Emil Agyekum Sets New German Record at Inaugural Ultimate Championship

German hurdler Emil Agyekum set a new national record in the 400 meter hurdles at the premiere of the Ultimate Championship in Budapest. The 27 year old finished fourth with a time of 47.10 seconds, which is 35 hundredths of a second faster than his previous best from July. Agyekum now ranks as the second fastest European in history and shares ninth place on the all time list with Samuel Matete. The race was won by Brazil's Alison dos Santos in 45.98 seconds, followed by Rai Benjamin of the USA and Karsten Warholm of Norway.

In the javelin throw, European champion Julian Weber finished third with a throw of 85.89 meters, earning a 40,000 dollar prize. Rumesh Pathirage of Sri Lanka won the event with a distance of 91.09 meters and a prize of 150,000 dollars. Other notable performances included Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, who cleared 2.37 meters, and American sprinter Kenneth Bednarek, who won both the 100 meter and 200 meter events. Melissa Jefferson Wooden of the USA also secured a double victory in the women's 100 meter and 200 meter sprints, clocking 21.47 seconds in the latter, the third fastest time ever recorded.

Additional results included a victory for German hammer thrower Merlin Hummel, who earned 150,000 dollars. The world athletics governing body is distributing a total of 10 million dollars in prize money for the event, which is scheduled to return in two years.