
I’ve been carrying my camera with me the last 10 days at the World Athletics Championships, just in case the photo-taking moment arises. These are some of my favorite shots.
Right after taking second in the 100-meter final, Marvin Bracy-Williams ran at his teammate Trayvon Bromell, who had just taken third in the race, and tackled him. I was sitting in the front row way off past the finish line, and just as he tackled him, my camera – an older one that sometimes has shutter issues in the heat – stopped taking photos. This was the one I got, but I loved the emotion in it. Even now, many world-champion-moments later, I still don’t think I’ve seen anyone quite as happy as Bracy-Williams was in that moment.
I happened to be sitting with the Jamaican fan section when Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took gold in the 100 meters. Right after, Fraser-Pryce came running over to the fan section, and the beam she gave the crowd was absolutely contagious.
This moment was just incredible. It’s Noah Lyles hugging his brother (and teammate) Josephus Lyles after winning the 200 meters and setting an American record. I’d watched the two of them interact at a press conference a few days earlier; together, they’d told a story about their mom finding out they were both on the team, so watching them embrace after the race seemed to round everything out.
I was again sitting in the finish-line fan section for this shot, this time with the Ethiopians. After winning, Gidey came over; the fans immediately formed a circle around her and draped her in her flag. As she broke away, she smiled up at them, clapping.
I absolutely love watching Dos Santos run, and even here, coming down the home stretch of the 400 hurdles, he’s so elegant and at ease.
Grant Holloway and Trey Cunningham embrace after taking first and second in the 400-meter hurdles. This was a cool moment to witness, and I liked how the American flag was draped over Cunningham’s head.
In my opinion, watching the high jump from the stands doesn’t quite do the event justice. The jumps are so swift and fast, and the bar is far higher than it looks; earlier this day, I’d walked up to it while taking photos on the infield before the meet, and was in awe. I think this photo captures some of that awe. Tamberi – who shared Olympic gold in Tokyo with Mutaz Essa Barshim, and who despite an injury still jumped a season best to take fourth – is in the peak of his suspension. It’s a moment I tend to miss while watching it in real time.
Something I’ve loved so far about the World Championships is that they put the medals on the athletes moments after they win, wherever they are. In this case, Fred Kerley was returning from a celebratory run down the first curve of the track, arms extended upwards, and he’s so tall that the volunteer had to jump to get the medal over his head.
