Event-by-event guide to the action in Tokyo from September 13-21 with key contenders, stats and British hopes

Men's 100m

Final: Sunday September 14
History maker: Usain Bolt JAM – three golds, one bronze
Defending champion: Noah Lyles USA 9.83
Championship record:
Usain Bolt JAM 9.58, 2009
Olympic champion: Lyles USA 9.79
World leader: Kishane Thompson JAM 9.75

The showpiece sprint looks like being another battle between the USA and Jamaica.

Ones to watch
(outdoor 2025 bests in brackets)

Noah Lyles USA (10.00)
Made a slow start to his 2025 campaign over 100m but is still capable of winning his third consecutive major title at the distance.
Kishane Thompson JAM (9.75)
The Olympic silver medallist won the Jamaican trials in a PB 9.75, backed up by a 9.85 win at the Pre Classic and victory over Lyles in Silesia.
Oblique Seville JAM (9.83)
The serial major finalist has a tendency to peak in the semis but has had impressive wins in London and Lausanne, easily beating Lyles in the latter.
Kenny Bednarek USA (9.79)
Looks much improved, winning the US trials and dominating the Grand Slam Track events.

British challenge:
The 2023 bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes looks sharp, judging by his British title victory. World indoor champion Jeremiah Azu qualified with a mid-August 9.97. Romell Glave also competes.

AW prediction:
1 Thompson JAM 9.75; 2 Lyles USA 9.76; 3 Bednarek USA 9.78. Top Brit: 5 Hughes 9.85

Women's 100m

Final: Sunday September 14
Championship record: Sha’Carri Richardson USA 10.65
History maker: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: five golds, one bronze
Defending champion:
Sha’Carri Richardson USA 10.65
Olympic champion: Julien Alfred LCA 10.72
World leader: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden USA 10.65

Can anyone stop America’s emerging force?

Ones to watch

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden USA (10.65)
The Olympic bronze medallist dominated the Grand Slam events but moved up another level at the US Championships to go into the all-time top five.
Julien Alfred LCA (10.75)
Fourth in Budapest, the Olympic champion has been consistent at sub 10.80 this summer.
Sha’Carri Richardson USA (11.05)
The enigmatic defending champion and Olympic silver medallist has not yet looked anywhere close to her form of past years.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM (10.91)
The world’s greatest women’s 100m runner with seven global short sprint titles was third in Budapest but, at 38, looks past her sharpest.

British challenge:
Amy Hunt impressively won the British title but her time there is outside of the top 40. Expect either her, Dina Asher-Smith or Daryll Neita to make the top eight.

AW prediction: 1 Jefferson-Wooden USA 10.60; 2 Alfred LCA 10.65; 3 Clayton JAM 10.83. Top Brit: 6 Asher-Smith 10.86

Men's 200m

Final: Friday September 19
Championship record: Usain Bolt JAM 19.19, 2009
History maker: Usain Bolt JAM – four golds, one silver
Defending champion: Noah Lyles USA 19.52
Olympic champion: Letsile Tebogo BOT 19.46
World leader: Lyles USA 19.62

Letsile Tebogo takes on the might of America once again.

Ones to watch

Noah Lyles USA (19.63)
Aiming to equal Bolt’s haul of four world 200m gold medals, he will be keen to make up for an illness-affected Olympic bronze. Starts as marginal favourite.
Kenny Bednarek USA (19.67)
The three-time global silver medallist narrowly lost out to Lyles at the US trials and will be to the fore again.
Letsile Tebogo BOT (19.76)
After his bronze in Budapest, he dominated the Paris Olympics and has been in good form in 2025, winning in Doha and Eugene before losing out in Monaco and Zurich.
Tapiwa Makarawu ZIM (19.84)
The NCAA champion was sixth at the Paris Olympics and looks improved based on his college title win.
Bryan Levell JAM (19.69)
Jamaican champion had a big breakthrough in winning at Budapest and looks improved from his semi final Paris form.

British challenge: Zharnel Hughes was fourth in Budapest and a 19.90 UK Championships win showed he is currently in great form. Should challenge for the medals again in Tokyo. Toby Harries joins him on the team.

AW prediction: 1 Lyles USA 19.40; 2 Tebogo BOT 19.45; 3 Bednarek USA 19.46. Top Brit: 5 Hughes 19.71

Women's 200m

Final: Friday September 19
Championship record: Shericka Jackson JAM 21.41, 2023
History maker: Allyson Felix USA – three golds, one bronze
Defending champion: Shericka Jackson JAM 21.41
Olympic champion: Gabby Thomas USA 21.83
World leader: Julien Alfred LCA 21.71

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Julien Alfred square off again.

Ones to watch

Julien Alfred LCA (21.71)
Second in the 200m in Paris, she has looked stronger and faster this year, impressively winning in London in a world-leading time.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden USA (21.84)
Has looked in sparkling form, winning the US trials in a big PB, but the 100m looks to be her best event.
Shericka Jackson JAM (22.17)
After easy wins in 2021 and 2023, she failed to make it to Paris. After a slow start to 2025, she won in Silesia but is nowhere near her championships record form.
Favour Ofili NGR (22.00)
Paris sixth-placer has improved her 100m speed in 2025 and was second in Lausanne.

British challenge: There are three potential British finalists and the best on the day could take a medal. Former world champion Dina Asher-Smith just edged Amy Hunt to the British title, while Daryll Neita has generally been below her best in 2025.

AW prediction: 1 Alfred LCA 21.56; 2 Jefferson-Wooden USA 21.63; 3 Jackson JAM 21.75. Top Brit: 5 Asher-Smith 21.90

Men's 400m

Final: Tuesday September 18
Championship record: Michael Johnson USA 43.19, 1999
History maker: Johnson USA – four golds
Defending champion: Antonio Watson JAM 44.22
Olympic champion: Quincy Hall USA 43.40
World leader: Zakithi Nene RSA 43.76

Even with Olympic champion Quincy Hall missing, Matthew Hudson-Smith faces a stern challenge.

Ones to watch

Jacory Patterson USA (43.85)
The world indoor bronze medallist went sub-44 early in the season, then won the US trials and Brussels Diamond League before lowering his PB in Zurich.
Muzala Samukonga ZAM (44.11)
The fast-finishing Commonwealth champion was third in Paris and, after a modest start to 2025, won in a fast time at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Zakithi Nene RSA (43.76)
His win at altitude in Nairobi tops the rankings but he has failed to make the final in his four previous global championships. Gained Diamond League top three places in Rabat, Rome and London.
Chris Bailey USA (44.15)
The world indoor champion was second at the US trials and proved he is more than just a mainstay of the relay team.

British challenge: With silver medals at the Olympics, world championships and Commonwealth Games, new father Matthew Hudson-Smith could be ready to top the podium and has been in good form in 2025 with a best of 44.10. He was beaten in London by the 44.14 of fellow Brit Charlie Dobson, who could also challenge for a medal. Sam Reardon clocked an early season 44.60 and a return to that form will see him make the semis.

AW prediction: 1 Patterson USA 43.88; 2 Hudson-Smith GBR 43.90; 3 Nene RSA 44.05. Next Brit: 5 Dobson 44.15

Women's 400m

Final: Friday September 18
Championship record: Jarmila Kratochvilova CZE 47.99, 1983
History maker: Ana Guevara MEX – two golds, one bronze
Defending champion: Marileidy Paulino DOM 48.76
Olympic champion: Paulino DOM 48.25
World leader: Salwa Eid Naser BRN 48.67

A three-way battle for gold features an athlete better known for her hurdling prowess.

Ones to watch

Marileidy Paulino DOM (48.81)
The defending world and Olympic champion lost in Kingston but then won the next two Grand Slam Track meetings and came first at the Paris, Monaco and Silesia Diamond Leagues.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone USA (48.90)
The double Olympic hurdles champion focused on the flat 400m to win the US title and hasn’t lost in the event for over two years.
Salwa Eid Naser BRN (48.67)
The 2019 world champion who served a two-year doping ban returned to form to win Olympic silver and set an early world lead at the Kingston Grand Slam. Beat Paulino in the Diamond League final.
Henriette Jaeger NOR (49.62)
After winning European and World Indoors medals, she ran a Norwegian record in Oslo and won the European U23 title, as well as the Lausanne Diamond League.

