The World Athletics Championship is a biennial track and field competition sanctioned by the sport’s global governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). It is considered to be the highest level of senior international outdoor athletics competition. Since the first World Athletics Championship in Helsinki in 1983, athletes have broken more than 15 world records at the event.
The second night of World Championship action in Tokyo was headlined by American duo Valarie Allyson and Tara Davis-Wooden claiming gold in the women’s discus and long jump respectively, while France’s Jimmy Gressier won the men’s 10,000m in a thrilling finish. Gressier pushed ahead of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in the closing stages, completing a remarkable comeback to win France’s first ever outdoor world title.
Earlier, Olympic bronze medallist Ben Pattison and 2023 World Champion Max Burgin qualified for Wednesday’s 1500m final as fastest losers, while Yemi Mary John, Amber Anning and Victoria Ohurugugu advanced in the women’s 400m semi-finals. GB’s Olympic medal hope Molly Caudery, who was due to compete in the women’s pole vault, pulled out before qualifying after twisting her ankle in warm-up.
Australian middle distance star Jess Hull also made it to the final of the 1500m, where she will attempt to defend the title she won in Paris last year. Hull ran a solid semifinal to finish just behind the leaders in a bunched up race which saw pushing and shoving, including a nasty fall by Faith Kipyego.