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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Day six of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo was finally cooler, but still at 80 F with rain coming in as the session started at 7 p.m. But that did not stop a sensational crowd of 57,327 from showing up to see the stars.
And the crowd knew what they wanted to see, roaring for the introduction of American star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s 400 m. They were not disappointed.
● Women/400 m: What would Sydney do? She was in lane five, with Paris Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino (DOM) in nine and 2019 World Champion Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) in seven.
McLaughlin-Levrone was off well, making up the stagger on Britain’s Amber Anning outside her, with Paulino running well in nine and Naser pushing as well. But McLaughlin-Levrone had the lead into the straight, with Paulino challenging and within view. There was no let up from Paulino and McLaughin-Levrone kept working to the line and crossed in a sensational 47.78, the no. 2 performance of all time and another American Record.
Paulino was a strong second in 47.98, the no. 3 performance ever, with Naser third in 48.19. Those three were way ahead, with Natalia Bukowiecka (POL) fourth in 49.27.
Only Marita Koch (GDR 1985: 47.60) and Jarmila Kratochvilona (CZE 1983: 47.99) had ever run under 48 seconds coming in; two did it in one race on Thursday. Spectacular is an understatement. What’s next?
● Men/400 m: The new world leader, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (BOT) was in five – one of three Botswanans in the final – and American champ Jacory Patterson in three, with a light rain coming down.
South Africa’s Zakithi Nene was running strongly down the backstraight, but Kebinatshipi got to the lead around the turn and into the straight. Jereem Richards (TTO) came on in the straight and moved up to challenge, but he ran out of room as Kebinatshipi won in a world-leading 43.53, still no. 10 all-time.
Richards, the 2020 World Indoor champion, got a national record of 43.72 in second and Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori came up for third in 44.20. Patterson tried to challenge on the straight, but faded to seventh in 44.70.
It’s the second Worlds medal for Richards, who won a Worlds 200 m bronze in 2017.
● Men/Javelin: American Curtis Thompson, having a career year, took the lead in round one and arched the spear to 86.67 m (284-4), then was passed by two-time World Champion Anderson Peters (GRN) with his second throw of 87.38 m (286-8). London Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (TTO) solved the swirling winds with a line drive in round two to get the lead at 87.83 m (288-2).
It wasn’t easy and Olympic champ Arshad Nadeem (PAK) didn’t advance to the fourth round, finishing 10th at 82.75 m (271-6). But Walcott solved the conditions in round four and improved with a flat-arcing throw at 88.16 m (289-3).
World leader Julian Weber (GER) just could not find the right way through the conditions and finished a frustrating fifth at 86.11 m (282-6).
The standings didn’t change and Walcott won a world title to go with his Olympic gold in 2012. For Thompson, 29, it was his first Worlds medal, after finishing 11th in 2022, and 30th in qualifying in 2023. He didn’t qualify for the final in Paris. Now, he’s a Worlds medal winner, the first by an American since Breaux Greer’s bronze in Osaka in 2007.
● Women/Triple Jump: World Indoor champ Leyanis Perez (CUB) got out to the lead in round one at 14.85 m (48-8 3/4), trailed by world-record holder Yulimar Rojas (VEN) at 14.76 m (48-5 1/4). Returning from her devastating leg injuries, Rojas’s shoes were decorated with an “I’m Back” message.
In round two, Olympic champ Thea LaFond (DMA) fired up in round two and moved into second at 14.76 m (48-5 1/4). But Perez kept the pressure on, extending her lead to 14.90 m (48-10 3/4) in round three. And then again in round four, despite the rain, reaching 14.94 m (49-0 1/4).
LaFond got out to 14.89 m (48-10 1/4) in round six, almost passing Perez, but stayed in second. Rojas also improved to 14.71 m (48-3 1/4) on her final jump and won the bronze after a brutal injury (and four Worlds wins before).
Perez equaled her 14.94 m best in round six and completed the indoor-outdoor Worlds double. Jasmine Moore of the U.S., the Olympic bronzer in Paris, managed 14.51 m (47-7 1/4) for seventh.
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The qualifying was impacted by the rainy conditions, but U.S. 200 m star Noah Lyles sent a message:
● Men/200 m: Semifinal one saw two-time Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. move smartly on the turn and move into the lead, winning a smooth race in 19.88 (-0.1). Alexander Ogando (DOM) was a clear second in 19.98, with Makanakaishe Charamba (ZIM) moving up for third at 20.03 and South Africa’s 400 m world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk fading to fourth (20.12).
Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo (BOT) was in lane six in semi two, with Jamaica’s Bryan Levell – 19.69 this year – in lane eight, and American Courtney Lindsey in seven. Levell was out best and led into the straight and he and Tebogo were easily in front and were a clear 1-2 in 19.78 (0.0) and 19.95. Lindsey was third in 20.30 and Australian teen star Gout Gout was fourth (20.36) and did not advance.
Defending champ Lyles was in his preferred lane seven in semi three, with British star Zharnel Hughes (GBR) just inside him in six. Lyles was fast off the turn and flew into the straight and didn’t relax until the final 3 m, crossing in a world-leading 19.51 (+1.0)!
Wow! That’s the fastest prelim race ever, faster than Lyles’ 19.62 in his semi at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene. It’s also the no. 15 performance of all time. Yikes.
Hughes was second in 19.95; Tokyo Olympic champ Andre De Grasse (CAN) was sixth in 20.13 and did not advance.
● Men/800 m: The semis were expected to be wild, with the rain returning. Defending champ Marco Arop (CAN) leading at the bell of semi one, but Ireland’s Mark English sprinted past the field and led with 200 m to go. Arop came on off the turn and took the lead and he and Olympic bronze winner Djamel Sedjati (ALG) finished 1-2 with both at 1:45.09. English had to settle for third in 1:45.47.
U.S. champ Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion, was in semi two and the pack was tight through 300 m. Francesco Pernici (ITA) took the bell and then Paris Olympic finalist Max Burgin (GBR) took over with Brazier boxed in in fifth. Around the final turn, Burgin led Cian McPhillips (IRL), but McPhillips got to the line in 1:43.18, a national record. Burgin was second in 1:43.37 and Brazier had to sprint hard on the inside to get third at the line in 1:43.82, ahead of Bernici at 1:43.84, a lifetime best.
Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) headlined semi three, but France’s Yanis Meziane took the lead and led at the bell, ahead of Tshepiso Masalela (BOT). Wanyonyi moved up on the shoulder of Masalala with 200 m to go, then Spain’s Paris fifth-placer Mohamed Attaoui sprinted into the lead on the straight and won in a stunning 1:43.18 – the fastest non-final ever – with Wanyonyi second in 1:43.47.
Behind them, Navasky Anderson (JAM) got a national record of 1:43.72 for third, Masalela was fourth in 1:43.80 and American Bryce Hoppel was fifth in 1:43.92.
● Women/200 m: The rain held off for a few minutes, with two-time World Champion Shericka Jackson was in lane seven in semi one, with Olympic bronzer Brittany Brown outside her in eight. Jackson led into the straight and was chased by Britain’s Amy Hunt and they were 1-2 in 21.99 and 22.08 (-0.1). Brown was third in 22.13, fading in the final 30 m, but advanced to the final on time.
World 100 m winner Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the U.S. was in seven, with 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) inside her in six. Jefferson-Wooden got into the lead on the straight and shut it down with 40 m left, winning in 22.00 (+0.1), with Asher-Smith second in 22.21. Very impressive.
The U.S. had Tokyo Olympian Anavia Battle and 2024 NCAA champion McKenzie Long in semi tree in lanes six and eight. Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith (CIV) ran well on the turn and had the lead into the straight, but Battle came on to win in 22.09 (-0.3) to 22.17. Long came on for third in 22.48.
Long and Anthonique Strachan (BAH) from semi one both ran 22.48 for the final (eighth) qualifying spot, but Strachan was 1/1,000th faster at 20.477 to 20.478. But, both were advanced to a nine-woman final!
● Women/800 m: Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) was in front at the bell in heat one and rolled into the straight with Assia Raziki (MAR) a close second, 1:59.79 to 1:59.82. U.S. champ Roisin Willis moved up on the final straight and was fourth – and did not advance – in 2:00.24.
Defending champion Mary Moraa (KEN) led heat two at the bell, with Veronica Vancardo (SUI) close, then Moraa and France’s Anais Bourgoin separating from the field down the final straight and Bourgoin winning, 1:58.43 to 1:58.44. Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, the Paris runner-up, led at the bell with Nelly Jepkosgei (BRN) close. Into the straight, Duguma and American Maggi Congdon ran away and went 1-2 in 2:01.53 and 2:01.74, with Eloisa Coiro (ITA: 2:01.86) third.
