All the best to Wayde van Niekerk, then, who, let us pray, is simply exhausted and perhaps a little overwhelmed at becoming world champion and the fourth-fastest 400m runner of all time. But today’s fare was of such high standard that he’s got genuine competition for performance of the day. Yarisley Silva’s clutch vault of 4.90. Zuzana Hejnova’s imperial glide in the 400m hurdles. Julius Yego’s breakdance dive after lashing the javelin over 90 metres. Hyvin Jepkemoi’s burst down the stretch to win the steeplechase. Justin Gatlin throwing the 200m gauntlet down to Usain Bolt, who looks to be pacing himself with a view to picking it up. And Dina Asher-Smith’s personal best, also in the 200m. Some evening. Roll on day six!
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That run’s taken every drop of energy out of van Niekerk, though. After a little time spent celebrating his victory, he lies down on the track, and is bundled onto a stretcher and whisked away for a check-up.
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That was some pelt around the track! Three men all under 44 seconds. Groundbreaking. The new world champion Wayde van Niekerk in 43.48. LaShawn Merritt in 43.65: a personal best for a man who has won Olympic gold and a couple of world titles to boot, and still not good enough for victory! And then Kirani James in 43.78. That’s quite the dash. A very decent sixth place for Rabah Yousif, by the way: 44.68.
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And they’re off first time! Merritt makes the early pace. And he’s still leading through the 250m mark. Van Niekerk is first to challenge him - and he’s timed his run to perfection! He bursts clear around the final bend, and bombs down the straight. For a second, it looks like James might burn him on the inside. And then it looks like Merritt will recover the lead down the right. But van Niekerk has got a rhythm going, and he’s not of a mind to let the lead he’s established slip. Van Niekerk takes gold for South Africa with a run of 43.48, with Merritt in second place and James - never really in it - settling for bronze. That’s the fourth fastest run of all time, and the second fastest in world championship history!
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The last race of the day is the men’s 400m final. It’s some denouement to an already excellent evening of track and field. And it’s some line-up: the Olympic champion Kirani James, world leader Isaac Makwala, defending champion La Shawn Merritt, the emerging Wayde van Niekerk, Rabah Yousif of Britain, Yousef Masrahi. But just before that starts, Silva looks to embellish her gold by clearing 5.01m, but she can’t make it. She’s the champion anyway, thanks to that leap at 4.90.
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Special mention of Hiwot Ayalew of Ethiopia. She effectively bridled at one of the water jumps. The whole pack scooted away, while she slowly climbed onto the top of the jump before leaping gingerly into the briny. Completely mistimed, with a brain freeze thrown in. Thing is, despite that ludicrous carry on, she ended the race in sixth place, just over five seconds behind the winner Jepkemoi. She’ll replay that moment in her head on quite a few occasions.
The bell at the steeplechase. Babar has long been overhauled. It was a slow race, but what a finish! Coburn led going over the final water jump, but was overtaken at the turn. Then the world leader Ghribi took charge on the final straight, only to be passed on the inside by Krause. It looks as though the German is going to surprise everyone, but then Ghribi fights back. Only problem for the pair is, Jepkemoi is tearing along on the outside, and it’s the Kenyan who takes the tape! It’s Jepkemoi in 9:19.11 from Ghribi in 9:19.24 and Krause in 9:19.25.
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Silva clears the bar at 4.90! It’s a stunning vault: it was her third attempt, and if she’d failed it’d have been gold for Murer, who had a better card with fewer failures at lower heights. But now the pressure’s back on the Brazilian! She’s got to make it - and she crashes fairly apologetically into the bar. Silva, the world leader and pre-championship favourite, pulled a big one out right at the death to snatch the gold! Murer settles for silver.
It’s a fairly slow start to the steeplechase. Lalita Babar of India is setting the pace, a few yards in front of the pack. Meanwhile in the pole vault, it’s bronze for Kyriakopoulou as she fails to get over the bar with either of her attempts at 4.90.
