And right on cue, here’s Sean’s report of a run we’ll look back on five years from now as the moment it all changed.
But that’s all from us for today. We’ll be back tomorrow at 10am BST for more fun; peace out.
To put Jefferson-Wooden’s performance into context:
She ran the fourth-fastest time ever. Fitness permitting, I’d back her to finish her career in second – at least.
It seems a long time ago now, but Matt Hudson-Smith is into the semis of the men’s 400m as a fastest loser. I hope it’s a rhythm thing, or that he’s not fully acclimatised to conditions, but he looked tired and not at all like a man ready to win a medal. Jacory Patterson, on the other hand, could scarcely have run better in recording 43.90, and it’ll take something decent to stop him.
I enjoyed learning that at Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s wedding, Isaiah Likely was best man and Tee Tee Terry was bridesmaid. Which, I’m afraid, reminds me that we need to recall what Gabby Douglas said the other day, as detailed by Sean Ingle.
While there was a great atmosphere on the track, there has been a rather frosty one in the sprinting community. That is because in the buildup to these Championships, Gabby Thomas, the American who won 200m gold in Paris last year, posted a comment on social media that sent tongues wagging. “Doping coaches should be banned for life from coaching in the sport,” she wrote. “Whether you were banned while competing as an athlete or caught distributing as a coach [for some, both],” she wrote. “Idc idc idc [I don’t care] … If you train under a coach who is known for doping … you are complicit.”
Her message was directed at Dennis Mitchell, who is coaching the four American women 100m sprinters here, including Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the favourite for gold, and Sha’Carri Richardson, the reigning champion.
Mitchell was a top sprinter who made perhaps the most preposterous excuse for failing a drugs test. It came in 1998 after he tested positive for excessive testosterone and blamed it on having drunk five beers and having sex with his wife four times. “It was her birthday,” he said. “The lady deserved a treat.”
Mitchell was banned for two years. A decade later he testified under oath in the Balco investigation that he had received human growth hormone from his coach, Trevor Graham.
More recently, in 2017, Mitchell and an athletics agent, Robert Wagner, were caught on camera offering to supply performance-enhancing drugs to a fake actor in an operation conducted by the Daily Telegraph.
How long before this is in the Olympics?
I’ll fancy myself once Tetris and Nibbles takes their rightful place at the table.
Usain Bolt was in the crowd to see Seville get it done, but so far we’ve no pictorial evidence; I guess he’s a bit camera-shy and not especially photogenic, but I’m seeking.
Aha, here’s Sean Ingle’s report of the men’s 100m final.
What, then, of tomorrow? Early doors, 11.30pm BST, we’ve the men’s marathon then, in the evening session, which is when our coverage begins, it’s Mondotime and the final of the men’s pole vault, along with the semis and final of the women’s 100m hurdles, the final of the women’s hammer, the semis of the men’s 1500m, and the finals of the men’s 3000m steeplechase. I can only imagine how miserable that is in any circumstance, never mind in the humidity of Tokyo in September.
Oh, and there’s more":
Also going on, all sorts:
That was alright wasn’t it? Gosh, those two finals coming boom boom, one after the other; I’m exhausted. I really feel like we’ve seen something here, too, the start of something.
In Paris, the finals were great, but because it was great to see Julien Alfred win gold for St Lucia and because the men’s race was so close. It didn’t, though, have the gravitas of the highest level sprinting has to offer, nor bring with it the awe it demands we experience. Tonight, though, we’ve seen the future, and it looks great. From here, things are only getting wilder.
“It was not easy,” Jefferson-Wooden tells BBC; “it looked that way but it was not”. Imagine that being so of you, turning the 100m final into a procession; amazing amazing.
She worked hard, she continues, and stayed grounded in who she is, trusting her faith and her ability. She felt herself get out but didn’t know she was ahead, blacking out and telling herself to get to the line. She saw a time on the board, realised it wasn’t hers but the world record, then saw her 10.61, that she’d won, and she’s every bit as elated as you’d expect her to be.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was devastated she had to pull out of the Olympic final, so is happy to have competed and excited for the 4x100m. The reception she got on the line felt good and she’s given a lot to the sport so wants to go out on her own terms; I daresay she’s the chance of a medal in the relay and what an athlete she is; what a woman she is. We’re privileged to be living in her time.