British challenge: World indoor champion Amber Anning hasn’t quite hit top form outdoors with a best of 49.75 in Zurich but she should make the final. Former world junior champion Yemi Mary John is also selected, alongside Victoria Ohuruogu.

AW prediction: 1 McLaughlin-Levrone USA 48.32; 2 Paulino DOM 48.45; 3 Naser BRN 48.58. Top Brit: 6 Anning 49.40

Men's 800m

Final: Saturday September 20
Championship record:
Donavan BrazierUSA 1:42.34, 2019
History maker: Wilson Kipketer DEN – three golds
Defending champion: Marco Arop CAN 1:44.24
Olympic champion:
Emmanuel Wanyonyi KEN 1:41.19
World leader: Emmanuel Wanyonyi KEN 1:41.44

Will it take a run of 1:41 to land the gold medal?

Ones to watch

Emmanuel Wanyonyi KEN (1:41.44)
The Olympic champion was a silver medallist in Budapest and has been brilliant in 2025, winning in Oslo, Stockholm, Monaco, London and Zurich.
Donavan Brazier USA (1:42.16)
After winning the 2019 world title, he went out in the heats in 2022 and failed to make the 2021 and 2024 Olympics. Bounced back with a PB at the US trials.
Djamel Sedjati ALG (1:42.20)
Second at the 2022 world championships and third at the Olympics, he has been in consistent form – twice running inside 1:42.30.
Marco Arop CAN (1:42.22)
The defending champion was second in Paris and remains among the favourites after a 1:42.22 run in London.

British challenge: Olympic finalist Max Burgin looks faster and stronger in 2025 and should be close to a medal. The 2023 world medallist Ben Pattison has bounced back to form to be selected, while Tiarnan Crorken makes his world championships debut.

AW prediction: 1 Wanyonyi KEN 1:42.10; 2 Arop CAN 1:42.25; 3 Burgin (GBR) 1:42.48

Women's 800m

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: Jarmila Kratochvilova CZE 1:54.68, 1983
History maker: Maria Mutola MOZ – five golds
Defending champion: Mary Moraa KEN 1:56.03
Olympic champion: Keely Hodgkinson GBR 1:56.72
World leader: Hodgkinson GBR 1:54.74

Keely Hodgkinson is eyeing a first world title.

Ones to watch

Tsige Duguma ETH (1:56.64)
The 2024 world indoor champion and Olympic runner-up was only sixth in Nanjing indoors but won Diamond Leagues in Shaoxing, Rabat and Eugene.
Prudence Sekgodiso RSA (1:57.16)
The world indoor champion has been very consistent, running 1:57.16 at both Ostrava and Eugene.
Mary Moraa KEN (1:57.83)
The defending champion was third in Paris but has been well below that form in 2025 and by mid- August had only once gone under 1:59.5.
Audrey Werro SUI (1:55.91)
Fourth in Nanjing, she continued her improvement in the summer winning the Euro U23 gold and setting a Swiss record in winning at Bydgoszcz before lowering that mark in the Diamond League final with 1:55.91.

British challenge: Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson made a spectacular return in Silesia with 1:54.74 and a meeting record in Lausanne. Georgia Hunter Bell won in Stockholm, London and lowered her PB to 1:55.96 in Zurich. Jemma Reekie has not been as impressive so far in 2025.

AW prediction: 1 Hodgkinson GBR 1:55.99; 2 Duguma ETH 1:56.14; 3 Sekgodiso RSA 1:57.23. Next Brit: 5 Hunter-Bell 1:57.45

Men's 1500m

Final: Wednesday September 17
Championship record: Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 3:27.65, 1999
History maker: Hicham El Guerrouj MAR: four golds
Defending champion: Josh Kerr GBR 3:29.38
Olympic champion: Cole Hocker USA 3:27.65
World leader: Azeddine Habz FRA 3:27.49

Young talents aiming to upset the established middle-distance order.

Ones to watch

Niels Laros NED (3:29.20)
Ran a 3:45.94 one mile world lead in Eugene, then completed a European U23 800m/5000m double and won in Brussels and in Zurich.
Cole Hocker USA (3:30.37)
The Olympic champion only squeezed into a very strong US team with a typical flying finish and has not matched his Paris form in 2025.
Phanuel Koech KEN (3:27.72)
Set a world under-20 record in Paris and beat Kerr at the London Diamond League.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR (3:29.63i)
After a brilliant indoor season that brought world and European 1500m and 3000m titles plus a mile world record, injury halted his progress.

British challenge: Defending champion Josh Kerr followed up his Budapest win with a world indoor 3000m title and Olympic silver. He will be a big factor, while former champion Jake Wightman, world indoor medallist Neil Gourley and Elliot Giles could give Britain four finalists.

AW prediction: 1 Laros 3:28.20; 2 Koech KEN 3:28.32; 3 Kerr GBR 3:29.23. Next Brit: 7 Wightman 3:31.12

Women's 1500m

Final: Tuesday September 16
Championship record: Sifan Hassan NED 3:51.95, 2019
History maker: Faith Kipyegon KEN – three golds and two silvers
Defending champion: Faith Kipyegon KEN 3:54.87
Olympic champion: Faith Kipyegon KEN 3:51.29
World leader: Faith Kipyegon KEN 3:48.68

Expect another 1500m coronation for Queen Kipyegon.

Ones to watch

Faith Kipyegon KEN (3:48.68)
The world’s greatest is running her 11th global outdoor 1500m and will win easily again. Her last major loss at a championships 1500m was in 2019.
Diribe Welteji ETH (3:51.44)
The 2023 world mile road champion (ahead of Kipyegon) was second in Budapest two years ago and took silver at the World Indoors. Just missed a medal in Paris but is in great form in 2025.
Jessica Hull AUS (3:52.67)
The Olympic silver medallist has been seventh at the last two World Championships and this year has set area records for 1000m and the mile.
Sarah Healy IRL (3:57.15)
The European Indoor 3000m champion has failed to make a global outdoor final in her four previous attempts but is now stronger and has twice run 3:57 this summer.

British challenge: Georgia Hunter Bell is focusing on the 800m. The 2021 Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir is running her 30th championships track race and clocked an encouraging 3:57.63 in Brussels. She is joined in the team by European indoor bronze medallist Revee Walcott-Nolan and Hunter Bell’s training partner, Erin Wallace.

AW prediction: 1 Kipyegon KEN 3:50.67; 2 Welteji ETH 3:51.45; 3 Hull AUS 3:51.87. Top Brit: 5 Muir GBR 3:54.03

Men's 5000m

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: Eliud Kipchoge KEN 12:52.79, 2003
History maker: Mo Farah GBR – three golds, one silver
Defending champion: Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR 13:11.30
Olympic champion: Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR 13:13.66
World leader: Andreas Almgren SWE 12:44.27

Has Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s injury opened things up?

Ones to watch

Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR (13:13.66 in 2024)
Has won three global 5000m titles between 2022 and 2024 but hasn’t raced outdoors this summer. He will still expect to win, even if unlikely to be at his best.
Andreas Almgren SWE (12:44.27)
The former world junior 800m medallist who failed to get through the Budapest heats produced the run of his life at the Stockholm Diamond League to top the world rankings.
Biniam Mehary ETH (12:45.93)
Finished sixth at the Olympics aged just 17 and chased American Nico Young home in Oslo earlier this year.
Cole Hocker USA (13:09.36)
Ranked 66th in the world in August based on his Stockholm seventh place but the Olympic 1500m champion won the US trials and will be a danger if the race isn't hard all the way.
Niels Laros NED (13:10.86)
Has been in dazzling form over 1500m but won the European U23 title and European Team Champs at 5000m.

British challenge: George Mills will be the sole British competitor and should be a major factor after winning European Indoor 3000m silver, setting a British record in Oslo (12:46.59) and improving his 1500m best to 3:28.56.

AW prediction: 1 Hocker USA 12:55.67; 2 Ingebrigtsen NOR 12:55.78; 3 Mehary ETH 12:56.01. Top Brit: 5 Mills 12:57.86

Women's 5000m

Final: Saturday September 20
Championship record: Hellen Obiri KEN 14:26.72, 2019
History maker: Meseret Defar ETH – two golds, one silver, two bronze
Defending champion: Faith Kipyegon KEN 14:53.88
Olympic champion: Beatrice Chebet KEN 14:28.56
World leader: Beatrice Chebet KEN 13:58.06

It’s a Kenya v Ethiopia clash of the titans.

