Budapest 23 - Day 2: Evening Session

Tonight, the fastest man on the planet will be crowned. We will also see if Cheptegei can defend his 10,000m title.

Day 2 Evening Session

Men’s 100m Semi Final

With only the top two from each semi final going through to the final automatically, the 100m became cut-throat at the day 2 evening session. Two of the fastest others would also make the cut. Each heat stacked and fast. Jacobs, Omanyala and Lyles all in the first heat made sure the evening would get off to a good start. First heat, a clean, quick start with Lyles taking the win in 9.87. Japan’s Sani-Brown took second with Omanyala run out of the automatic qualification places. An out-of form Jacobs crossed the line in 5th.

Second on the track, Coleman and Hughes who is this year’s fastest man in the world with a 9.83 season best would seem to be favourite to make the final. Once more, a false start saw Simbine’s reaction time being below the 0.1 of a second legal limit. After being shown the black and red card, he would take no further part in proceedings. Second time at the gun, the start was clean and Coleman strode ahead to win the heat in 9.88. Hughes came back through the field to secure his spot in the final with 9.93.

Would the American dominance continue into the third heat? Fred Kerley took to the blocks with eyes on defending his world title. After a poor start, Kerley left himself too much to do with Seville from Jamaica claiming the win in 9.90 and Botswana’s Tobogo taking second. Kerley, 10.02 would not make the final to defend his title.

The current Olympic and World Champions would not be there in the final.

Qualifying for the final:

Noah Lyles 9.87 (SB)

Christian Coleman 9.88 (SB)

Oblique Seville 9.90

Zharnel Hughes 9.93

Rylem Forde 9.95 (PB)

Abdul Hakim Sani Brown 9.97 (=PB)

Letsile Tobogo 9.98

Ferdinand Omanyala 10.01

Day 2 Evening Session: Women’s 1500m Semi Final

With just 6 women from each semi final able to progress to the final, racing was sure to be tough. From the gun, the race was a tactical affair. The whole group bunched after a 66 second first lap. Instantly, the Ethiopians and Kenyans took the lead as the pace began to lift with Hall pushing along with them. At the bell, the race burst into life with Chepchirchir and Haylom kicking clear.

As they crossed the line Chepchirchir took the win in 4:02.14 with Haylom in second. The final qualification places were bunched together but saw Mageean, McGee. Courtney-Bryant and Cavalli progress to the final. Surprisingly, Meshesha missed out for Ethiopia.

Next up, in heat 2, Sifan Hassan was looking to come back from disaster last night when she fell 50m from gold in the 10,000m. After last night, had she bounced back physically and mentally? A strong second semi-final was looking to test her out with Kipyegon, Muir, Hitlz and Welteji looking to capitalise.

From the gun, Muir and Hassan sank to the back of the field while Kipyegon shadowed the leader through a 62 second first lap. Through the middle section of the race, the pace slowed and Hassan decided to take charge. Pushing to the front, she wanted to keep the pace honest at 2:07 through 800.

At the bell, the Kipyegon, Hassan and Muir kicked and stretched the field taking a group with them. Easy qualification for Kipyegon, Hassan, Welteji, Muir, Hull and Snowden. Adelle Tracey set a new Jamaican national record and broke 4 for the first time at 3:58.77 but seventh wasn’t enough to make the final.

Qualifying for the final:

Faith Kipyegon 3:55.14

Diribe Welteji 3:55.18

Sifan Hassan 3:55.48 (SB)

Laura Muir 3:56.36 (SB)

Katie Snowden 3:56.72 (PB)

Jessica Hull 3:57.85

Nelly Chepchirchir 4:02.14

Birke Haylom 4:02.46

Ciara Mageean 4:02.71

Cory McGee 4:02.71

Melissa Courtney-Bryant 4:02.79

Ludovica Cavalli 4:02.83 (PB)

Day 2 Evening Session: Men’s 1500m Semi Final

As with the women’s, the men would have 6 qualifiers from each heat. A strong first heat got off to a physical start. Kipsang took the lead instantly with Nuguse following. Instantly, the field spread. 55.89 through the first lap made it a strong race. Habz and Katir pushed to join the front two.