Dina Asher-Smith, who finished eighth in the women’s 100m final, is proud she made the final and reckons herself in serious 200m shape, so she’s looking forward to that. I’m not sure she’ll quick enough to challenge for the podium, but I’m excited to see her try.
I don’t know, things in sport change so quickly, especially in sprinting, with bodies so finely honed to do a particular thing, but Jefferson-Wooden and Seville winning gold doesn’t just feel like the fastest on the day taking the race but the start of a new era. Jefferson-Wooden destroyed the field – so much so she seemed to shove her closest rival backwards – and looks capable of running times no one else can get near. Seville, meanwhile, will only improve with the confidence he’ll take forward, and with Lyles now 28, it looks like Jamaica will once again set the agenda in men’s sprinting.
I’m so happy for Seville – it’s always great to see someone fulfil their talent, all the more so when there’ve been questions about their mentality. Not any more, and you kn ow what? I think he’s now going to explore heights beyond Lyes and perhaps beyond Thompson too because he has the most speed of the three; it was just a matter of putting it together, and now he has, expect him to keep doing it.
Updated
Lyles, draped in the stars and stripes, looks pretty happy with his bronze. He’ll know the kind of shape he was in and will, I’m sure, consider third a decent return. Bednarek, by the way, was 0.03 behind him in fourth; that’ll sting Kenny, because those two are not mates.
Ah man, that was a brilliant run from Seville! Previously renowned as an athlete capable of the best but unlikely to deliver it when it counts, looking at the race again, he didn’t hit the front until a fair way into the race, maybe 80m, but from about 60m it looked like he was moving fastest, and there was nothing the others could do to hold him off. He had loads left at the end, and I can’t wait to see how he grows from here!
Oblique Seville wins the men's 100m for Jamaica in 9.77
A monstrous run and Oblique is now direct! Thompson of Jamaica takes silver, Lyles of USA bronze!
Updated
This time it’s Thompson away and here comes Seville!
Tebogo is away so early he’s almost in the women’s race … at least i think it’s him … and this time, there’s a red card. He’ll be back for his favoured 200m, but in the meantime, tension ratchets up yet further. Down they go again, and here comes the silence…
Lyles call it on, Thompson gestures, and down they go. My fingers are trembling, silence reigns, and here it comes!
But much as we’d like to spend the next few days rhapsodising her, the en are out for their 100m final, Noah Lyles noising it up. But outside him it goes Thompson, Bednarek, Seville, and that is some daunting gear even for a man as confident as the Olympic champ.
To turn up under all that pressure, having won every race this season, with the Olympic champ outside her, to absolutely destroy her with one of the fastest times ever? That is wondrous behaviour! Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is a superstar!
Updated
The winning time of 10.61 is the fastest we’ve ever seen in the world championships, and that is amazing from Jefferson-Wooden – she won going away and at 24, there’s so much more to come. Alfred just couldn’t handle the pressure of seeing her streak clear, and I want to see her run again, immediately.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of USA wins the women's 100m in 10.61
Tia Clayton of Jamaica takes silver and Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia the bronze! What a run that was from the American!
Updated
Alfred starts well enough but Jefferson-Wooden is miles ahead!
I’ll say it again: Richardson has a chance, but I just dnn’t think she’s confident enough to put it all together. Jefferson-Wooden hasn’t lost over 100m this year, but every race she’s run was in preparation for this one…
This feels like a straight ruckus between Alfred and Jefferson-Wooden; the former looks more confident, the latter slighter and more nervous. Jefferson-Wooden is the favourite but I fancy Alfred’s experience and speed endurance to carry the day.
Hunter Woodhall, Davis-Woodhall’s husband and a Paralympic gold medallist, is there with her; I hope we get to see their celebration. But we cut to the track, because the women’s 100m final is upon us!