In the meantime, the finalists for the women’s 300m steeplechase are making their way to the track. All of the favourites made it through the heats. This year’s world leader, Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia, clocked the best time: 9:24.38. Half a second or so behind her, Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany. Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew was the third best qualifier in 9:25.55. Also sure to be in the mix: the current world number two Hyvin Jepkemoi and Virginia Nyambura Nganga, both of Kenya.
Holly Bradshaw is unable to clear 4.80 in the pole vault. But what a marvellous performance by the young British star anyway. Sidelined with a nasty back injury for the best part of two years, she’s just recorded her season’s best of 4.70, and in the final of a major championship to boot. She’s back, baby. Meanwhile it’s between Silva, Murer and Kyriakopoulou for the medals. Silva and Murer make it over 4.85. The Greek doesn’t, and passes her two remaining attempts to the next height, 4.90.
Can you hear the clicking of cameras and flashing of bulbs? All the way from Beijing? Yep, it’s Usain Bolt. He’s out and about for the third and final men’s 200m heat. And he only - only! - runs 19.95, though he started slowly and was practically jogging as he crossed the line. Effortless, with plenty left in the tank. Anaso Jobodwana of South Africa crosses in second to make the final. Ramil Guliyev is third in 20.10, which is enough to make the final as a fast loser along with Ogunode. No joy for Martina, then. And a new personal best for Great Britain’s Daniel Talbot, incidentally, who finished sixth in that heat with a personal best of 20.27
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The second men’s 200m heat. Justin Gatlin takes it with ease in 19.87. That’s some time for a semi-final. He qualifies with Alonso Edward, who runs 20.02. In third place, Femi Ogunode of Qatar’s 20.05 is a national record, and might well be good enough for a place in the final. Meanwhile in the pole vault, Yarisley Silva, the world leader from Cuba, eases over the bar at 4.80, though it’s her second attempt and so she’s still behind Kyriakopoulou. And then Fabiana Murer of Brazil follows her over! There’s plenty left in this battle.
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A huge vault of 4.80 by Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou in the women’s pole. She’s the only athlete to clear that height so far, and has done so rather easily. Holly Bradshaw has had one attempt, but didn’t get anywhere near it. Getting to the business end there.
The first heat. And they were all in a line for the first 150m, until Zharnel Hughes of GB&I broke clear of the pack to cross in 20.14. That was a tense tussle. He’ll have a good draw for the final. “I’m ready!” he smiles. Also making it through: Nickel Ashmeade of Jamaica in 20.19. It wasn’t the most blistering race, so whether Churandy Martina of Holland will make it as a fastest loser remains to be seen.
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The men’s 200m semis, then. Usain Bolt this, Justin Gatlin that. But elsewhere, keep an eye out for the fastest man in the heats, Ramil Guliyev of Turkey, whose 20.01 was a national record; the UK’s Zharnel Hughes, who was third fastest overall with his 20.13; and the 16-year-old Japanese prospect Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, who clocked 20.35, one hundredth of a second off his personal best.
Julius Yego wins Kenya’s first gold in the field! His astonishing face-on-the-floor throw of 92.72 was more than enough to win the men’s javelin title! He throws another one over 90m, but it’s red flagged. No matter, he already knows he’s won, ahead of El Sayed (88.99) and Pitkamaki (87.64). The early leader Rohler lost out on a medal by 23cm. That was a winning throw of astonishing power.
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Eilidh Child finished in sixth place, incidentally, with a time of 54.78. A decent placing given a very sluggish start to her race. But it’s a little bittersweet. “I feel I’ve just thrown a medal away, I was a bit sluggish over the hurdles. I feel I’ve let myself down a little bit. But it’s a good thing that I’m disappointed at being sixth in the world. I’ll use it as motivation and try to do something at the Olympics next year.” Ah, the relentless drive and determination of the elite sports star. If I was sixth in the world at anything, I’d be off down the pub and ordering their most expensive bottle. Which is why I’ll never be sixth in the world at anything. Still, swings and roundabouts.
