Finally, here is Sean Ingle’s report from Doha.
That’s all from me today but we’ll do it all over again tomorrow when we will have finals in the men’s pole vault, women’s javelin, men’s 800 metres and men’s 200 metres, plus semi-finals of the women’s 400 metres and 200 metres including the one and only Dina Asher-Smith. Until tomorrow.
In addition to being relieved that he is still alive, Karsten Warholm was also already thinking of the work that is still to be done as his rivals attempt to usurp him. He knows that he is the man to beat and it takes a special athlete to relish that role:
It’s very easy to say that you knew [I would win] afterwards. I wanna say it too, but I wasn’t too sure, to be honest. This was a very tough race. I actually felt my heart was going to stop, it’s no joke! I actually had pain in my chest, thinking I’m gonna die but it’s gonna be worth it. And here I am, world champion and I’m not dead either.
This is only the beginning. I’m very lucky to win. In the future, these guys are going to be even tougher to beat so tomorrow I’ve gotta get up and work again. That’s what I love, always one more.
It’s very hard to describe. Norway is a small country, we put a lot of glory in our sport. For me to be showing up at the world stage, it’s better than anything else.
Men’s 400m hurdles bronze medalist Abderrahman Samba had his say afterwards and it’s fair to say that he is already looking forward to the next showdown against his rivals:
I think I cannot explain this feeling today because it’s amazing. I know third place was not my [desired] place but I say thank you God because three days ago I was not sure to compete or not. This season was very hard for me because I had a lot of injuries. I say thank you God because I’m here tonight and I celebrate with this medal.
Actually, I started to prepare for next season now because I’m happy with the medal but I’m not happy with the place. I’m gonna prepare myself for next season now.
🥇 2015
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) September 30, 2019
🥇 2017
🥇 2019
Mariya Lasitskene is the first athlete in history to win three successive world high jump titles.#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/QMyzZGgSUH
Warholm has flexed his muscles, contorted his body into a superman pose and now, of course, he is wearing his viking hat. There is surely a long, deserved night of celebrations to come.
As the rest of the men stood quietly on the start line, Karsten Warholm bellowed to the camera at the beginning of the race and he attacked the hurdles with similar aggression. Still, Benjamin gave Warholm all he could handle and Samba will be extremely satisfied after injuries this season with a home bronze.
Karsten Warholm wins the 400 metres hurdles title in 47.42! Rai Benjamin takes silver, Abderrahman Samba wins bronze.
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It’s time for the men’s 400 metres hurdles final that the athletics world has been waiting for. This event tends to be on the periphery of the track events, but only four men in history have dipped under 47 seconds and three of them are in this race. It deserves all the attention in the world. The charismatic Norwegian Karsten Warholm (46.92) is the man to beat, but Rai Benjamin of the United States and Abderrahman Samba (both 46.98) will be right behind him. American Kevin Young set the world record of 46.78 in the Barcelona Olympics. How long will it stand?
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Daniel Stahl, the heavy favourite, wins the discus world title with a throw of 67.59m. Fedrick Dacres of Jamaica takes silver with 66.94 and Austria’s Lukas Weisshaidinger takes bronze with 66.82.
Mariya Lasitskene continues her dominance by becoming the first three-time women’s high jump world champion. But what a glorious day for 18 year-old Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine, who jumps a world junior record of 2.04 at her third attempt to secure silver. Vashti Cunningham takes bronze. Lasitskene is not finished though - she is now going for a personal best of 2.08.
As she has done all year, Ajee Wilson dominated much of the race, leading from the front. But from the 100m mark, Halimah Nakaayi kicked hard and true, bursting past Wilson to win the title. And what a storming finish from Raevyn Rogers, who seemed broken for much of the race in 7th place, but she looked like the second coming of Usain Bolt as she sprinted past the group to take the silver medal from her training partner.
Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda takes the women’s 800m world title. Raevyn Rogers’ fast finish gives her silver and a bronze for Ajee Wilson.
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The women’s 800m finalists are on the track. Ajee Wilson of the United States is the woman to beat today. Raevyn Rogers and Natoya Goule have also looked good.
#WorldAthleticsChamps
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownSport) September 30, 2019
Another brilliant women's steeplechase final!
Chepkoech went from the gun & ran away with it.
Defending champ Coburn, great battle to get silver in a PB.
Germany claim bronze with Krause - National Record!
Also NR for Moller in 7th & Gega in 9th!
Wow.