Tara Davis-Woodhall wins gold for USA in the women's long jump with 7.13
Malaika Mihambo of Germany takes silver and Natalias Linares of Colombia bronze.
Updated
Back with the women’s long jump, Linares, of Colombia, who sits third on 6.92, takes her final jump … and can’t improve on it. But she prances in joy because she’s a bronze medal, and now here comes Mihambo, who has one go to get at Davis-Woodhall’s mark of 7.13 … and she cannot!
That was brilliant from Gressier, who’s been there or thereabouts for a while without ever getting it done; without really making us think he might ever get it done. But he stayed away from the front for 9,900m, then stomped on the gas in the home straight and had the most in reserve! That’s a massive, life-changing, life-affirming win for him, and I hoe we get an interview because he is buzzing!
Jimmy Gressier of France wins the men's 10,000m in 28:55.77
Kejelcha of Kenya takes silver, Almgren of Sweden bronze.
Updated
Kejelcha goes, Almgren is there, but from behind Gresier sprints away for France, and has he timed it to perfection? I think he has!
Updated
It’s getting physical, barega leading from Algren as they take the bell, but Kejelcha is also involved, likewise Fisher and Young! Who’s got the kick?!
Three laps to go and it’s Almgren from Fisher, but Geressier is also there, Barega is involved, and i’ve not a clue which if them has most left.
Almgren injects a little bitta pace, nothing too dynamic but enough to perhaps get rid of a few … nope! They’re bunched again, and with a mile to go there are maybe 15 men with a chance of winning. I’d not be surprised to see fallers because there are lots of moving arms and legs, with a gold medal at stake.
Fisher now takes it on, fade looking fresh, with Almgren of Sweden behind; no one wants to take this on, Kasai now moving to second and Almgren also picking up; seven laps to go.
We go mad for the sprints, but you can’t beat a longer race, with so many possibilities and eventualities. This is boiling now, Fisher of USA also inserting himself into proceedings, and we’ve no clue how this might develop from here.
With 5300 or so gone, Kurgat leads from Kiplangat, the two Kenyans looking to control the race from here. Behind them, Kibet moves up to third, but there are about 15 runners who’ll feel they can win.
Wessel, the German who suffered from a buffeting in the women’s 1500m semi, has been added to the final. That seems fair enough to me, but have a look! Davis-Woodhall, who stared down Mihambo before her jump, pushes her lead up to 7.13! She’s moving beautifully and you can see she’s seriously confident, loving the competition.
Back to the women’s long jump, Davis-Woodhall of USA still leads with 7.08 but Mihambo of Germany is second with 6.95 and here she comes again … 6.99 this time. With two rounds to go, she’s getting closer.
Kejelcha of Ethiopia comes around the outside to settle among the leaders, grabbing water as he goes, while Kasai and Suzuki, the home favourites, hit the front, presumably working to a plan. Kibrab of Norway is third.
But gradually, Chelimo of Uganda closes, so do the rest of the field, and they’re stretched out but all close together.
Joshua Cheptegei, the world and Olympic champ, isn’t competing, instead concentrating on road racing; without him, the pace is seriously sedate, Barega of Ethiopian moving to the front and stretching into a lead, now 15, no one going with him.
Updated
‘I didn’t think there was any chance Hatton could beat Kostya Tzsyu to win the world championship,” writers Gregory Phillips. “He was way too powerful and accurate, Hatton’s defence too leaky. I’d have bet the house on it. Not sure I’ve ever been more delighted to be wrong, and more blown away by an athlete’s discipline and willpower.
A terrible loss, my heart goes out to his loved ones.”
That fight was during the most miserable period of my life; I’ll always be grateful to Hatton for giving me a bit of joy when I needed it most.
Off we go, the temperature and humidity now at dangerous levels.
No mercy! The men’s 10,000m final is about to get going, and this could be a belter. They won’t like the heat, but it might just be a leveller, because the time probably won’t be quick.
