By Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics.
Gift Leotlela of South Africa competes in the Mens 100m heats during the Athletics World Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 13, 2025.
The men’s and women’s 100m finals will bring the curtain down on the evening’s action, promising a drama-filled final 10 minutes of the session.
In the women’s event, the stage is set for the anticipated clash between world leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Olympic champion Julien Alfred, both having looked great in their first-round heat.
By contrast, the first round of the men’s event seemed to shake up the form book somewhat. Defending champion Noah Lyles and Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson both advanced with ease, but the biggest talking point came in the first heat where South Africa’s Gift Leotlela won in 9.87 from Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi (9.88). Oblique Seville, winner in Lausanne and London this year, was third in 9.93.
There could be more surprises in story in Sunday’s semis and final.
Clash of the marathon record-breakers
The day ends with the shortest events on the championship programme, but it starts with the longest: the women’s marathon.
Four years after taking Olympic gold on the streets of Tokyo, Peres Jepchirchir returns to the Japanese capital in a bid to win her first world title in the marathon. But Tigist Assefa, who broke Jepchirchir’s women-only world record in London earlier this year, leads a strong Ethiopian team which also includes two-time Tokyo Marathon winner Sutume Kebede.
Davis-Woodhall aiming to complete the set
Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall took one step closer towards completing her set of global titles. The US long jumper led the qualifying round on Saturday with 6.88m, setting up a showdown in the final with two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo.
Aregawi goes for gold
In the absence of 2023 winner Joshua Cheptegei, a new world champion will be crowned in the men’s 10,000m.
Berihu Aregawi, winner of multiple global silver medals, is targeting his first major gold. But fellow Ethiopians Biniam Mehary, the world leader, and Selemon Barega, winner of the Olympic title here in 2021, will provide stiff opposition.
Allman hopes to break the curse
Like Davis-Woodhall and Aregawi, US discus thrower Valarie Allman is another athlete who has high hopes of winning a long-awaited world title.
The two-time Olympic champion, surprisingly beaten at the past two editions of the World Championships, is desperate to break her World Championships curse after dominating her event this year.