Key events
Botswanan athletics is having a proper moment. And Letsile Tebogo, a comparative veteran at 22, is still to come in the final of the 200m.
We might just’ve witnessed the coming-out party of a new superstar. Kebinatshipi is only 21, and has so much improving left to do. But his speed, his speed endurance, and his big-race temperament are right there.
Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana wins the men’s 400m in 43.53
A fantastic run! Richards of T&T takes silver, with Ndori of Botswana bronze.
Kebinatshipi looks stronger in the home straight Nene has gone!
Nene is off quickly, Kebinatshipi taking it more gradually. Will Nene tie up?
They take their marks…
I say that, but Jacory Patterson of USA was great in the first round, then less so in the semi. If he finds his best work, he’s not out of this despite the lane three draw.
ANITDONTSTOP. It’s time for the men’s 400m final, with Nakajima of Japan the local favourite. Nene of South Africa, a beautiful mover, is a threat for gold; it’s between him and Kebinatshipi, I think.
Back to the women’s triple jump, Perez Hernandez of Cuba still leads, having extended her first round 14.85 to 14.94. But here comes Rojas, second, in round five … and nothing doing.
Attaouoi wins in 1.43.18; Wanyonyi is second, with third and fourth, Anderson and Masalela, the two fastest losers. Brazier of USA, one of the medal favourites, is out.
This is close until Attaouoi of Spain suddenly steps on the gas, moving metres clear in very little time. Wanyonyi will follow him home.
At the bell, Meziane of France leads, from Masalela of Botswana, from Wanyonyi of Kenya and Anderson of Jamaica.
Our final 800m semi is under way and the rain, we’re told, has relaxed a little – but it’s still wet underfoot.
As for the women’s 400m, it might be the race of the meet. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is a one-off, a genius of the track and an almost perfect athlete. On the one hand, how can she possibly win an event she’s only just come to, when the competition is so tough; on the other, how can she ever lose?
The races come so quickly, there’s barely time to amp them up, then reflect. But I can’t wait for the 400m finals and hope the rain doesn’t ruin how fast they might be.
I was seriously impressed with Kebinatshipi in the semis, and if he can deliver something similar, it’ll take a great run to beat him, but Nene has one in him.
McPhillips broke the Irish record with that run and looked absolutely nails down the final 30m. If he’s got another big run in him, you never know.
McPhillips wins in 1.43.18; Burgin is second, while Brazier fights back to make third and might be OK – that was a pretty quick race, so he’s quicker than those who finished outside the top two in the first semi.
Burgin leads around the bend, he’s safe and Brazier is nowhere; McPhillips of Ireland is coming through and he’s going to win.
Pernici of Italy bullies his way through bodies to the front, Burgin on his shoulder and taking the lead at the bell – the pace was too slow for his requirements.
Pattinson is really disappointed, saying he should be good enough to get through a race like that – he had lots more running in his legs, but gambled to stick on the inside, thinking it’d open up, and it didn’t.
In heat two, we’ve got Max Burgin of GB – he’s the third-fastest in the field, after Gabriel Tual of France and Donovan Brazier of USA.
With only two qualifying by right, this is a proper nasty finish … but Arop wins in 1.45.09, Sedjati of Algeria second. English and Wyderka are third and fourh.
Arop leads ar the bell, Taylor of Jamaica second and Kebenei of Kenya third … then English of Ireland goes to the front around the bend!
Time for the semis of the men’s 800m. Marco Arop, the fastest in the field, was almost run out of it in the heats, but he’s an imposing presence and won’t make the same mistake again. I’m really interested to see how Ben Pattinson goes, because he was impressive in the first round and sounded pretty confident in his body when discussing his performance afterwards. He settles in at the back of the pack.
I can’t see anyone other than the top two fighting for gold. I’m picking Jefferson-Wooden, but Jackson won this event at this meet in 2022 and 2023, so can’t be discounted.
The two fastest losers are Brittany Brown of USA and Anthonique Strachan of Bahamas.