Heat four had Diamond League winner Audrey Werro (SUI) and she was leading with Sage Hurta-Klecker (USA) just behind, as the rain started. They were 1-2 into the straight and rolled home in 1:58.43 for both. Uganda’s Halimah Naakayi, the 2019 winner, led Paris fourth-placer Jemma Reekie (GBR) at the bell, then Kenya’s Lilian Odira ran away on the final straight to win in 1:57.86, then Daily Cooper Gaspar (CUB) got a lifetime best in second in 1:58.16. Naakayi and Reekie faded to 4-5 in 1:58.57 and 1:59.35, but advanced on time.
Olympic 1,500 m bronze winner Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR) had the lead at 600 m in heat six and was in front on the straight and won in a final sprint with Gabija Galvydyte (LTU), 1:58.82 and 1:58.86. Australia’s Jess Hull, the 1,500 m bronzer, was doubling back in heat seven, fell on the backstraight of the first lap and was out of it. Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin led at the bell and held on to win over Oratile Nowe (BOT), 1:59.66 to 2:00.09. Hull was seventh and last in 2:13.42; Prudence Sekgodiso (RSA), the World Indoor champ, stepped off the track on the final lap and did not finish.
Hull protested and was advanced to the semis.
● Women/5,000 m: Olympic champ and world-record holder Beatrice Chebet (KEN) was in heat one, but the crowd was cheering Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka in front, with Chebet right behind. With two laps to go, Tanaka led Maureen Koster (NED), Chebet and 10,000 m runner-up Nadia Battocletti (ITA).
Tanaka led at the bell with eight in the front pack, with all to qualify. Koster took the lead on the final turn, then Chebet strode away on the straight to win in 14:45.59. Battocletti was an easy second (14:46.36), then Shelby Houlihan of the U.S. in 14:46.52. Koster was fourth and Tanaka was fifth; Elise Cranny of the U.S. was 10th in 15:00.23.
Defending champion (and 1,500 m winner) Faith Kipyegon (KEN) was in heat two, but Japan’s Ririka Hironaka rolled out to a 25 m lead after 2 1/2 laps. Hironaka was still way in front at 3,000 m – maybe 40 m! – with everyone else in the chase pack.
Kipyegon took the lead in the chase pack by 4,000 m and started to close the gap, with teammate Agnes Ngetich – no. 2 on the year list – and Ethiopian star Gudaf Tsegay, the 2022 World Champion in this event. They finally caught Hironaka after 4,100 m and Kipyegon and Ngetich were 1-2 with 600 m to go. At the bell, Kipyegon led a mass of eight.
Kipyegon, Tsegay and Marta Garcia (ESP) came into the straight 1-2-3 and Tsegay won the final sprint in 14:56.46, with Kipyegon at 14:56.71 and Rose Davies (AUS) third in 14:56.83. Garcia was fourth; Josette Andrews of the U.S. qualified sixth in 14:57.59. Hironaka ended up 13th and did not qualify.
The final, with Chebet vs. Kipyegon at the top, will be epic.
● Women/High Jump: There were 24 who cleared 1.88 m (6-2) and then 11 who made 1.92 m (6-3 1/2). With the rain impacting the footing, the qualifying was extended to five who made 1.88 m (6-2). The stars all moved through: Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) and Australian stars Eleanor Patterson, the 2022 Worlds winner, and Paris runner-up Nicola Olyslagers.
As for the Americans, U.S. champ Vashti Cunningham managed 1.88 m and was 17th; Emma Gates was 22nd at 1.88 and Sanaa Barnes cleared 1.83 m (6-0) and finished 25th.
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The medal table shows the U.S. with 12 total (8-1-3), followed by Kenya (7: 4-1-2) and Jamaica (6: 1-4-1). The placing table, scoring eight places from eight points down to one, as a measure of team strength, has the U.S. at 164 now, to 80 for Kenya and 63 for Jamaica.
The Friday evening schedule – no more morning events until Saturday – in Tokyo has the men’s and women’s 200 m and 400 m hurdles finals, the men’s triple jump and the first day of the heptathlon. Qualifying is in the men’s 5,000 m, women’s 800 m, shot and javelin.
Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.
The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.
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