{
  "id": 7074692,
  "title": "Athletics: Kitaguchi wins Ultimate Championship with new Japanese record",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/athletics-kitaguchi-wins-ultimate-championship-with-new-japanese",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-13T06:55:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260913/p2g/00m/0sp/020000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Paris Olympian Haruka Kitaguchi claimed victory at the inaugural Ultimate Championship in Budapest on Saturday, setting a new Japanese record in the women's javelin event. The competition, which boasts a record-breaking $10 million prize fund, attracted top athletes from around the globe. Kitaguchi achieved a throw of 68.92 meters, surpassing her own 2023 record by 1.54 meters and tying her with China's 18-year-old rising star Yan Ziyi for 10th place on the women's all-time list. Kitaguchi began the competition with a throw of 61.15 meters, trailing behind others in the first round but ultimately securing her win with a second attempt, outpacing Yan Ziyi and claiming the top prize of $150,000. In other events, Kenny Bednarek of the United States won the men's 100 meters with a time of 9.85 seconds, while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States claimed the women's title in 10.62 seconds.",
  "summary": "BUDAPEST (Kyodo) -- Paris Olympic gold medalist Haruka Kitaguchi broke her own Japanese national record to win the women's javelin at the inaugural Ul",
  "key_points": [
    "Haruka Kitaguchi wins Ultimate Championship with 68.92m javelin throw",
    "Sets new Japanese record by 1.54m, ties with 18-year-old Yan Ziyi",
    "Wins $150,000 prize, began with 61.15m throw"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Haruka Kitaguchi's record-breaking throw not only earned her the top prize but also vaulted her to a prestigious ranking, highlighting her growing stature in the women's javelin event.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Jefferson-Wooden, Bednarek complete Ultimate Championship sprint doubles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/jefferson-wooden-bednarek-complete-ultimate-championship-sprint",
        "published": "2026-09-13T18:42:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Jefferson-Wooden, Bednarek complete Ultimate Championship sprint doubles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/jefferson-wooden-bednarek-complete-ultimate-championship-sprint-7188925",
        "published": "2026-09-13T22:02:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}