Through 800m, the pace dropped a little to bunch the field for a final kick from the bell. Nuguse lead the charge through the final 200. A bunched finish with limbs galore saw Nuguse awarded the win in 3:32.69. Spanish favourite, Katir, had nothing left for the finish and will not be toeing the line in the final nor will his compatriot Mechaal.

The young Dutchman, Laros, crossed the line in third but his 3:32.74 is a new national record.

A very strong second semi final which contained all three Olympic medallists from Tokyo set off at a much slower pace than the first. Ingebrigsten happily taking his place at the back while Kerr, Hocker and Grethen took the lead. The bell saw Kerr leading the pack while Ingebrigsten seemed to be boxed in.

However, this didn’t last for long. Into the last 200m, Ingebrigsten showed the ease with which he was taking it. Geeing up the crowd, waving to the fans, he cruised to the front to take the win in 3:34.98.

Qualifying for the final:

Yared Nuguse 3:32.89

Abel Kipsang 3:32.72

Niels Laros 3:32.74 (NR)

Azeddine Habz 3:32.79

Narve Nordas 3:32.81

Neil Gourley 3:32.97

Jakob Ingebrigsten 3:34.98

Josh Kerr 3:35.14

Cole Hocker 3:35.23

Mario Garcia 3:35.26

Isaac Nader 3:35.31

Reynold Kipkorir 3:35.53

Day 2 Evening Session: Men’s 10,000m Final

In the 10,000m, Joshua Cheptegei came to Budapest looking to defend his title. From the gun, Joel Ayeko pushed a fast pace which the rest of the field didn’t seem to be interested in. Behind, his compatriot Cheptegei hung at the front of the pack with the Kenyans in a slower race on a warm, windless night. Around a third of the way into the race, the pack swallowed Ayeko back up. Before long, Kibet made a small break from the field, stretching the pack and ensuring the medal hopefuls stayed awake.

Throughout the second half of the race, the Ugandan and Kenyan team shared the lead between them with Aregawi of Ethiopia keeping himself in the mix and ensuring the pace kept pushing on. This pace lift saw the group splinter with a group of about 9 athletes maintaining contact with the leader. Ethiopians, Kenyans, Ugandans and the Canadian Ahmed kept cranking the pace.

Into the final kilometre, Aregawi still led with Cheptegei and Ahmed right on his shoulder. Who would have the kick? Who would show their hand first? Barega put himself in position with 600m to go. Cheptegei was the first to push just before the bell. A Ugandan and two Ethiopians pushing for the line.

Ultimately, no one had the legs to beat the champion. Cheptegei retained his crown. A treble completed. 53 seconds in the last lap proved too much for his pursuers.

Podium:

Joshua Cheptegei 27:51.42 (SB)

Daniel Simiu Ebenyo 27:52:60

Selemon Barega 27:52.72

Day 2 Evening Session: Men’s 100m Final

With the guarantee of a new world champion, all eyes were on the men’s 100m final. Would Noah Lyles live good to his promise of taking the title and maybe the record? Would the fast Zharnel Hughes shock everyone? Would one of the two young upstarts in the field make a decisive statement?

Tonight, this was sure to be a very open race which could be decided with the blink of an eye or a single mistake. A hush descended over the stadium and the tension was broken by the gun. Coleman got a great start but Lyles pushed and pushed to take the gold in 9.83. Second, third and fourth were separated by thousandths of a second all clocking 9.88. Tobogo being awarded silver and Hughes taking bronze for Team GB. Tobogo cemented a place in history as the first African man to win a medal in the 100m at a World Championship.

Can Lyles complete his double and win the 200 too?