Ones to watch

Beatrice Chebet KEN (13:58.06)
The Olympic champion smashed the world record and the 14-minute barrier this year but needs a world gold to complete her medal collection after a previous silver and bronze.
Faith Kipyegon KEN (14:29.60 in 2024)
Has the wild card from being defending champion from 2023 and second in the Paris Olympics last year. The 5000m comes after her main event, the 1500m, but she has focused on shorter races thus far in 2025.
Agnes Ngetich KEN (14:01.29)
Set a 24-second PB in Eugene behind Chebet to go third all-time but has no 5000m championships experience.
Gudaf Tsegay ETH (14:04.41)
The former world record-holder and 2022 champion has nine global indoor and outdoor medals but can still be tactically naive and enigmatic.

British challenge: After their PB-smashing runs in London, both Hannah Nuttall (14:39.48) and multiple European junior champion Innes Fitzgerald (14:39.56) qualified in style. Melissa Courtney-Bryant also gets the nod.

AW prediction: 1 Chebet KEN 14:11.60; 2 Kipyegon KEN 14:11.86; 3 Ngetich KEN 14:14.56. Top Brit: 10 Nuttall 14:45.65

Men's 10,000m

Final: Sunday September 14
Defending champion: Joshua Cheptegei UGA 27:51.42
Championship record: Kenenisa Bekele ETH 26:46.31, 2009
History maker: Haile Gebrselassie ETH – four golds, one silver, one bronze
Olympic champion: Joshua Cheptegei UGA 26:43.14
World leader: Biniam Mehary ETH 26:43.82

With Joshua Cheptegei switching to the roads, the path is clear for a new champion to emerge.

Ones to watch

Grant Fisher USA (29:02.37)
The double Olympic bronze medallist narrowly lost out in the US trials and has yet to match the indoor form where he set world records at 3000m and 5000m. Could also challenge at 5000m.
Yomif Kejelcha ETH (26:31.01 in 2024)
The 2019 runner-up who has won two world indoor 3000m golds had run three sub 12:50 5000m races in 2025 but was selected for the longer event despite only having run a road 10km (in 26:31!).
Selemon Barega ETH (26:44.13)
The 2021 Olympic champion, third in Budapest, has shown great range in 2025, running a 3:32.93 1500m after a 2:05:15 marathon win in Seville.
Biniam Mehary ETH (26:43.82)
The 18-year-old has only run two 10,000m races – a world junior record last year and a world lead in Eugene – in 2025 but it is unclear whether he will double up.

British challenge: With just 27 places available and an incredibly high qualifying standard of 27:00 standard there will be no Brits in this event, though Patrick Dever was close to a world rankings spot.

AW prediction: 1 Fisher USA 26:55.87; 2 Kejelcha ETH 26:56.11; 3 Barega ETH 26:56.45

Women's 10,000m

Final: Saturday September 14
Championship record: Berhane Adere ETH 30:04.18, 2003
History maker: Tirunesh Dibaba ETH – three golds, one silver
Defending champion: Gudaf Tsegay ETH 31:27.18
Olympic champion: Beatrice Chebet KEN 30:43.25
World leader: Janeth Chepngetich KEN 30:27.02

Can anyone thwart a Kenyan clean-sweep?

Ones to watch

Beatrice Chebet KEN (30:27.52)
The Olympic champion was only third in the trials but, judging by her 3000m and 5000m performances, there is nothing wrong with her form.
Gudaf Tsegay ETH (29:05.92 in 2024)
The defending champion was sixth in her last 10,000m, which came at the Olympics last year.
Nadia Battocletti ITA (30:43.35 in 2024)
The European champion and Olympic silver medallist has not run a 10,000m this season but has set Italian records at 3000m and 5000m.
Agnes Ngetich KEN (30:27.38)
Came in the top four at the last two World Cross Country Championships and is the 10km world record-holder (29:27). She has made big improvements over 3000m and 5000m.

British challenge: European bronze medallist Megan Keith and Calli Hauger-Thackery.

AW prediction: 1 Chebet KEN 30:32.65; 2 Tsegay ETH 30:32.97; 3 Ngetich KEN 30:35.82

Men's 3000m steeplechase

Final: Monday September 15
Championship record: Ezekiel Kemboi KEN 8:00.43 2009
History maker: Ezekiel Kemboi KEN – four golds, two silvers, one bronze
Defending champion: Soufiane El Bakkali MAR 8:03.53
Olympic champion: Soufiane El Bakkali MAR 8:06.05
World leader: Soufiane El Bakkali MAR 8:00.70

Soufiane El Bakkali looking for a hat-trick.

Ones to watch

Soufiane El Bakkali MAR (8:00.70)
The double Olympic champion bids for his third successive world gold and fifth successive medal. Has wins in Rabat and Monaco to his name.
Ryuji Miura JPN (8:03.43)
After three global top-eight finishes by the age of 22, looks ready to finally win a medal, judging by his Japanese record in Monaco.
Lamecha Girma ETH (8:07.01)
The world record-holder has three world silvers behind El Bakkali but suffered a bad fall at the Olympics last year and has run once so far this summer.
Frederik Ruppert GER (8:01.49)
After a 14-second PB and German record to chase El Bakkali in Rabat, he failed to win the German title but then took the Diamond League crown in Zurich.

British challenge: Zak Seddon (8:15.66) was initially named in the team but did not make the final squad due to his rankings position.

AW prediction: 1 El Bakkali MAR 8:12.34; 2 Girma ETH 8:13.45; 3 Miura JPN 8:13.86

Women's 3000m steeplechase

Final: Wednesday September 17
Championship record: Winfred Yavi BRN 8:54.29, 2023
Defending champion: Winfred Yavi BRN 8:54.29
Olympic champion: Winfred Yavi BRN 8:52.76
World leader: Winfred Yavi BRN 8:45.25

Winfred Yavi keeping a firm grip on gold.

Ones to watch

Winfred Yavi BRN (8:45.25)
The defending champion also won Olympic gold and, after two early losses in Doha and Oslo, has hit top-class form.
Faith Cherotich KEN (8:48.71)
Bronze medallist in Budapest and Paris had Diamond League victories in Doha, Oslo and Paris before clocking a big PB in Eugene and then winning in Zurich.
Doris Lemngole KEN (8:58.15)
The NCAA champion has never run in a major championship and had only raced in Kenya and the USA until winning in Lausanne. Has also won NCAA titles at 5000m and cross-country.
Peruth Chemutai UGA (8:51.77)
The 2021 Olympic champion and Paris runner-up has won no world medals from four previous championships but has been in great form in 2025.

British challenge: The much-improved national champion Elise Thorner qualified comfortably with a 9:15.06 PB in Oslo and was also fourth in Lausanne, while Sarah Tait has joined her via the rankings.

AW prediction: 1 Yavi BRN 8:47.85; 2 Cherotich KEN 8:49.11; 3 Chemutai UGA 8:50.45. Top Brit: 12 Thorner 9:11.16

Men's marathon

Final: Monday September 15
Championship record: Tamirat Tola ETH 2:05:36, 2022
History maker: Abel Anton ESP, Jaouad Gharib MAR, Abel Kirui KEN – two golds
Defending champion: Viktor Kiplangat UGA 2:08:53
Olympic champion: Tamirat Tola ETH 2:06:26
World leader: Sabastian Sawe KEN 2:02:27

Ethiopia in pole position on the roads.

Ones to watch

Deresa Geleta ETH (2:03:51)
The Tokyo runner-up was fifth in Paris last year before also running 2:02.38 in Valencia in December to make the all-time top 10.
Tadese Takele ETH (2:03:23)
The Tokyo marathon winner won a world junior steeplechase medal in 2021 and is just 23 years old.
Tesfaye Deriba ETH (2:04:13)
Seventh in the steeplechase in the 2017 world championships and ran 2:04:13 to win in his marathon debut in Barcelona.
Vincent Ngetich KEN (2:04:00)
Has finished third in Tokyo for the last two years and has a best of 2:03:13 from finishing second in Berlin in 2023. Second in the Great Manchester 10km this year.

