BEIJING, China (AFP) – Olympic champion Christian Taylor produced the second longest triple jump in history yesterday as he won the world title with a huge leap of 18.21m.

The Dutch-based American left it late before nailing the big jump on his sixth and final attempt to add to the world championship gold he won in 2011.

Only Jonathan Edwards has jumped further, 18.29 in 1995, and Taylor said his sights were firmly fixed on the Briton’s world record.

“It was a great fight and I saved it until my last jump,” said Taylor. “We are that close to a record, this makes you even hungrier!

“I am looking forward to Rio (Olympics) with the other competitors.”

Cuban rival Pedro Pablo Pichardo claimed silver with a best of 17.73m, and 2008 Olympic champion Nelson Evora took bronze when he went out to 17.52m with his last jump.

“I feel so upset and so disappointed,” said Pichardo, who had the previous world leading distance of 18.09m. “I didn’t feel 100 percent okay and I could not get into my speed.

“I really expected further jumps and even attacks (on) the record today. I thought I was going to get it together but I just wasn’t fast enough.

“I cannot be happy with the silver.”

Only three other jumpers — world record-holder Edwards, American Kenny Harrison and injured Frenchman Teddy Tamgho have gone beyond 18 metres.

Wlodarczyk regains women’s hammer throw title

BEIJING, China (AFP) – Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk reclaimed her world women’s hammer throw title with a dominant performance at the world athletics championships in Beijing on yesterday.

Wlodarczyk, a silver medallist in Moscow in 2013 after winning gold in Daegu in 2011, threw a best of 80.85 metres for her second world title.

China’s Wenxiu Zhang claimed silver with 76.33m and France’s Alexandre Tavernier bronze (74.02).

American Felix purrs to women’s world 400m gold

BEIJING, China (AFP) – American Allyson Felix justified her step-up to the 400 metres with a convincing gold-medal run at the World Championships yesterday.

Felix, the most decorated female athlete in athletics history based around her 200m and relay expertise, clocked a blistering time of 49.26 seconds, the best in the world this year.

Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas claimed silver in a personal best of 49.67sec, with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson taking bronze (49.99).