Beatrice Chepkoech wins the women’s 3000m steeplechase world title. What a brave, gutsy run from the world record holder. She tore the field apart from the beginning, taking off well under world record pace as she established a huge lead. The Kenyan looked exhausted by the end, but the gap was too big. That is how you snatch a world title. A gutsy silver medal for defending champion Emma Coburn of United States and a bronze for German Gesa Felicitas Krause.
Event favourite Beatrice Chepkoech is a long, long way from the rest of the field at the 6 minute mark and it seems like she is determined to make a statement. As she keeps on powering forward, the gap is widening.
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Some context for Edris’ surprise 5000m victory.
Muktar Edris, who has finished 11th and 18th in his two Diamond League races this season, retains his world 5000m title!
— Steven Mills (@Trackside2019) September 30, 2019
If I had to rank the Ethiopian team’s chances prior to this race, I would have put Edris fourth.
The women of the 3000m steeplechase are on the start line now. This should be a great showdown between Kenya’s world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and defending champion Emma Coburn of the United States. Their teammates, Hyvin Kiyeng and Celliphine Chepteek Chespol of Kenya and American Courtney Frerichs will undoubtedly be strong.
We’re going up to 2 metres in the women’s high jump. Yuliya Levchenko, Mariya Lasitskene and Vashti Cunningham have all cleared 1.98 metres with no mistakes. Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Kamila Licwinko are the only other women left. But 2 metres plus is the territory of Lasitskene. We’ll see if anyone can stay with her.
Full men’s 5000m results:
- Mutkar Edris (ETH) - 12:58.85
- Selemon Barega (ETH) - 12:59.70
- Mohammed Ahmed (CAN) - 13:01.11
What a run! Mohammed Ahmed attempted to push the pace with two laps to go, Jakob Ingebrigtsen tried to separate himself from the field after the bell and then Selemon Barega attempted to push on past the Norwegian for gold. But it was the defending champion, who arrived with the athletics world questioning his form, who rose again to keep his title for another two years. Barega and Ahmed took second and third.
Muktar Edris defends his 5000 metres title with a brilliant 12:58.85 run.
We are 4000 metres in. The front group is still large, with Ahmed currently leading. It’s fascinating to see the Ethiopean athletes attempting to make the race quicker while the likes of Chelimo and the Ingebrigtsen brothers looking for a slower race.
In the women’s high jump, we are up to 1.96m. Neutral athlete Mariya Lasitskene, Ukraine’s Yuliya Levchenko and Vashti Cunningham of the United States are the only three through so far without missing a jump.
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The wide-open 5000m is about to begin. Telahun Haile Bekele is the world leader today and his Ethiopian compatriot 19 year-old Selemon Barega has been extremely consistent all year. Plenty of eyes will be on his fellow 19 year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen. It will be fascinating to see how this event develops without Mo Farah.
We have our men’s 200m finalists:
- Noah Lyles (19.86)
- Alex Quinonez (19.95)
- Zhenye Xie (20.03)
- Adam Gemili (20.03)
- Andre De Grasse (20.08)
- Ramil Guliyev (20.16)
- Aaron Brown (20.20)
- Kyle Greaux (20.24)
Can anyone stop Noah Lyles?
Andre De Grasse wins the third semi-final with a time of 20.08. As noted by Colin Jackson of the BBC, that was a tired race from the likes of Hughes and Blake. However, De Grasse looks like he has a lot more to give in the final. We’ll see if he is capable of competing with Lyles.
We’ll have another packed semi-final to close things off. Britain’s Zharnel Hughes will compete against Andre De Grasse, Yohan Blake and Divine Oduduru for a place in the final.
The favourite Noah Lyles just showed exactly why he is the best 200m runner by winning his semi-final in 19.86. Some impressive competition provided by Ecuador’s Alex Quinonez, who refused to let the No 1 establish a big lead and finished with a great time of 19.95. China’s Xie Zhenye took third in 20.03 and is in a good position as a potential fast loser.
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Adam Gemili after his great run:
I think a lot of people have always talked about potential for me and I don’t think I’ve quite lived up to what people expected. It’s just another senior chance I’m at and I’m just trying to get through the rounds healthy and run my best and that’s all I can do.
If I come off the bend tomorrow and everyone runs past me, then fair play to anyone. I’m just going to give it my all. Not frustration, but there’s the point to prove that I can still run and compete with these guys. And I’m happy.
Adam Gemili books his place in the final by winning his semi in 20:03. Great running from the Brit, who dominated the field on the bend and established a big lead. Gemili struggled a bit in the final 30 metres or so, but a great run. Guliyev and Brown also through.
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The men of the 200m are on the track for the semis. We begin with a stacked semi-final including Britain’s Adam Gemili, Ramil Guliyev and Aaron Brown. This will be tough with only the first two through.