British challenge: Emile Cairess, who was a brilliant fourth at the Olympics, could place even higher in Japan if he can replicate his best championships form.

AW prediction: 1 Geleta ETH 2:08:59; 2 Takele ETH 2:09:01; 3 Ngetich KEN 2:09:21. Top Brit: 5 Cairess 2:10:04

Women's marathon

Final: Sunday September 14
Championship record: Gotytom Gebrselassie ETH 2:18:11
History makers: Edna Kiplagat/Catherine Ndereba KEN – two golds, one silver
Defending champion: Amane Beriso ETH 2:24:23
Olympic champion: Sifan Hassan NED 2:22:55
World leader: Tigist Assefa ETH 2:15:50

Peres Jepchirchir standing in the way of Ethiopian dominance.

Ones to watch

Tigist Assefa ETH (2:15:50)
The former world record-holder was second at the Olympics and won London this year.
Amane Beriso ETH (2:21:58)
The Budapest winner was fifth in Paris and then fifth in Boston this year and has a 2:14:58 PB from 2022.
Peres Jepchirchir KEN (2:16:16 in 2024)
The 2021 Olympic champion and three-time world half-marathon champion won London in 2024 but hasn’t raced since finishing 14th in Paris.
Suteme Asefa ETH (2:16:31)
The two-time Tokyo winner, in 2024 and 2025, qualifies for her first major championships.

British challenge: Calli Hauger-Thackery, sixth in Boston, was pre-selected but switched to the 10,000m.

AW prediction: 1 Assefa ETH 2:18:45; 2 Asefa ETH 2:18:58; 3 Jepchirchir KEN 2:19:45

Men's 110m hurdles

Final: Tuesday September 16
Championship record: Colin Jackson GBR 12.91, 1993
History maker: Allen Johnson USA – four golds, one bronze
Defending champion: Grant Holloway USA 12.96
Olympic champion: Grant Holloway USA 12.99 (12.98 sf)
World leader: Cordell Tinch USA 12.87

The USA should dominate, but perhaps not with their usual champion.

Ones to watch

Grant Holloway USA (13.11)
The Olympic champion bids for his fourth world title (seventh including indoors) but has been well below his best form outdoors in 2025.
Cordell Tinch USA (12.87)
Set a world lead in Shaoxing, backed up by top-class results in other Diamond Leagues, but lacks championships experience aside from making the semi-finals in Budapest back in 2023.
Rachid Muratake JPN (12.92)
The Olympic fifth-placer smashed the Japanese record in mid-August to increase his medal chances.
Ja’Kobe Tharp USA (13.01)
The 2024 world junior champion enjoyed an NCAA and US trials double, winning in a PB in the latter to make his first senior championships.

British challenge: British champion Tade Ojora (13.30) will probably need a PB just to make the semis.

AW prediction: 1 Tinch USA 12.95; 2 Tharp USA 12.99; 3 Muratake JPN 13.00. Best Brit: sf Ojora

Women's 100m hurdles

Final: Monday September 15
Championship record: Tobi Amusan NGR 12.06, 2021
History maker: Gail Devers USA – three golds, two silver
Defending champion: Danielle Williams JAM 12.43
Olympic champion: Masai Russell USA 12.33
World leader: Masai Russell USA 12.17

Masai Russell facing fierce opposition.

Ones to watch

Masai Russell USA (12.17)
The Olympic champion has never made a world outdoor final but went second on the all-time list this year.
Tobi Amusan NGR (12.24)
The 2022 world champion has been in her best form since that Eugene gold, having failed to make the Olympic final in Paris.
Danielle Williams JAM (12.31)
The double world champion (2015 and 2023) set a lifetime PB in Silesia at the age of 32.
Grace Stark USA (12.21)
Olympic fifth-placer has greatly improved since and went into the all-time top five with her win in Paris this year.

British challenge: Marcia Sey had the British standard after a 12.77 PB but did not make the final squad.

AW prediction: 1 Russell USA 12.20; 2 Amusan NGR 12.28; 3 Stark USA 12.31

Men's 400m hurdles

Final: Friday September 19
Championship record: Alison dos Santos BRA 46.29, 2022
History maker: Karsten Warholm NOR – three golds
Defending champion: Karsten Warholm NOR 46.89
Olympic champion: Rai Benjamin USA 46.46
World leader: Karsten Warholm NOR 46.28

As with the 2021 Olympics, this has the potential to be the race of the championships.

Ones to watch

Karsten Warholm NOR (46.28)
The three-time world champion was second in Paris but, based on his 300m hurdles world record and Silesia world lead, he starts as the favourite.
Rai Benjamin USA (46.54)
The Olympic champion beat a below-par Warholm in Stockholm as he bids to improve on two world championships silvers and one bronze.
Alison dos Santos BRA (46.65)
The 2022 world champion and double Olympic bronze medallist beat Benjamin in Eugene and will push the big two all the way.
Abderrahman Samba QAT (47.09)
The 2019 world medallist was sixth at the Olympics and ran his second-fastest ever time in Paris this year.

British challenge: The trio of British champion Tyri Donovan, Alastair Chalmers and Seamus Derbyshire all qualified and all could make the semi-finals.

AW prediction: 1 Warholm NOR 45.87; 2 Benjamin USA 45.98; 3 Dos Santos BRA 46.45. Best Brit: Donovan sf 48.45

Women's 400m hurdles

Final: Friday September 19
Championship record: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone USA 50.68, 2022
History maker: Nezha Bidouane MAR – two golds, one silver
Defending champion: Femke Bol NED 51.70
Olympic champion: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone USA 50.37
World leader: Femke Bol NED 51.91

Femke Bol to easily defend her crown.

Ones to watch

Femke Bol NED (51.91)
The defending champion was a well-beaten third at the Olympics but has won all her races easily in 2025 and, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone contesting the 400m, should win again with ease.
Dalilah Muhammad USA (52.58)
The former Olympic and world champion bids for a fifth world medal, which seems likely based on her US title win.
Anna Cockrell USA (52.89)
Defeated Bol in Paris last year to take Olympic silver but has not looked in 51.87 form this year.
Emma Zapletova SVK (53.58)
The 2021 European U23 champion has set four national records in 2025, including a second place finish behind Bol in Silesia.

British challenge: Emily Newnham qualified with a stunning 54.08 PB in winning European under-23 gold and a repeat could see her go close to the final. British champion Lina Nielsen also qualified comfortably.

AW prediction: 1 Bol NED 51.40; 2 Muhammad USA 52.55; 3 Cockrell USA 52.67. Best Brit: Newnham sf 54.10

Men's high jump

Final: Tuesday September 16
Championship record: Bogdan Bondarenko UKR 2.41m, 2013
History maker: Mutaz Essa Barshim QAT – three golds, one silver, one bronze
Defending champion: Gianmarco Tamberi ITA 2.36m
Olympic champion: Hamish Kerr NZL 2.36m
World leader: Danil Lysenko RUS 2.35m (Woo Sang-Hyeok KOR 2.34m)

With Gianmarco Tamberi sitting it out, it looks like being a three-way contest for gold.

Ones to watch

Hamish Kerr NZL (2.33m)
The Olympic champion was second in this year's World Indoor Championships and won in Rabat and Silesia as he rounds into top form.
Woo Sang-Hyeok KOR (2.34m)
The double world indoor champion won outdoor world silver in 2022 and has been in good form in 2025, with wins in Rome and Monaco.
Jan Stefela CZE (2.33m)
The Olympic finalist was second at the European indoors and won the European Team Championships in a then world lead.
Oleh Doroshchuk UKR (2.30m)
The European Indoor champion (in a PB of 2.34m) has not quite matched that form outdoors but was second at the Rome
Diamond League.

British challenge: There won’t be any British contenders in Tokyo.

AW prediction: 1 Kerr NZL 2.35m; 2 Woo-Sang Hyeok KOR 2.35m; 3 J Stefela CZE 2.33m

Women's high jump

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: Stefka Kostadinova BUL 2.09m, 1987
History maker: Mariya Lasitskene RUS – three golds
Defending champion: Yaroslava Mahuchikh UKR 2.01m
Olympic champion: Yaroslava Mahuchikh UKR 2.00m
World leader: Nicola Olyslagers AUS 2.04m

Yaroslava Mahuchikh can expect some stiff Australian opposition.