She tells BBC she wants to thank God “to be honest”, was keen to make the final and it’s amazing to be at the top. “I’m capable of doing anything,” she finishes, and she’s right, she is. Good luck to the rest of the field.
Faith looked pretty nifty there, as expected. It’s very hard to see how anyone takes the final away from here because she can lead from the front or hold on and kick. But more than that, she’s got aura: no one wants to take her on, so she controls races and they unfold as she plans.
It’s a quicker pace now, Chepchircir of Kenya in front and Hull of Australia there too; they take first and second, in that order, with Hiltz of USA, Kazmierska of Poland, Debues-Stafford of Canada and Zenoni of Italy the other qualifiers.
Updated
There’s a bump that affects Wessel, the German; she takes time to right herself but trails by 10m at the bell. Chepchirchir leads from Hull, from Hiltz.
It feels almost banal to move from the Hitman to live sport and back again, but such is the world. Our second semi in the women’s 1500 is away, the field thronged in a slow-moving blob; those who fancy their kick won’t mind, but surely someone will soon stretch it out?
Ricky Hatton, though, what an absolute superstar. Through force of talent, mentality, charisma and honesty, he revolutionised British boxing, and I can’t believe he’s gone. A tragic, devastating loss.
Kipyegon leads from Ewoi, the two Kenyans finishing first and second; Hailu recovers to come third, with Johnson of USA, Perez of Spain and Madeleine of France making up the six qualifiers; Hall oF Australia was run out of it.
Kipyegon still leads, from Hall from Johnson, and they take the bell looking strong.
Next on the tack and just under way, the first of two women’s 1500m semis; the first six qualify and Hailu of Ethiopia, one of the favourites for a medal, falls! But the others don’t inject the pace necessary to lose her and she’s back in the race at the back of the pack, Faith Kipyegon, the triple Olympic champion, leading.
I’ll probably change that many, many times in the next 70 minutes, but only to swap Bednarek and Thompson. Lyles does have the advantage of knowing he can execute, but my sense is that he ands they know he’s not in a position to record the kind of time it’ll take for gold.
I’m going to say it now: I don’t think Lyles is getting a medal here. Seville, Bednarek, Thompson is my 1-2-3, in that order.
That was a brilliant run from Seville, who was calling it on well before the line, then applied the shush, presumably to Lyles. I picked him for a medal in Paris, then he let me down with a proper no-show in the final, citing a hamstring situation, but he looks extremely confident here. If he runs his best race, I think he wins because I don’t think Lyles, Tebogo, Bednarek and Thompson can go as fast.
Seville wins in 9.86, Tebogo is next in 9.94, and the two fastest losers are Leotlela, third here, and Simbine, third in the first semi.
Updated
Seville is slow out but here he comes, looking across to laugh at the rest!
There’s a false start; I’m afraid Leotlela of RSA is in serious danger, because it looked a lot like him and lot like a proper infringement. But actually it’s De Grasse who’s warned with a yellow card – he twitched without moving, but he’s still involved.
Actually, I feel I’ve done Tebogo a disservice; I don’t think he can win but I’d absolutely think he could podium, were podium a verb. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Saminu of Ghana goes…
It’s a dead heat, both timed at 9.85 but Bednarek given the nod. Those two, Lyles and Seville – running in the third semi – will, I think, contest the medals. Hughes is given third, likewise Blake, in 10.03; they need to wait and see what happens next.
Thompson is away with Bednarek, the two streaking clear of the rest!
Back to the men’s 100m semis, Zharnell Hughes goes in the second, with Kishane Thompson looking confident. Inside him, I quite fancy Kenny Bednarek for a medal, but he’s got work to do before that.
On the field, the women’s long jump final is under way … and also probably over. Tara Davis-Woodhall of USA has landed a 7.08m monster that is probably beyond the capability of those chasing her/
Ajayi, only 21, absolutely loves it, and well he might. He pushed the world and Olympic champ to run through the tape, and he’s into the final.
Lyles still wins, though, in 9.92, Ajayi of Nigeria next in 9.93 with Simbine third in 9.96. I don’t see a super-fast time in him.
