Marcell Jacobs: A Bitter End to the Season on the Day of His Return

A bittersweet return to the track for Marcell Jacobs, who—one month after suffering an injury in the 100-meter final at the European Championships, when he was on his way to winning his third consecutive continental title—took part in the Ultimate Championship, the newly launched competition organized by World Athletics exclusively for the Paris 2024 Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League titleholders, and the top-ranked athletes globally.

The sprinter from Lombardy, not at his best, finished in seventh place with a time of 10.20 seconds, thus failing to qualify for the grand final in what was nonetheless a high-level heat. Jacobs thus wrapped up a season that started well but ended on a truly disappointing note.

The second heat was won by American Kenneth Bednarek with an impressive 9.94 seconds, ahead of his compatriot Ronnie Baker (10.00 seconds), Nigerian Kayinsola Ajayi (also 10.00 seconds), and South African Akani Simbine (10.05 seconds). From the other semifinal, meanwhile, the following advanced: the Jamaican Oblique Seville (9.90 seconds for the world champion), the Botswanan Letsile Tebogo (9.95 seconds for the Olympic 200-meter champion), the American Christian Coleman (9.96) and South African Gift Leotlela (10.03).