Faith Kipyegon, in the form of her life, steps up to the 1500m tonight. Can anyone stop her claiming the gold?
Day 4 Evening Session
Women’s 100m Hurdles Heats
With world record holder Tobi Amusan having her temporary ban overturned after WA found that she didn’t breach whereabouts regulations, the competition has gained another layer of depth. Tonight, facing off against her are Nia Akins of the USA who is looking to regain the title she won in 2019. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who is looking to claim a world gold to sit alongside her Tokyo Olympic gold. Olympic and world silver medallist Kendra Harrison will also be looking to take a spot on the podium to boost her global medal haul.
The Heats
The first heat saw a clean getaway from the gun with Nugent and Russell crossing the line in 12.60 with Lavin in third and Samba-Mayela taking the final qualification spot.
Heat 2 welcomed the European champion Skrzysowska, European silver medalist Kozak got a huge home crowd welcome. Nia Ali took the win in 12.55 with Skrzysowska in second with 12.65. Fourie took third in 12.71, a time shared with Kozak who took the final qualification place.
Following in the third heat, Danielle Williams from Jamaica lined up alongside Harrison who took the win in 12.21 her best time since her previous world record tally in London. Charlton, Williams and Sember joined her in the semi finals.
The fourth heat saw Camacho-Quinn take to the track in the first step trying to take the World Championship gold after bronze in Eugene. An easy win in 12.50 put her through to the semis with Visser in second, Kambundji third and Mucci of Australia in 4th.
In the final heat of the evening, we saw the return to action of Tobi Amusan, the world record holder. In this race, she was looking to put the recent distractions behind her. Also in the heat, Megan Tapper the Olympic bronze medalist. Amusan won the heat in 12.48 followed by Tapper in 12.51. Jenneke of Australia took the third place with the Cypriot Cristofi in fourth clocking 12.90.
Qualifying for the semi final:
Kendra Harrison 12.24 (WL)
Devynne Charlton 12.44 (NR)
Tobi Amusan 12.48
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn 12.50
Megan Tapper 12.51
Danielle Williams 12.51 (SB)
Nia Ali 12.55
Ackera Nugent 12.60
Masai Russell 12.60
Pia Skrzyszowska 12.65
Nadine Visser 12.68
Sarah Lavin 12.69
Ditaji Kambubdji 12.71
Curena Samba-Mayela 12.71
Marione Fourie 12.71
Luca Kozak 12.71 (SB)
Michelle Jenneke 12.71
Cindy Sember 12.83 (SB)
Mette Graversgaard 12.87
Michelle Harrison 12.88
Natalia Christofi 12.90
Celeste Mucci 12.90
Reetta Hurske 12.92
Maayke Tjin-a-Lim 12.92
Day 4 Evening Session: Men’s 800m Heats
Next, with the three medalists from last year’s world championships in Eugene coming back to compete, the 800 is sure to be a very hotly contested event. Whilst gold medalist Emmanuel Korir is out of form after a season frustrated by injury, both Djamel Sedjati and Marco Arop have had good seasons. Between them they hold the fifth and third fastest times in the world this year.
Meanwhile, the Americans have a strong team with Clayton Murphy, Bryce Hoppel and Isiah Harris looking to make a mark. Beside them, Team GB brings injury plagued Max Burgin and national champion Daniel Rowden. France have hopefuls too, with fast finishing Benjamin Robert looking to take his place on the podium to build on his silver at the European Indoor Championships earlier this year.
The Heats
The first heat saw Wanyoni pip Tual of France on the line while the Italian Tecuceanu took the final automatic qualifying place. Moving on to the second heat, Borkowski of Poland took first place in 1:45.40, Burgin held on for second and Deng took the final spot in the next round.
The third heat saw a dominant performance from Kipngetich who took the win in 1:47.63. Sedjati and Ordonez took the second and third qualification places.
Up next, in the fourth heat, we saw Ben take the win in 1:45.47 followed by Hoppel and Rowden finishing the qualification places. Moving on to the fifth heat of the 7, Robert from France took first in 1:46.45 with Pattison in second while Attaoui took third.
Heat 6 saw a slow first lap before the kick at the bell. El Guesse took the win in 1:45.24 with Kramer and Moula taking the other two spots. During the final heat of the evening, Marco Arop set off as the number one ranked 800 man in the world. Quickly, he justified this with a powerful second lap to take the win in 1:45.05 with Barontini in second and Meziane taking the third Q.