Updated
He’s away with Blake, but Simbine is alongside, and I don’t think he’s got the gas to tear away!
Lyles steps over the line, leaps, making territory. What does he have for us?
Back on the track, Noah Lyles is ready for his semi, Jeremiah Azu of GB in lane eight. I’m expecting theatre from the champ, but is it misdirection? Is he in good enough shape to win here? My sense is not, especially if the winning time is quick, but he’s noising up the crowd; either side of him, Blake of Jamaica and Simbine of RSA will bring the pressure.
Terrible news, I'm afraid: Ricky Hatton has been found dead at his home
We’ll have more on-site in due course, but that is just the worst. Strength and comfort to his friends and family.
Updated
Also going on:
The final is coming up at 2.13pm BST. Watching the first semi again, Richardson’s start was poor, but on the other hand, she recovered really well to get anywhere near making the final. Her last-60m pace from earlier, and she’s in the conversation.
Jefferson-Wooden wins in 10-73; Clayton of Jamaica is second and moves through, with Asher-Smith third in 11.02; I think that’s good enough, just. Richardson is into the final, but will have to do a lot, lot better to contest the medals never mind the gold.
Jefferson-Wooden doesn’t start that well but she powers through from 40m!
Talking of whom, Jefferson-Wooden goes in the final semi, likewise Dina Asher-Smith. Richardson sits literally on the edge of her seat, hoping she’s done enough.
In comms, they note that the times aren’t that quick; perhaps it’s the track, perhaps the humidity, or perhaps the runners just aren’t in that good shape for one reason or another. The final will give us a good sense of things, because Alfred and Jefferson-Wooden look ready to push each other.
Yup, 10.93 for Alfred, easing up; Fraser-Pryce also qualifies, hitting that same 11.00 time as Richardson, and she started best, but Alfred is so, so strong.
Updated
Alfred starts well enough, and she’s going to win by miles…
Back to the women’s 100m, with Julien Alfred going in lane four. I can’t see anyone other than Jefferson-Wooden beating her, but otherwise, we won’t have many more chances to watch the 38-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at a major championships, so let’s enjoy her too, while we still can.
Updated
Valarie Allman wins gold for USA in women's discus
Jorinde van Klinken of the Netherlands takes silver and Silinda Moráles of Cuba the bronze. Allman is a helluva an athlete – this is her first world title, but she’s also got Olympics golds, so.
Updated
Yup, Talou-Smith wins in 10.94, Jackson second; Richardson is third in a season’s best of 11.00, so she must wait to see if she’s one of two fastest losers. Real talk: I don’t think it’s going to matter, she’s miles off the form necessary to win a medal. But having said that, we see she stumbled at the start, meaning 11 dead isn’t a terrible time – especially given, as we’re reminded, she won gold in Budapest having qualified as fastest loser. So she waits…
Talou-Smith leads, Jackson folliowing …
Gosh, the nerves now; my blood is pumping and I’m sat on my seat.
Nope, various others moved early too, so though she set them off, it’s a green card and back to business.
Aaarrgghhh! They’re left on set, Richardson twitches, and will they DQ her for that?
Richardson, of course, has had a tricky time, after being arrested for assaulting Christian Coleman, her partner, at Seattle Airport. She’s since apologised and agreed to get professional help, but it’s a lot to carry around. They’re ready…
Heat one of the women’s semis looks pretty open to me. I fancy Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, who I think might snatch a medal; Sha’Carri should also qualify, but this’ll give us a much better sense of where she’s at. For GB, Daryll Neita, a proper a stalwart of UK athletics, goes in lane five, between the two.
Meantime, we see footage of Noah Lyles winding up Kishane Thompson on the warm-up track. I don’t know, I reckon that at 24, Thompson is mature enough to cope, and in the better shape; he’ll know that, and he’ll know Lyles knows that too.
Coming up seven minutes from now: the semi-finals of the women’s 100m.
I know I’ve little to go on, but I can’t help but fancy McLaughlin-Levrone because superstars just find a way. That hurdling strength should give her a little bit more in the final 20m, and she always looks like she’s working a little less hard than everyone else.