Battle wins in 22.09 – slower than in the heats, but she got her start wrong – and Ta Lou-Smith of Cote d’Ivoire is the second qualifier. Neita, a proper stalwart of UK athletics, is fourth.
Battle is slow out of the blocks, Ta Lou-Smith leading. Those two are well clear.
In the third semi 0f the women’s 200m, Anavia Battle of USA looks the likeliest. Daryll Neita goes for GB.
Jefferson-Wooden wins in 22.00, Asher-Smith second in 22.21. I don’t think anyone bar Jackson can live with her, and she looks to have loads left.
Jefferson-Wood is out like you’d expect, she’s well clear, and Asher-Smith is similarly clear in second.
In the final heat, we’ve got Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, 100m champ and favourite, and also Dina Asher-smith.
Hunt, the Cambridge grad whose time is the second-best ever run by a Brit, is delighted. “That was lit wasn’t it!” she says. “The word of the day for me was intent,” saying everything from the warm-up was done with intent and passion. She knew she was in the shape of her life and knows she’s got one of the highest top speeds in the world, so she’s “super-excited” for tomorrow and her good lane. Hold tight!
Jackson wins in 21.99, a season’s best, while Hunt is second in 22.08, a PB! She was under pressure from Brown in the final 20m, but she had the speed endurance to see it out. That’s great work, delivering your best when you most need to.
Jackson is away well, up on Brown, but Hunt is looking strong in second!
Righto, on to the women’s event. We’ve got Shericka Jackson and Brittany Brown going in the first semi, with Amy Hunt going for GB…
That Lyles run really was brilliant, from gun to tape; I can’t wait for tomorrow’s final, and I know I’ve been backing Bednarek since the start, but he’ll just have seen his PB of 19.57 rinsed. If Lyles runs a similar time, he’s struggling; Tebogo went quicker winning gold in Paris, while Levell looks to have something similar in him.
Hughes says he needed to work the bend to be in striking distance. He could’ve been a bit more aggressive, but that’s for the final; he’s got a lot more, he just needs to trust himself and stay relaxed in the last couple of metres.
Our fastest-loser qualifiers are Dambile of RSA, who ran a PB of 19.97, and Makaraku of Zimbabwe, who ran 19.98; the two embrace, and it’s a lovely moment.
I love the way Lyles attacked that race. He killed the first 10, piled into the curve, and didn’t let up; he wanted to send a message, and he has. “Welcome to the Lyles den!” he shouts into a camera; he liked that, a lot. You’d have to, if you could do it, which he can.
Lyles is away really well, miles ahead at the bend. He streaks clear … and wins in 19.51! That’s the fastest time in the world this year, a statement race this, and Hughes follows him home in 19.95.
Lyles noises up the crowd as he does, but is he deflecting? He didn’t look great in the 100, but this is his better event, and he’ll hope his speed endurance is enough.
In semi three of the men’s 200, we’ve got Noah Lyles and Tapiwanashe Makarawu of Zimbabwe, but watch out for Udodi Onwuzurike of Nigeria; Hughes goes in lane six.
In the women’s triple jump final, Perez Hernandez of Cuba takes the lead with 14.85; Rojas hits 14.76 in response. They’ve five jumps to go.
My guess is Gout wanted to run quicker than that, but back to those still involved, Levell is looking seriously strong and if he’s got a performance left, will go fast enough to win a medal.
Levell wins in 19.78, Tebogo second in 19.95; Lindsey of USA is third and Gout is fourth in 20.36.
Levell gets away well and he’s flying around the bend, Tebogo clear in second.
Also in heat two: the prodigious Gout Gout and Bryan Levell of Jamaica, who was really impressive in the first round.
It’s been bothering me who Zharnell Hughes looks like and I’ve finally got it: Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, the former UFC heavyweight.
I actually fancy Bednarek to take this title, and he’ll know this is his chance with Lyles not in the greatest shape. Let’s see what Letsile has in the second semi.
Bednarek wins in 19.88, nice and controlled; Ogando of Dominica takes second, with Van Niekerk of RSA having to wait.
