With a national record, Haruka Kitaguchi from Japan won the historic first title in the women’s javelin throw in the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
While Chinese Yan Ziyi led the first round with the 68.05m throw, Japanese Haruka Kitaguchi had the title-winning throw in the second round with 68.92m, which set a new national record. Haruka started the Final with a 61.15m throw, while her last two throws were foul throws.
Colombian Flor Ruiz managed third place with her last throw of 64.84m, which beat the fourth-place Mackenzie Little from Australia, who secured the place with her season-best third round throw of 63.37m.
2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Women’s Javelin Throw – Champion
Haruka Kitaguchi (Japan): 68.92m
2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Women’s Javelin Throw – Final Status
Rank | Athlete (Nation) | Round | Distance (meters) | Notes | |||
1 (m) | 2 (m) | 3 (m) | 4 (m) | ||||
1 | Haruka Kitaguchi (Japan) | 61.15 | 68.92 | x | x | 68.92 | NR |
2 | Yan Ziyi (China) | 68.05 | 63.95 | r | 68.05 | ||
3 | Flor Ruiz (Colombia) | 60.16 | 62.62 | x | 64.84 | 64.84 | |
4 | Mackenzie Little (Australia) | 58.59 | 61.49 | 63.37 | 55.87 | 63.37 | SB |
5 | Adriana Vilagoš (Serbia) | 61.37 | x | 60.23 | 61.37 | ||
6 | Tori Moorby (New Zealand) | 56.30 | 58.95 | x | 58.95 | ||
7 | Anete Sietiņa (Latvia) | 58.17 | 56.22 | 58.17 | |||
8 | Sigrid Borge (Norway) | 50.88 | x | 50.88 | |||
*NR = National Record; SB = Season Best for a player
Who is Haruka Kitaguchi?
Japanese athlete Haruka Kitaguchi won the gold medal in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. The two-time Diamond League champion (2023 and 2024) won the 2023 World Athletics Championships title.