Qualifying for the semi final:
Emmanuel Wanyoni 1:44.92
Marco Arop 1:45.09
Gabriel Tual 1:45.10
Simone Barontini 1:45.21
Abdelati El Guesse 1:45.24
Yanis Meziane 1:45.30
Catalin Tecuceanu 1:45.31
Adrian Ben 1:45.37
Mateusz Borkowski 1:45.40
Andreas Kramer 1:45.42
Max Burgin 1:45.43
Joseph Deng 1:45.48
Bryce Hoppel 1:45.56
Tshepiso Masalela 1:45.60
Daniel Rowden 1:45.67
Mark English 1:45.71 (SB)
Filip Ostrowski 1:45.76
Silmane Moula 1:45.76
Benjamin Robert 1:46.45
Ben Pattison 1:46.57
Mohamed Attaoui 1:46.65
Day 4 Evening Session: Women’s 400m Hurdles Semi Final
Tonight, the women’s 400m hurdles continued with the favourite, Femke Bol, coming in to the semifinals with the fastest time from the heats. Barring incident, she should progress to the finals where she’ll hope to upgrade last year’s silver to a gold. Coming to stop her would be the Americans Deliliah Muhammad, the 2019 world champion and Shamier Little. Although they are without Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone who would be a very strong gold medal bet.
Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton and Janieve Russell, the second and third ranked women in the world, will also be looking to ensure that Bol doesn’t have an easy path to victory.
The Heats
The first heat saw Clayton and Cockerell take the qualification for Jamaica and America. Next up, in the second heat, the favourite took to the blocks. Leaving no one in any doubt, she strode to the front early and took the easy win in 52.95 with Knight taking the second spot.
Little ran a season’s best 52.81 to win the final heat. Adekoya of Bahrain took second with an area record of 53.39. The two fastest non automatic qualifiers also came from this rapid group. Janieve Russel and Ayomide Folorunso of Italy set a national record to qualify in 53.89.
Qualifying for the final:
Shamier Little 52.81 (SB)
Femke Bol 52.95
Rushell Clayton 53.30 (PB)
Kemi Adekoya 53.39 (AR)
Anna Cockerell 53.63 (PB)
Jenieve Russell 53.69
Andrenette Knight 53.72
Ayomide Folorunso 53.89 (NR)
Day 4 Evening Session: Men’s 400m Semi Final
With the favourites through from the heat without incident, the semi finals were sure to be a tense event with only the first two from each heat and the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers making it through to the final.
From the off, the times were quick. Watson and Norwood setting PBs with 44.13 and 44.26 respectively. Van Niekerk would have to wait to see whether his time would carry him through to the final. Hudson-Smith set a European record of 44.26 to take his win with James in second place. The third semi final was a messy affair with Steven Gardiner pulling up injured in the final 100m. Quincey Hall took the win with Bailey taking second. Ingvaldsen and Van Niekerk qualified as fastest non automatic qualifiers.
Qualifying for the final:
Antonio Watson 44.13 (PB)
Matthew Hudson-Smith 44.26 (AR)
Vernon Norwood 44.26 (PB)
Quincy Hall 44.43
Kirani James 44.58
Wayde Van Niekerk 44.65
Havard Ingvaldsen 44.70
Sean Bailey 44.94
Day 4 Evening Session: Women’s 1500m Final
Would Hassan claim her first medal after the 10,000m drama and could it be gold? Would the field have anything for Faith Kipyegon? With the world record holder making short work of her heat, it looked likely that she would retain her world championship crown.
As soon as the race started, Kipyegon pushed to the front where she would remain throughout. Pushing firm the bell, chased by Welteji and Hassan, she showed her class and why she is one of the all time greats. 3:54.87, no world record tonight but another gold to add to the collection to bring day 4 to a close for the women.
Can she take the 5,000 title too?
Podium:
Faith Kipyegon 3:54.87
Diribe Welteji 3:55.69
Sifan Hassan 3:56.00
Day 4 Evening Session: Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final
Girma vs El Bakkali. World record holder vs Olympic and world champion. The 3000m steeplechase would be a clash of the titans. Girma looking to use his amazing form of 2023 to push himself a step further up the podium than he managed in either Tokyo or Eugene. El Bakkali is looking to continue his incredible championship run which has seen him undefeated in global finals for the past 2 years.
Always shadowing and allowing Girma to lead, El Bakkali relaxed his way through the first 2.5km.
As the race came into its final stages, Girma and El Bakkali ensured that the battle for the title would be between them. Leaving clear air to the rest of the field they duelled it out for first i the last event of day 4.
A surge on the back straight put El Bakkali level, over the final water jump he had the lead. As the athletes rounded the final bend, he was clear. A final barrier and a celebration at the line. When it counts, El Bakkali takes the win. The showdown continues in Paris.
Podium:
Soufiane El Bakkali 8:03.53
Lamecha Girma 8:05.44
Abraham Kibiwot 8:11.98