In the 110 metres hurdles heats, big guns Grant Holloway and Orlando Ortega are through. Holloway of the United States, the world leader with a run of 12.98 seconds this year, won heat 4 in 13.22 seconds. Spain’s Ortega, the IAAF’s No 1, won heat 5 in 13.15 seconds. Wednesday’s semi-finals will be very open.
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The women’s high jump final will begin shortly. All eyes will be on neutral athlete Mariya Lasitskene, who equaled her personal best with a jump of 2.06 this year. Her closest rival is Yuliya Levchenko of Ukraine, who has jumped a personal best of 2.02 in 2019. Others to cross two metres this year are Belarusian Karyna Demidik and Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh. And that’s it.
The first final on day four of the #WorldAthleticsChamps is the women's high jump featuring Mariya Lasitskene.
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) September 30, 2019
Lasitskene is in contention to become the first high jumper in history to win three successive world titles. pic.twitter.com/CLXuM5Bcbq
Daniel Roberts has been disqualified. Oh dear. Replays show that his trailing leg knocked down the hurdle of Ruan De Vries during the race. Hard to see that being overturned. Roberts was one of the medal favourites and recorded the second fastest time of 2019...
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Back on the track, Britain’s Andrew Pozzi qualifies for the semi-final in third place with a time of 13.53 in heat 3. More dramatically, race leader Daniel Roberts completely clattered the final hurdle but he stumbled over the line in first place. The ever-present Frenchman Pascal Martinot-Lagarde came through in second place and former world champion Sergey Shubenkov triumphed in heat 2 in 13.27 seconds.
Britain’s Miguel Francis is out of the 200m semi-finals with a quad injury. Tough news for British medal hopes. Francis had scaled 19.97 this year with a PB of 19.88.
Omar McLeod of Jamaica eases through the first 110 metres hurdles heat in 13.17. That looked promising.
It’s time for the men’s 110 metres hurdles heats. The big name in the opening heat is Omar McLeod who hasn’t been in the greatest form, but who is a champion. The first four in each heat and then the four fastest losers go through. Get your strides right, people.
And here is more on this shambolic world championships from Richard Williams.
Here is the full schedule for tonight with timings.
It's day 4⃣ of the #WorldAthleticsChamps
— IAAFDoha2019 (@IAAFDoha2019) September 30, 2019
SIX finals at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium tonight!#IAAFDoha2019 pic.twitter.com/IuKlMVaiyA
Of course, plenty has already happened today. Dina was just out on the track to pick up her first silver medal on the world stage. Earlier in the day, she confirmed herself as the favourite for the 200m title with the highest time of the heats, soaring into the semi-final stage in 22.32 seconds. We go on.
WORLD 100m SILVER MEDALLIST 🥈in a new British Record of 10.83 to become the first woman to win a medal in the short sprints for GB in 36 years
— Dina Asher-Smith (@dinaashersmith) September 30, 2019
My first individual global medal 🤩
Thank you so much for the incredible support - I’m going to carry that into the 200m today ♥️ xxx pic.twitter.com/NAgOLn9VTc
Preamble
Hello! Welcome to another packed night of athletics in front of decidedly non-packed stands.
We’ll start with the men’s 110m hurdles heats, then the men of the 200 metres will take centre stage for the semi-finals. Adam Gemili soared through the heats in 20.06 seconds, with the fastest time of the round and also of his season. However, all eyes will be on Noah Lyles of the United States and his dodgy dye job as he looks to consolidate his frightening world leading 19.50 this year by reaching the final. Other challengers include Lyles’ countryman Michael Norman, defending champion Ramil Guliyev of Turkey, Ecuador’s Alex Quinonez and 100m champion Christian Coleman. Alongside Gemili, Britain have two formidable entrants in Miguel Francis and Zharnel Hughes.
The finals will come fast. In the women’s high jump final, neutral athlete Mariya Lasitskene is, as usual, the pick of the field as she bids to become the first three-time high jump world champion. Sweden’s Daniel Stahl threw two metres further than anyone else going into the men’s discus final. Meanwhile, the men’s 5000 metres is wide open in the absence of Mo Farah, Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech will be vying for the 3000 metres steeplechase title, and in the 800 metres final, Ajee Wilson of the United States will be the woman to beat.
The night will conclude with the men’s 400 metres hurdles taking centre stage and, for once, it will garner all the attention as Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin and Abderrahman Samba, three of the four men in history to dip under 47 seconds, will resume their rivalry as they fight for gold and, just maybe, a new world record.
Here’s Sean Ingle with more on a “catastrophe” of a world championships so far...
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