Hejnova retains her 400m hurdles title! Tate took the early lead, and was looking extremely strong for the first 200m, but Hejnova smoothly went through the gears and by the final stretch was way clear of the field. She ambled across the line in 53.50. Shamier Little finished strongly to pip Tate for second, 53.94 to 54.02. A second world gold for the Czech, then, who will be expected to improve on her bronze at the London Olympics in Rio next year!
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This is a stunning performance by Holly Bradshaw in the pole vault! She’s just cleared 4.70 with ease! Meanwhile on the track, it’s the women’s 400m hurdles final. The favourite is the defending champion Zuzana Hejnova, who clocked the fastest time in the semi-finals with a breezy, easy 54.24. Janieve Russell and Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica, and the USA’s Cassandra Tate will be in the mix. Elidh Child of Scotland made it through as one of two fast non-automatic qualifiers.
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And now the final women’s 200m heat. The 19-year-old British prospect Dina Asher-Smith is up - and she burns the field, crossing the line in an insouciant 22.22. A personal best. And the best of the lot this evening! Sherone Simpson and Ivet Lalova-Collio qualify in her wake. Asher-Smith is interviewed by the BBC, and nearly crumples in glee when she’s told that, back in the studio, Michael Johnson has spoken in glowing terms about how relaxed she looks. She’s enjoying life right now.
Campbell-Brown will escape disqualification, thanks to rule 163.4 of the IAAF’s big special book. That’s because she crossed lanes “in the straight with no material advantage being gained, and no other athlete being jostled or obstructed so as to impede his or her progress”. Adeoye’s slow pace round the bend, and the fact she recovered to third, has saved the 2011 champion! Meanwhile in the men’s javelin, Tero Pitkamaki of Finland throws 87.64 to replace Thomas Rohler in third place. He still trails El Sayed with 88.99 in second, and of course Yego’s superlative 92.72.
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In the women’s pole, Holly Bradshaw has just cleared 4.60 at her second attempt. The first one represented her first failure at these championships; the second represents her season’s best! She’s elated as she springs up off the mat. Meanwhile in the sixth women’s 200m heat, Dafne Schippers wins at a canter, 22.58. Hardly a bead of sweat on her as she crosses the line. She looks like she’s popping down the shops for a pint of milk! One of the favourites, for sure. Rosangela Santos and Reyare Thomas also make it through.
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Heat five, and some very strange scenes involving the 2011 winner Veronica Campbell-Brown. The Jamaican takes this one in 22.79, one tenth ahead of Semoy Hackett. But coming off the bend, she drifts into the lane on her outside. She’s in Margaret Adeoye’s lane, but far enough ahead not to obstruct the Brit. Adeoye makes it through in third regardless, in 23.10. But that could be a disqualification for the two-time world gold medallist. If so, fourth-placed Crystal Emmanuel may be scraping through.
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The fourth heat of the women’s 200m. Elaine Thompson takes it in 22.78, having slowed down after 150m to almost walking pace as she crossed the line. Easy as you like for the Jamaican. Qualifying behind her are Bianca Williams of Great Britain, with her season’s best time of 22.85, and Khamica Bingham of Canada in 22.90.
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An astonishing throw by Julius Yego! He literally launches himself into his third attempt, straining every sinew as he releases the javelin and falling face down onto the floor. His nipples will have taken a hell of a scraping there. It’s ungainly. Unorthodox. And my goodness it’s worth it, the spear flying way past the 90-metre mark! It’s a throw of 92.72, a season’s best! And the Commonwealth record, previously held by Steve Backley.
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The third heat in the women’s 200m. Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria, bronze medal winner in 2013, does not start. It’s easily won in 22.79 by Jeneba Tarmoh of the USA. Also qualifying: Gloria Hooper of Italy and Kimberly Hyacinthe of Canada. In the men’s javelin, El Sayed has just significantly improved on his 86.07: a throw of 88.99 has pushed Rohler into second spot.