Ones to watch

Yaroslava Mahuchikh UKR (2.02m)
The reigning world and Olympic champion and world record-holder is favourite, despite losses in Stockholm, Paris, London and Zurich.
Nicola Olyslagers AUS (2.04m)
The double world indoor champion and Olympic silver medallist was third in Budapest and has been in consistent two-metre form in 2025, breaking her Oceania record in Zurich.
Eleanor Patterson AUS (1.97m)
The 2022 world champion and 2023 runner-up was third in the Olympics has not quite reached that level in 2025.
Vashti Cunningham USA (1.97m)
The 2016 world indoor champion only has a world bronze in 2019 from her seven global outdoor championships but did have an impressive US title win this year.

British challenge: Morgan Lake, fourth in Budapest, enjoyed a fine win in London and broke the British record with 2.00m in Zurich.

AW prediction: 1 Mahuchikh UKR 2.05m; 2 Olyslagers AUS 2.01m; 3 Patterson AUS 2.01m. Best Brit: 4 Lake 1.97m

Men's pole vault

Final: Monday September 15
Championship record: Mondo Duplantis SWE 6.21m, 2022
History maker: Sergey Bubka UKR – six golds
Defending champion: Mondo Duplantis SWE 6.10m
Olympic champion: Mondo Duplantis SWE 6.25m
World leader: Mondo Duplantis SWE 6.29m

Will Mondo break new ground with 6.30m?

Ones to watch

Mondo Duplantis SWE (6.29m)
The double Olympic champion bids for his third world title, having set world records this summer in Stockholm and Budapest while remaining unbeaten. The Championships’ biggest star and favourite.
Emmanouil Karalis GRE (6.08m)
Moved to fourth all-time with his Greek title win and the world indoor silver and Olympic bronze medallist is a clear favourite for second place.
Sam Kendricks USA (5.82m)
The former double world champion was second in Paris last year and won a world indoor bronze but has been down on his best form this summer.
Ersu Sasma TUR (5.92m)
The European bronze medallist won in Berlin with a Turkish record as he continues his improvement from fifth in Paris.

British challenge: No Britons qualified.

AW prediction: 1 Duplantis SWE 6.30m; 2 Karalis GRE 6.00m; 3 Sasma TUR 5.90m

Women's pole vault

Final: Wednesday August 6
Championship record: Yelena Isinbayeva RUS 5.01m, 2005
History maker: Yelena Isinbayeva RUS – three golds, one bronze
Defending champions: Nina Kennedy AUS/Katie Moon USA 4.90m
Olympic champion: Nina Kennedy AUS 4.90m
World leader: Polina Knoroz RUS 4.86m (Molly Caudery GBR/Katie Moon USA 4.85m)

Americans blocking Molly Caudery’s path to the top.

Ones to watch

Katie Moon USA (4.85m)
The 2021 Olympic champion goes for a third successive world title (having shared gold with Nina Kennedy in Budapest) and has been in good form this summer, winning in Brussels.
Sandi Morris USA (4.83m)
The double world indoor champion, who has three world outdoor silvers, has returned to form to win the US title and also win in Rome.
Angelica Moser SUI (4.76m)
The European champion indoors and out was third at the world indoors and fourth at the Olympics. Has a best of fifth from five outdoor world championships.

British challenge: The 2024 world indoor champion Molly Caudery has been in mixed form this year but was a convincing winner at the national championships and cleared 4.80m in Brussels. Olympic and world champion Nina Kennedy is out with injury.

AW prediction: 1 Moon USA 4.80m; 2 Morris USA 4.80m; 3 Caudery GBR 4.80m

Men's long jump

Final: Wednesday September 17
Championship record: Mike Powell USA 8.95m, 1991
History maker: Dwight Phillips USA – five golds
Defending champion: Miltiadis Tentoglou GRE 8.52m
Olympic champion: Tentoglou GRE 8.48m
World leader: Tentoglou GRE 8.46m

Established champion Miltiadis Tentoglou facing young pretender Mattia Furlani.

Ones to watch

Miltiadis Tentoglou GRE (8.46m)
The double Olympic champion and triple European winner defends his title and, based on the 2025 form that saw him gain victories at the European Team Championships and London Diamond League, he starts as clear favourite. The only major blip was his fifth place at the World Indoors and he was only sixth in Zurich and seventh in Lausanne.
Mattia Furlani ITA (8.31m)
Won Olympic bronze as a teenager last year, landed the world indoor title this winter and has been around 8.30m form over the summer.
Tajay Gayle JAM (8.34m)
The 2019 world champion was third in Budapest two years ago but has struggled for form in 2025, apart from one big early-season jump.
Liam Adcock AUS (8.34m)
Has never made an outdoor championships final but moved up a level with a shock world indoor bronze before winning in Rome this summer ahead of the likes of Tentoglou.

British challenge: Olympic fifth-placer Jacob Fincham-Dukes did not qualify.

AW prediction: 1 Tentoglou GRE 8.45m; 2 Furlani ITA 8.44m; 3 Adcock AUS 8.30m

Women's long jump

Final: Sunday September 14
Championship record: Jackie Joyner-Kersee USA 7.36m, 1987
History maker: Brittney Reese USA – four golds
Defending champion: Ivana Vuleta SRB 7.14m
Olympic champion: Tara Davis-Woodhall USA 7.10m
World leader: Tara Davis-Woodhall USA 7.12m

Tara Davis-Woodhall leads the way but this event is wide open.

Ones to watch

Tara Davis-Woodhall USA (7.12m)
The 2024 Olympic and world indoor champion was second in Budapest and has been in good form all summer with Diamond League wins in Stockholm, Eugene and at the US Championships.
Malaika Mihambo GER (7.01m)
The double world and 2021 Olympic champion, who was second in Paris last summer, should again be challenging after wins in London and Berlin.
Claire Bryant USA (6.93m (7.01w))
The surprise world indoor champion has never competed in a major outdoor championships but has been consistent this summer.
Larissa Iapichino ITA (7.06m)
Fifth in Budapest and fourth in Paris, the daughter of the 1995 and 2001 champion Fiona May looks ready for her maiden global medal after her first 7.00m jump this summer.

British challenge: The 2023 European Indoor champion Jazmin Sawyers has a best of ninth from her four previous world championships but should make the final.

AW prediction: 1 Davis-Woodhall USA 7.11m; 2 Mihambo GER 6.98m; 3 Bryant USA 6.96m. Best Brit: 7 Sawyers 6.81m

Men's triple jump

Final: Friday September 19
Championship record: Jonathan Edwards GBR 18.29m, 1995
History maker: Christian Taylor USA – four golds
Defending champion: Hugues Fabrice Zango BUR 17.64m
Olympic champion: Jordan Diaz ESP 17.86m
World leader: Wu Ruiting CHN 17.68m

No one has seized the initiative this year.

Ones to watch

Donald Scott JAM (17.52m)
Has been nowhere near qualifying for finals in previous global outdoor championships but produced a solid fourth at the World Indoors and has had outdoor wins this season in Xiamen, Oslo, Paris and Monaco.
Hugues Fabrice Zango BUR (17.21m)
Defending champion and 2024 world indoor winner has a full set of world outdoor medals but was only fifth at the Olympics and hasn’t hit top form in 2025.
Jordan Diaz ESP (17.16m)
The Olympic and European champion didn’t jump at all in 2025 until August.
Andy Hernandez ITA (17.19m)
The former Cuban was third at the Olympics and followed that up with world and European indoor titles, but has competed sparingly outdoors.
Pedro Pichardo POR (17.47)
The 2021 Olympic and 2022 Wworld champion was having a quiet 2025 until a fine second in Zurich.

British challenge: There will be no Brits in Tokyo, with none ranked inside the top 100.

AW prediction: 1 Diaz ESP 17.65m; 2 Scott USA 17.59m; 3 Hernandez ITA 17.54m

Women's triple jump

Final: Thursday September 18
Championship record: Inessa Kravets UKR 15.50m, 1995
History maker: Yulimar Rojas VEN: Four golds
Defending champion: Yulimar Rojas VEN 15.08m
Olympic champion: Thea LaFond DMA 15.02m
World leader: Leyanis Perez CUB 14.92m

With four-time champion and world record-holder Yulimar Rojas not having competed since 2023, this looks very open.