John and Ohuruogo, both of GB, qualify for the semis as fastest losers, likewise Mawdsley of Ireland. We should have a belting contest for gold in this event, between Paulino, Naser, and the relative unknown of McLaughlin-Levrone; I can’t wait to see how it goes because we can be almost certain they’ll be powering down the home straight together.
Paulino looks strong through the first 200m, in front as the stagger unwinds, Anning in second and hanging on well. They’re joined in the next round by Hamida of Egypt.
Updated
Marlieidy Paulino, Dominican Republic’s Olympic champ, goes in the final heat; so does Amber Anning of GB, the world indoor champ. Off they go…
I said, by the way, that Koch’s 400m time is one of the oldest records in the book; the oldest is Jarmila Kratochvilova’s of Czechia’s 800m mark of 1:53.28, set in 1983, and to it the same rules apply.
Stacey Ann Williams of Jamaica flies out of the blocks in heat five of the women’s 400m, but Naser of Bahrain, silver medallist at the Olympics and a contender here, comes past her to win in a not-to-be messed-with 49.13, Mikolos of Romania third with Ohuruogo of GB fourth.
Updated
Men’s high jump qualifying is in progress; wee see Hamish Kerr, New Zealand’s Olympic champion, nail 2.21, but Sangyeok Woo of South Korea will have a say when things get serious.
Back with the discus, Morales, also of Puerto Rico, flings her way into the bronze-medal position; her coach loves it and she’s set for the final three throws.
The women’s 400m record, by the way, is one of the longest-standing in the books – Marita Koch’s time of 47.63 was set in 1985. There may or may not be a reason for that – we know that East Germany doped their athletes, but we also know Koch never failed a test. For context, McLauglin-Levrone’s PB is 48.74. Heat four, meantime, is won by pryce of Jamaica with Jaeger of Norway and Gomez of Puerto Rico also qualifying. John of GB finished fifth.
Back to the discus final, Tausaga of USA, the reigning champ, slings down a much better effort of 65.49 that takes her third; she’ll be in the final 10.
Ooh yeah, no arrows necessary here! McLaughlin-Levrone hits the home straight alone, poised in splendid isolation, and wins in 49.41, making it look easy; Weil of Chile and Oketch of Kenya also qualify.
Updated
Sydney oozes away beautifully, running right on the inside of her lane, and she’s miles ahead, I think – no arrows this time.
It’s Sydney time! I can’t wait to see how she goes – she’s a proper threat for a medal, though we can’t be sure she’s quite ready for gold. With her talent and drive, anything is possible.
We’re now able to see who’s where before the stagger unwinds, numbers above the heads of the runners indicating their places; that’s great, but there’s also something cool about guessing, then seeing how it looks coming off the curve. Venlogh of Hait wins heat two in 49.91, from Bokuwiecka of Poland and Butler of USA.
Back to the discus final, Tausaga can’t get herself going; we’re advised that she’s either very good or very poor, and she’s in danger of elimination, the bottom two kicked out after three goes. Allman still leads from Van Klinken.
Also going on:
Klaver of the Netherlands takes the first heat in 50.32; Whittaker of USA also qualifies, along with Oakley of Jamaica.
Next to the women’s 400m, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in particular – the double Olympic 400m hurdles champ is now taking on the flat race, as she pursues history. She’s also after Sanya Richards-Ross’ US record; how good will it be if she follows her into Real Housewives immortality too?
Updated
I guess what I’m saying is the way he tied up in the home straight, it’s hard to believe he can improve enough to challenge Jacory Patterson, who looked in phenomenal shape to record 43.90 barely seeming to struggle. And, as I type, Greg Rutherford – in the BBC studio – wonders if his season has been well structured, given he started early but has run rarely, and there’s also a suggestion that he might’ve come to Japan a little earlier to acclimatise to the heat.
