Hamish Kerr has got the World Champs qualification monkey off his back, jumping 2.25m to advance to tomorrow night’s 13-strong high jump final in Tokyo.

The Olympic champion had fallen short in the last two world championships qualifying rounds, failing to make the final in 2022 (Eugene) and 2023 (Budapest).

It was a marathon of a qualifying round for the jumpers, with Kerr out on the track for over two and a half hours, as overlaps with the track programme caused delays.

In the end 13 athletes advanced to the final including world leader Oleh Doroshchuk, and 2025 World Indoor Champion Sanghyeok Woo. Completing the Oceania contingent is Australian Yual Reath, making his first world championships final.

On the track, Zoe Hobbs came within 0.06s of making the final in the 100m, running 11.09 seconds in the semifinal to finish 12th overall.

The performance caps off a huge year for Hobbs which included a new New Zealand record, and a milestone Diamond League podium.

Sam Tanner finished 10th with a time of three minutes 43.73 seconds in his heat of the 1500m, failing to advance to the final. Lauren Bruce threw a 69.19m second round best in the women’s hammer qualifying, but also did not advance to the final.

George Beamish returns to the track tomorrow in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final (12.55am) after his viral fall in the heats has captured international attention.

Joining Beamish in the stadium are Olivia McTaggart, Eliza McCartney and Imogen Ayris, competing in the Pole Vault qualifying. They line up at 12.05am.