The world leader in 2021 and the favorite to win the gold, Trayvon Bromell, didn’t make it out of the semifinals.
Perhaps the only person at the track who really knew the new champ was the man who hugged him after he crossed the finish line.
Tamberi and Barshim ended their evening-long jump-fest in a dead heat — a rare result that appeared headed for a jump-off to decide gold and sliver.
Later, in the men’s 800 semifinals, American Isaiah Jewett got tangled up with Botswana’s Nijel Amos and the two went tumbling to the ground.
Even though the run came in front of a nearly empty stadium, you could practically hear the collective “Who?” echoing across the seats.
A good hour after the victory, some of those reporters and coaches were on the track taking pictures with their country’s new high-jump and sprint heroes.
Quite an evening for Jacobs, who was born in El Paso – the son of an American father and an Italian mother.