Ones to watch

Leyanis Perez CUB (14.92m)
Third in Budapest and fifth in Paris, but moved up a level to win world indoor gold and then set world outdoor leads in Oslo and then Brescia.
Jasmine Moore USA (14.68m)
An Olympic bronze medallist at both horizontal jumps last summer but will have to focus on just this event after winning the US title but only coming fifth in the long jump.
Shanieka Ricketts JAM (14.64m)
Won world silver in 2019 and 2022, followed by silver in Paris. She is competing in her sixth World Championships.
Thea LaFond DMA (14.45m)
The 2024 Olympic and world indoor champion has only been fifth at the last two world championships and was fourth this year indoors. Has not matched her best form so far this year.

British challenge: There won’t be any Brits competing.

AW prediction: 1 Perez CUB 14.95m; 2 Moore USA 14.88m; 3 LaFond DMA 14.69m

Men's shot put

Final: Saturday September 13
Championship record: Ryan Crouser USA 23.51m, 2023
History makers: Werner Gunthor SUI/John Godina USA – three golds
Defending champion: Ryan Crouser USA 23.51m
Olympic champion: Ryan Crouser USA 22.90m
World leader: Leonardo Fabbri ITA 22.82m

With Ryan Crouser having not yet competed this year and eight-time global medallist Joe Kovacs missing, gold could be up for grabs.

Ones to watch

Leonardo Fabbri ITA (22.82m)
The European champion who was second in Budapest but only fifth at the Olympics has been in consistent form in 2025, winning 11 competitions outdoors.
Josh Awotunde USA (22.47m)
The 2022 world bronze medallist won the US title with a big PB and will be keen to improve on his Budapest effort, where he failed to qualify.
Ryan Crouser USA (23.56m in 2024)
The world record-holder and Olympic and world champion has been nursing a long-term elbow problem but he has a wild card entry and could still finish on the podium.
Adrian Piperi USA (22.29m)
The former world under-18 champion and double world junior medallist has had no previous senior outdoor championships experience but, after winning world indoor bronze, set a PB at the US trials and was third in Lausanne.

British challenge: Scott Lincoln could go close to making the final.

AW prediction: 1 Fabbri ITA 22.41m; 2 Awotunde USA 22.12m; 3 Piperi USA 22.09m

Women's shot put

Final: Saturday September 20
Championship record: Natalya Lisovskaya URS/Valerie Adams NZL 21.24m
History maker: Valerie Adams NZL – four golds, one silver
Defending champion: Chase Jackson USA 20.43m
Olympic champion: Yemisi Ogunleye GER 20.00m
World leader: Chase Jackson USA 20.95m

Jackson chasing her third world title in a row.

Ones to watch

Chase Jackson USA (20.95m)
The double world champion goes for her third on the trot after an Olympic qualifying disaster and has dominated most of her competitions in 2025.
Sarah Mitton CAN (20.39m)
The Commonwealth and double world indoor champion was second in Budapest and will be looking to bounce back from coming 12th at the Olympics.
Gong Lijiao CHN (19.79m)
Already the owner of eight world outdoor medals (two of them gold) to go with five Olympic top fives but, at 36, is some way down on her very best form.
Yemisi Ogunleye GER (19.67m)
A surprise Olympic winner after only finishing 10th in Budapest in her only world championships outing. Was also second at last year’s world indoors but is short of that form outdoors in 2025.

British challenge: Britain’s best are ranked just outside the world’s top 50.

AW prediction: 1 Jackson USA 20.12m; 2 Ogunleye GER 19.87m; 3 Gong Lijiao CHN 19.85m

Men's discus

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: Daniel Ståhl SWE 71.46m, 2023
History maker: Lars Riedel GER – five golds, one bronze
Defending champion: Daniel Ståhl SWE 71.46m
Olympic champion: Roje Stona JAM 70.00m
World leader: Mykolas Alekna LTU 75.56m

With Olympic champion Roje Stona out following his switch from Jamaica to Turkiye, it looks like a three-way title fight between heavyweights.

Ones to watch

Mykolas Alekna LTU (75.56m)
Has medals from Eugene, Budapest and Paris but has missed out on senior global gold despite world records in both 2024 and 2025. Has Diamond League victories in Eugene, London and Zurich this summer.
Kristjan Ceh SLO (72.36m)
The 2022 world champion was second in Budapest but just outside the medals at the Olympics.
Daniel Ståhl SWE (70.19m)
The defending champion also won global golds in 2019 and 2021. He was only seventh in Paris last summer but is back to consistent form in 2025.
Ralford Mullings JAM (72.01m)
Ninth in the Olympics at just 21 and beat Alekna at the NCAA Championships before throwing an area record in mid-August.
Matt Denny AUS (74.78m)
Olympic bronze medallist set a big area record this year and will be keen to win his first world medal after three previous top sixes.

British challenge: The 2022 European medallist Lawrence Okoye broke the British record this summer (70.76m) and will hope to go one place better in qualifying than he did in 2022 and 2023, where he missed the final by one place. Former NCAA champion Nick Percy also qualified courtesy of a Scottish record 67.86m.

AW prediction: 1 Alekna LTU 70.23m; 2 Ceh SLO 69.85m; 3 Ståhl SWE 69.12m. Best Brit: 6 Okoye 67.45m

Women's discus

Final: Sunday September 14
Championship record:
Martina Hellmann GDR 71.62m, 1987
History maker: Franka Dietzsch GER – three golds
Defending champion: Laulaugu Tausaga-Collins USA 69.49
Olympic champion: Valarie Allman USA 69.50m
World leader: Valarie Allman USA 73.52m

Valarie Allman poised for her first world title win.

Ones to watch

Valarie Allman USA (73.52m)
The double Olympic champion went sixth all-time this year and has been unbeatable in 2025. Will look to improve on her performances of seventh, third and second at her last three world championships.
Laulauga Tausaga USA (70.72m)
The shock 2023 world champion failed to make the US Olympic team and, apart from an early-season PB in Ramona, hasn’t been competing at world champion level.
Sandra Elkasevic CRO (66.97m)
The seven-time European champion was also the winner of four global golds and eight medals. She was third in Paris and has a medal shot once again.

British challenge: The top-ranked Brit is 65th so there will be no competitors in this event.

AW prediction: 1 Allman 71.12m; 2 Elkasevic 67.12m; 3 Tausaga 67.04m

Men's hammer

Final: Tuesday September 16
Championship record: Ivan Tikhan BLR 83.63m, 2007
History maker: Pawel Fajdek POL – five golds
Defending champion: Ethan Katzberg CAN 81.25m
Olympic champion: Ethan Katzberg CAN 84.12m
World leader: Bence Halasz HUN 83.18m

This looks like being a head-to-head contest between Canada and Hungary.

Ones to watch

Ethan Katzberg CAN (82.73m)
The reigning world and Olympic champion has been consistent in 2025, too, and hasn’t finished lower than second in nine competitions.
Bence Halasz HUN (83.18m)
The Budapest bronze medallist improved to second in Paris and has been in great form this year, setting a world lead in Budapest and winning in Chorzow – beating Katzberg each time.
Pawel Fajdek POL (78.12m)
After winning five successive golds, he dropped to fourth in Budapest and finished in the top five at the Olympics Paris. Should challenge for a medal again.
Mykhaylo Kokhan UKR (81.66m)
The Olympic bronze medallist has two fifths and a seventh in his past Worlds appearances.

British challenge:Jake Norris flies the flag for Britain in this event but the former world under-20 champion will need to significantly improve his 2025 best of 76.12m to get close to making the final.

AW prediction: 1 Katzberg CAN 83.24m; 2 Halasz HUN 82.96m; 3 Kokhan UKR 78.98m

Women's hammer

Final: Monday September 15
Championship record: Anita Wlodarczyk POL 80.85m, 2015
History maker: Anita Wlodarczyk POL – four golds
Defending champion: Camryn Rogers CAN 77.22m
Olympic champion: Camryn Rogers CAN 76.97m
World leader: Brooke Andersen USA 79.29m

Camryn Rogers can add to her title collection.