McRae moves nicely around the curve, goes again in the home straight, and he wins in 44.25; Eppie of Botswana is second, with James third. Hudson-Smith and Reardon both qualify as fastest losers, but the former needs to get a lot, lot better to challenge for anything.
Righto, time for the final heat of the men’s 40om. Kirani James, champion at London 2012, goes, and though he’s a way past his best, it’s always great to see him. The favourite here is Khaleb McRae of USA, and he’s out like a brute…
Updated
Interesting: Van Klinken of Holland hurls one out a fair way … but she’s 13cm behind.
In the field, the women’s discuss final is ready to get going. Can anyone stop USA’s Valarie Allman, the double Olympic champion? Well, she didn’t win in Budapest, Laulauga Tausaga did, but she’ll have to improve significantly on what we’ve seen this season … and Allman is celebrating already, happy with her 67.63 opening effort.
Updated
Nene wins in 44.34, second-fastest so far behind Patterson; Norwood struggles in second, and Molnar of Hungary is third.
Nene starts well, looking smooth – his hammy, causing him grief earlier this season, must be OK. Watson is nowhere.
Antonio Watson of Jamaica, the defending champ, goes in heat five, but he’s not in the greatest shape. Otherwise, there’s Nene, the fastest in the world this year, and Vernon Norwood of USA.
Chris Bailey of USA takes it, coming from behind; Holder, of Australia, who went out fast, hangs on to second, with Samukonga also coming through taking third; Sam Reardon, of GB, was fourth.
Updated
In heat four, though, we’ve got Muzala Samukonga of Zambia, whose PB of 43.74 is decent. Off they go…
That was, we’re told, the fastest ever 400m world championship heat. And Patterson isn’t the fastest in the world this year, Zakithi Nene of SA is; he goes in heat five.
Oh wow. Patterson wins in 43.90, the favourite for gold for a reason; McDonald is next in 44.38 and Scotti of Italy also qualifies. Kebinatshipi is fourth in a 44.48, a time quicker than Hudson-Smith’s.
Ogazi doesn’t get away properly, but Patterson of USA is all over this.
Or at least, though the standard of the best isn’t as high as once, there are so many capable of running medal-winning times. Here comes heat three, Rusheen McDonald of Jamaica and Ogazi of Nigeria, Patterson of USA and Kebiniatshipi of Botswana worth paying attention to.
Updated
Biggup Ndori of Botswana, by the way, who won the heat in 44.36; Nakajima broke the Japanese record in 44.44, and McPherson’s 44.51 was a PB. If we didn’t know it before, we know it now: even in the absence of the injured Olympic champ, Quincy Hall, the standard is proper.
There are six fastest losers to go through and Hudson-Smith’s time of 44.68 will almost definitely be enough. But he looked really leggy there, and if he doesn’t improve, signifcantly, he won’t get near a medal.
Not enough! Hudson-Smith is run out of it, finishing fourth! But what was his time?
Updated
Hudson-Smith starts nicely, looking smooth. Outside him, McPherson of Jamaica is going well, though, and as they come down the home straight, he’s struggling, Ndori and Nakajima going past! What does he have left?!
There’s a slight delay as the high jumpers need to clear out of the road, but we’re about ready to go now.
Hudson-Smith goes in the next heat, the second of six. He’s recently become a dad; the jetlag must be a doddle compared to that.
Dobson doesn’t think this was his sharpest race, but he eased up in the home straight as he knew he was top three. This year, he’s been working a lot on 2oo to 300m and doesn’t think he’s got it right once, but he kept something in reserve for the semis.
Richards wins in 44.64, Pillay of RSA is second, Dobson third. That looked like a bit of a struggle for all of them, even in the context of track’s most minging race.
Richards gets away nicely, Dobson too; there are four in a line for three spots as we come into the home straight…
Cock the hammer, it’s time for action, as Cypress Hill once advised. The men’s 400m heats are about to get going, Charlie Dobson of GB going in the first; Jereem Richards of T&T is the main threat.
Our schedule:
“I’ve learnt in the past just to stay in the present,” laughs Matt Hudson-Smith in interview with the Beeb – I like that. And he’s right, of course – the past has gone and the future is a promise: the only thing he has, as an athlete, but also we all have, as people, is what’s going on right now.