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Holly Bradshaw has started the women’s pole vault confidently. She easily clears 4.35 with her first jump, and flips over 4.50 without too much trouble. Meanwhile in the men’s javelin, Thomas Rohler of Germany puts in the first big throw: he’s the early leader with 86.68. Ihan El Sayed is on his tail, half a metre or so behind him. And the second heat in the women’s 200m is off, and Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast takes it from the USA’s Jenna Prandini in 22.73, a personal best for the Ivorian. Justine Palframan of South Africa also makes it through.
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And now on the track, the women’s 200m heats begin. There’s no Allyson Felix in this discipline: the only woman to have broken 22 seconds this year has opted to concentrate on the 400m instead. No defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, either, who had both eyes on 100m glory, a fair old decision as it turned out. So this one’s wide open. Candyce McGrone and Dafne Schippers have clocked the next fastest times behind Felix, 22.08 and 22.09 respectively, and are joint favourites for the title. But it’s all about qualification today. And it’s McGrone who wins the first heat, romping home in 22.45, miles ahead of Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland (22.92). Viktoriya Zyabkina of Kazakhstan is the other qualifier.
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Also in the field, the men’s javelin final. The Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott has failed to make this one. His qualification throw of 82m should have been enough, but a narrow foot fault did for the Trinidadian. The defending world champion Vitezslav Vesely made it with ease, though, the Czech qualifying with his first throw. Julius Yego of Kenya, whose 91.39m throw in Birmingham a couple of months ago is the best of the season, will be looking to better his fourth place in Moscow two years ago. And there’s a surprise package in Andreas Hofmann: the German threw a personal best of 86.14m to qualify in first place. But of course all eyes here will be on Yego, who famously taught himself how to throw by studying clips on YouTube. There’d be no more popular winner. And it’d be Kenya’s first non-track gold if he does it. The two-time world silver medallist Steve Backley is on the BBC rhapsodising about Yego’s technique. Backley’s also asked about the possible threat of storms this evening. He looks up to the sky and extemporises a weather forecast. “There’s a cloud. We can sort of see it emerging. But it’s OK at the moment.” There’s a cloud. Come back, Met Office, all is forgiven!
And so to this evening’s action. First up ... the women’s pole vault final. All the big names have made it, having cleared 4.55m in the qualification session. Yarisley Silva of Cuba, the hottest property this year with a season’s best of 4.91m earlier this month. Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou of Greece, the next best on the seasonal list, having cleared 4.83m in July. The reigning Olympic champion Jenn Suhr of the USA. The 2011 world champion Fabiana Murer. And our own Holly Bradshaw, whose qualification vault was her season best, the first staging post on her comeback from a recurring back injury. It promises to be a cracker.
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Before the action begins, a medal ceremony of note takes place in the Bird’s Nest. Representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Olympic and now World champion in the men’s long jump: Greg Rutherford. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the national anth... no, let’s not bother doing that. Instead, allow the man himself to get your blood pumping and juices flowing with a good old-fashioned BLAST of righteous ire. Has he proved his worth? Oh he’s proved his worth.
Good afternoon London; good evening Beijing! It’s the second session of day five at the World Athletics, and there’s plenty of running, flinging and jumping coming your way in the next couple of hours.
Eilidh Child runs in the final of the 400m hurdles, looking to add a world gold to the European title she claimed last year. They’re getting set at 1.10pm BST, 8.10pm in Beijing.
Usain Bolt continues his bid to win a fourth consecutive 200m world title. He’s off in the semis at 1.30pm BST, 8.30pm in the Chinese capital. Also starring media schmoozer Justin Gatlin.
Another reigning Olympic champion, Kirani James, contests the 400m final. That goes off at 2.25pm BST, 9.25pm in the local money.
And Holly Bradshaw, having only returned from a long-term back injury a couple of months ago, competes in the final of the pole vault. That’ll be starting about now, with the 2013 European indoor champ hopeful of adding another medal to her collection.
Throw in the final of the women’s 3000m steeplechase and the men’s javelin, and the heats of the women’s 200m, and it’s quite the scene. Right. On your marks ... get set ... it’s on!
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