Ones to watch

Camryn Rogers CAN (78.88m)
The reigning Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion won in Eugene with a Canadian record and has won nine of her ten competitions in 2025.
Brooke Andersen USA (79.29m)
Has topped the rankings the last four years and is throwing well again this year but, apart from winning the 2022 world title, has not replicated her big throws in major competitions.
Silja Kosonen FIN (77.07m)
The former world junior champion is progressing well, with top-five finishes in both Budapest and Paris. Defeated Rogers early in the season in Bergen.
Anita Wlodarczyk POL (74.70m)
Now 40, the seven-time global and four-time European champion is not at her very best but still won the European Team Championships.

British challenge: Anna Purchase could repeat her Budapest feat of making the final again.

AW prediction: 1 Rogers CAN 77.87m; 2 Kosonen FIN 77.01m; 3 Andersen USA 76.95m. Best Brit: 10 Purchase 71.98m

Men's javelin

Final: Thursday September 18
Championship record: Jan Zelezny CZE 92.80m, 2001
History maker: Jan Zelezny CZE – three golds, two bronzes
Defending champion: Neeraj Chopra IND 88.17m
Olympic champion: Arshad Nadeem PAK 92.97m
World leader: Julian Weber GER 91.51m

This could come down to another fascinating contest between India and Pakistan.

Ones to watch

Neeraj Chopra IND (90.23m)
The reigning champion and 2021 Olympic gold medallist was second in Paris but threw beyond the 90-metre mark for the first time this year.
Julian Weber GER (91.51m)
The 2022 European champion has never won a global medal but had three successive fourth places between 2021 and 2023. Only sixth in Paris but he set a huge PB in Doha and overhauled that in winning the Diamond League final.
Luiz Da Silva BRA (91.00m)
The Olympic finalist set a huge PB in the Brazilian Championships, having already set a South Americn record in finishing third at the Paris Diamond League this year.
Arshad Nadeem PAK (86.40m)
The Olympic champion was also second in Budapest. He does not compete on the international circuit and his only competition was winning the Asian Championships in May, but he did the same on the way to his other medals.

British challenge: No Brits will compete.

AW prediction: 1 Chopra IND 91.25m; 2 Nadeem PAK 90.65m; 3 Weber GER 87.65m

Women's javelin

Final: Saturday September 20
Championship record: Osleidys Menendez CUB 71.70m, 2005
History maker: Barbora Spotakova CZE – three golds
Defending champion: Haruka Kitaguchi JPN 66.73m
Olympic champion: Haruka Kitaguchi JPN 65.80m
World leader: Victoria Hudson AUT 67.76m

If she can find her form, Haruka Kitaguchi has what it takes to send the home crowd home happy.

Ones to watch

Haruka Kitaguchi JPN (64.63m)
The reigning world and Olympic champion has not been at her best so far in 2025. She won in Oslo but finished just 10th in the rain in Lausanne.
Victoria Hudson AUT (67.76m)
The European champion set an Austrian record in Maribor and was fifth in Budapest but was some way short of making the final in Paris last summer.
Adriana Vilagos SRB (67.22m)
The 21-year-old European under-23 champion started the season spectacularly with two world leads and national records. She dropped off slightly but won at the Lausanne Diamond League.
Elena Tzengko GRE (64.90m)
The 2022 European champion was a solid ninth in Paris has won this year in Xiamen, Shaoxing, Rabat, the European Team Championships and the Balkan Champs.

British challenge: Bekah Walton was short of the necessary UKA standard of 61.00m.

AW prediction: 1 Kitaguchi JPN 67.23m; 2 Vilagos SRB 65.24m; 3 Hudson AUT 64.34m

Decathlon

Finishing: Sunday September 21
Championship record: Ashton Eaton USA 9045, 2015
History maker: Dan O’Brien USA/Tomas Dvorak CZE – three golds
Defending champion: Pierce LePage CAN 8909
Olympic champion: Markus Rooth NOR 8796
World leader: Sander Skotheim NOR 8909

Olympic champion’s injury opens the door to his fellow Norwegian.

Ones to watch

Sander Skotheim NOR (8909)
This year’s European and world indoor heptathlon champion has had a perfect 2025 with a win and Norwegian record at Götzis. He has made really progress since only coming tenth in Budapest and 18th in Paris.
Leo Neugebauer GER (8555)
Only fifth in Götzis but was a close second in Paris after his two final events were poor and came fifth in Budapest.
Kyle Garland USA (8869)
The US champion failed to finish in Budapest and was 11th in Eugene but was second in Götzis before a big improvement in the trials.
Pierce LePage CAN (8909 in 2023)
Has not completed a decathlon for over two years and, while he has competed in 2025, has been a long way from any individual PBs this year.

British challenge: No athletes competing.

AW prediction: 1 Skotheim NOR 8924; 2 Neugebauer NOR 8895; 3 Garland USA 8780

Heptathlon

Finishing: Saturday September 20
Championship record: Jackie Joyner-Kersee USA 7128, 1987
History maker: Jessica Ennis-Hill GBR/Carolina Kluft SWE – three golds
Defending champion: Katarina Johnson-Thompson GBR 6740
Olympic champion: Nafissatou Thiam BEL 6880
World leader: Anna Hall USA 7032

Anna Hall has the perfect chance to experience her first golden global moment.

Ones to watch

Anna Hall USA (7032)
Bronze in 2022, silver in 2023 and a clear world leader in 2025 courtesy of going second all-time in Götzis. Finished fifth in Paris but is far fitter in 2025.
Nafi Thiam BEL (7013)
The triple Olympic and European champion has a mere two golds and a silver from her world championships participation. Has competed lightly at a modest level in 2025 but can’t be discounted.
Sofie Dokter NED (6576)
The 22-year-old was second in Götzis after a European indoor silver this year and a world indoor bronze last year as well as an Olympic sixth place.
Saga Vanninen FIN (6563)
Easy winner of the European U23 title after winning world and European indoor golds. The former European junior champion is much improved.

British challenge: Two-time champion and Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has been below top form so far in 2025 but will raise her game again. Jade O’Dowda and Abigail Pawlett join her on the team.

AW prediction: 1 Hall USA 7065; 2 Thiam BEL 6856; 3 Vanninen FIN 6701. Top Brit: 4 Johnson-Thompson GBR 6697

Men's 20km walk

Final: Saturday September 20
Championship record: Jefferson Perez ECU 1:17:21, 2003
History maker: Jefferson Perez ECU – three golds, one silver
Defending champion: Alvaro Martin ESP 1:17:32
Olympic champion: Daniel Pintado ECU 1:18:55
World leader: Toshikazu Yamanishi JPN 1:16:10

There could be another home gold medal to celebrate in this event.

Ones to watch

Toshikazu Yamanishi JPN (1:16:10)
The 2019 and 2022 world champion was only 24th in Budapest and failed to make the Olympic team but has not lost since May of last year and set a world record in Kobe in February, backed up by a win in La Coruna.
Cao Bonfim BRA (1:17:37)
Consistent performer who was third in Budapest, second in Paris and set a PB this year.
Daniel Pintado ECU (1:17:54 in 2024)
The Olympic champion has a best of fifth in his four previous world 20km races but has a better record at 35km, with a silver in Budapest, and hasn’t raced a 20km this year.
Evan Dunfee CAN (1:17:39)
The 2021 Olympic 50km medallist also won a world 50km bronze in 2019 but was fourth in Budapest and fifth in Paris over the shorter distance and set a North American record in the winter. Better at 35km.

British challenge: There will not be any British athletes in action.

AW prediction: 1 Yamanishi JPN 1:19:23; 2 Bonfim BRA 1:19:55; 3 Dunfee CAN 1:19:58.

Women's 20km walk

Final: Saturday September 20
Championship record: Olimpiada Ivanova RUS 1:25:41, 2005
History maker: Liu Hong CHN – Four golds, one silver
Defending champion: Maria Perez ESP 1:26:51
Olympic champion: Jang Jiayu CHN 1:25:54
World leader: Elvira Khasanova RUS 1:24:20 (Nanako Fujii JPN 1:26:33)

Maria Perez firmly poised to land another world title.