We’re back watching footage of the 100m heats; goodness me, Julien Alfred looks immense, a classic example of an athlete who wins something when not quite expecting to, then becomes a million times better as a consequence. Consider also: France after the 1998 World Cup.
Josh Kerr, meanwhile, the defending champ, reckons he’s got it sorted; of course he does.
Back to the men’s 1500m, Jakub Ingebrigtsen is, I’m afraid out. He’s had a helluva year, I’m afraid – but will be back for the 5000m.
Jake Wightman, the 2022 champion, qualified from the same heat.
Updated
I think we may have found a new friend. Julia Paternain, born in Mexcio to Uruguayan parents before moving to Cambridge when her dad began teaching maths at the university, won bronze in the women’s marathon. Enjoy her here:
BBC are showing us highlights of the morning sesh; Josh Kerr is safely through to the next round of the men’s 1500m.
Updated
First up this morning/evening, we’ve got the heats of the men’s 400m. Matt Hudson-Smith, the Olympic silver medallist goes in those for GB – he’s fourth-fastest in the world this year.
On which point:
I said I’d come back to Dennis Mitchell, so here we are. He comes across as really good dude but it’s hard to disagree too much with Gabby Douglas. Here’s Sean Ingle:
While there was a great atmosphere on the track, there has been a rather frosty one in the sprinting community. That is because in the buildup to these Championships, Gabby Thomas, the American who won 200m gold in Paris last year, posted a comment on social media that sent tongues wagging. “Doping coaches should be banned for life from coaching in the sport,” she wrote. “Whether you were banned while competing as an athlete or caught distributing as a coach [for some, both],” she wrote. “Idc idc idc [I don’t care] … If you train under a coach who is known for doping … you are complicit.”
Her message was directed at Dennis Mitchell, who is coaching the four American women 100m sprinters here, including Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the favourite for gold, and Sha’Carri Richardson, the reigning champion.
Mitchell was a top sprinter who made perhaps the most preposterous excuse for failing a drugs test. It came in 1998 after he tested positive for excessive testosterone and blamed it on having drunk five beers and having sex with his wife four times. “It was her birthday,” he said. “The lady deserved a treat.”
Mitchell was banned for two years. A decade later he testified under oath in the Balco investigation that he had received human growth hormone from his coach, Trevor Graham.
More recently, in 2017, Mitchell and an athletics agent, Robert Wagner, were caught on camera offering to supply performance-enhancing drugs to a fake actor in an operation conducted by the Daily Telegraph.
Preamble
こんにちは – kon’nichiwa – and welcome to the World Athletics Championships – night two!
In the summer of 1991, Toyko hosted this same competition, and to this day it stands as one of the greats, featuring perhaps the greatest men’s 100m race ever run. With Leroy Burrell looking set for victory, Carl Lewis came from nowhere, on his literal blind side – his right eye is legally so – dipping for a finish that took some time to unravel.
In the event, Lewis took gold by 0.02s, breaking the world record in the process, while Burrell also improved on his pre-existing mark; Dennis Mitchell, more on whom later, snaffled bronze. The overwhelming sense was that this was most significant sporting event in the world, the entire planet captivated.
Things have changed since then, Usain Bolt putting the leading mark so far out of sight as to be almost invisible; we are no longer inspired by watching the fastest humans ever to sprint the earth. On the other hand, though, Kishane Thompson and Noah Lyles could barely be split at the Olympics and since then, Oblique Seville has established himself as a serious rival, while Letsile Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek remain threats. Tonight’s final mightn’t be epochal, but it will be brilliant.
Similar is so in the women’s competition. The fastest runner on paper, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, is well past her best, so too Shericka Jackson and perhaps also Sha’Carri Richardson – who might still fancy herself to bring it home. More likely, though, the gold will be contested by Julien Alfred, the Olympic champ, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, easily the fastest in the world this year – or, to put things another way, we’re in for a treat.