Ones to watch

Maria Perez ESP (1:27:22)
The world champion was second in Paris and has been unbeatable in 2025.
Nanako Fujii JPN (1:26:33)
Set a world lead in Kobe and has two top-seven finishes from past world championships but was only 32nd in Paris.
Kimberly Garcia PER (1:28:11)
The double world champion in 2022 was fourth in 2023. Only came 16th at the Olympics but is back to good form in 2025.
Elizabeth McMillen AUS (1:28:18)
Won the World University title at the age of 21 and looks a good prospect.

British challenge: The top Briton was world ranked 216th so there will be no representative.

AW prediction: 1 Perez ESP 1:26:44; 2 Fujii JPN 1:26:50; 3 Garcia PER 1:26:54

Men's 35km walk

Final: Saturday September 13
Championship record: Massimo Stano ITA 2:23:14, 2022
History maker (inc 50km): Robert Korzeniowski POL – three golds, one bronze
Defending champion: Alvaro Martin ESP 2:24:30
Olympic champion: event no longer contested
World leader: Massimo Stano ITA 2:20:43

Ones to watch

Evan Dunfee CAN (2:21:40)
The Olympic 50km bronze medallist in 2021 was fourth in this event in Budapest and this year set a
short-lived 35km world record.
Christopher Linke GER (2:23:21)
Fifth in Budapest in this event and 20km and this year has been a solid second in Dudince and Podebrady.
Hayato Katsuki JPN (2:24:38)
Only 30th in the Olympic 20km walk in 2021 but won the Asian Race Walking Championships event in Nomi in March.

British challenge: National champion Cameron Corbishley takes to the roads of Tokyo.

AW prediction: 1 Dunfee CAN 2:22:05; 2 Linke GER 2:22:40; 3 Katsuki JPN 2:23:01

Women's 35km

Final: Saturday September 13
Championship record: Maria Perez ESP 2:38:40, 2023
History makers: Kimberly Garcia PER/Perez ESP – one gold
Defending champion: Maria Perez ESP 2:38:40
Olympic champion: not contested
World leader: Maria Perez ESP 2:38:59

Can Maria Perez complete a golden double?

Ones to watch

Maria Perez ESP (2:38:59)
The double world champion in 2023 was second in the Paris 20km and this year has won all her races, including a European Team Champs win over 50km.
Antonella Palmisano ITA (2:39:55)
The 2021 Olympic champion at 20km won the European title at the shorter event in Rome last year but failed to finish at the Olympics. Second to Perez over 50km in Podebrady.
Ma Li CHN (2:40:49)
The fastest Chinese athlete in 2025 after a win in Hefei to go into the world all-time top ten and was also second in the Asian Championships at 20km.
Paula Torres ECU (2:44:26)
The Olympic 20km ninth-placer is just 24 years old and, in her first year at 35km, she won in Dudince.

British challenge: No Brits are in the rankings.

AW prediction: 1 Perez ESP 2:42:56; 2 Torres ECU 2:43:35; 3 Palmisano ITA 2:44:34

Men's 4x100m

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: Jamaica 37.04, 2011
History maker: Usain Bolt JAM – four golds, one silver
Defending champion: USA 37.38
Olympic champion: Canada 37.50
World leader: South Africa 37.61

Another USA v Jamaica battle awaits.

Ones to watch

USA (37.66)
The defending champions were second at the World Relays this year but have drawn a blank in the last five Olympics and are inconsistent with their changeovers.
South Africa (37.61)
This year’s World Relays winners were also second at the Olympics, but they have not won a world medal since taking gold in 2001.
Jamaica (37.80)
The world record-holders were late qualifiers thanks to a quick win in London after failing to make the Olympic final but, with some of the fastest sprinters on the planet, should at least match their third place in Budapest.
Japan (37.84)
With home support the 2017 and 2019 medallists could surpass their fifth places in Budapest and
Paris.
British challenge: The Olympic bronze medallists have been third and fourth at the past two world championships and should be in a similar position in Tokyo.

AW prediction: 1 USA 37.34; 2 Jamaica 37.56; 3 Japan 37.80. Top Brit: 4th 37.81

Women's 4x100m

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: USA 41.03, 2023
History maker: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM: Four golds, four silvers
Defending champion: USA 41.03
Olympic champion: USA 41.78
World leader: Great Britain 41.69

Great Britain ready to mount a challenge to the USA and Jamaica.

Ones to watch

USA (41.74)
The world and Olympic champions have the strongest squad and you have to go back to 2009 when they last failed to win a medal.
Netherlands (42.02)
The European champions and European Team Championships winners this year have surprisingly never won a world medal in this event.
Jamaica (42.33)
The 2021 Olympic champions were second at the 2022 and 2023 world championships but finished out of the medals in Paris.
Germany (42.52)
The Olympic bronze medal winners have a strong and well organised quartet and have not been outside the top six in a global final since 2011.

British challenge: The Olympic silver medallists are the fastest in the world this year and have gold medal potential after being third in Budapest and second in Paris.

AW prediction: 1 USA 41.40; 2 GBR 41.55; 3 Jamaica 41.87

Men's 4x400m

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: USA 2:54.29, 1993
History maker: LaShawn Merritt USA – six golds
Defending champion: USA 2:57.31
Olympic champion: USA 2:54:43
World leader: South Africa 2:57.50

USA facing a real threat from Botswana and Britain.

Ones to watch

USA (2:58.68)
The Americans haven’t lost a global final since finishing second in 2017 and they should have the quickest quartet yet again.
South Africa (2:57.50)
Won the World Relays in a national record. Haven’t won a global medal since 2011 and should improve upon their fifth place from Paris.
Belgium (2:58.19)
The European champions were second in the World Relays after fourth place in Paris and will be battling for medals as usual.
Botswana (2:58.27)
The Olympic silver medallists are bound to better their previous best world championships performance of sixth in 2022 and could push the USA all the way.

British challenge: If Matt Hudson-Smith, Charlie Dobson, Sam Reardon and Lewis Davey are fully fit they could be right in the mix and better their Budapest and Paris bronzes.

AW prediction: 1 USA 2:55.50; 2 GBR 2:55.90; 3 Botswana 2:56.15

Women's 4x400m

Final: Sunday September 21
Championship record: USA 3:16.71, 1993
History maker: Allyson Felix USA – six golds, one silver
Defending champion: NED 3:20.72
Olympic champion: USA 3:15.27
World leader: USA 3:23.24 USA’s firepower likely to win out once again.

Ones to watch

USA (3:23.24)
Aside from 2023, when they were disqualified in the qualifying rounds, their last global loss was in 2015, when they were second, and they should have too much strength for all of their opponents.
Netherlands (3:24.34 indoors)
The Olympic silver medallists are the defending champions and, as ever, are heavily reliant on
Femke Bol.
Spain (3:24.13)
Sprang a big surprise by winning the World Relays but they haven’t made a global final since 1991.
Jamaica (3:37.75)
The 2022 and 2023 silver medallists failed to finish in Paris but should be close to the medals. Perhaps not as strong as in recent years when they were the USA’s biggest challengers.

British challenge: Third in Eugene, Budapest and Paris, Britain have strong youngsters coming through to replace some of the reliable past members. Relying heavily on world indoor champion Amber Anning, they should win another medal.

AW prediction: 1 USA 3:16.96; 2 Netherlands 3:19.23; 3 GBR 3:20.01

Mixed 4x400m

Final: Saturday September 13
Championship record: USA 3:08.80, 2023
Defending champion: USA 3:08.80
Olympic champion: Netherlands 3:07.43
World leader: Poland 3:09.43

Another shootout between the USA and the Netherlands?

Ones to watch

USA (3:09.54)
With their 400m resources, the defending champions should win easily but they don’t always pick the fastest runners and have been beaten in the last two Olympics and at the Eugene World Championships.
Netherlands (3:12.92)
The Olympic champions should have won in Budapest and their strength is in their two
female runners.
Poland (3:09.43)
The 2021 Olympic champions set the world lead in the European Team Championships but were only eighth in Budapest and seventh in Paris.
Jamaica (3:11.10)
The 2019 silver medallists were fifth in Paris but should place higher given their one-lap strength and if they pick their strongest quartet.

British challenge: The Budapest silver medallists and Paris bronze medallists could win gold if they get their best men to compete but, like many teams, the mixed relay does not take priority.

AW prediction: 1 USA 3:07.42; 2 Jamaica 3:08.05; 3 Netherlands 3:09.01. Best Brit: 4th 3:09.23

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