The temperature in Oregon might have dropped over the past couple of days, but the final day of the World Athletics Championships is poised to be red hot.
And the penultimate day of competition did not disappoint.
Allyson Felix’s retirement a week ago may have lasted only a few days, but her return to the track on Saturday helped the American women’s 4×400-meter relay qualify for the final on Sunday night.
In the men’s race, Team USA looked dominant. American 4×400-relay team of Elija Godwin, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon and Trevor Bassitt finished with the top time in the qualifying field ahead of Sunday’s final.
The 4×100-meter relay finals were full of drama on Saturday night. In the women’s race, Team USA was able to hold on in the final stretch for a close victory over the Jamaicans.
In the men’s relay, Canada was able to turn on the afterburners in the final stretch for a close victory over the American favorites.
There was also drama in the decathlon. After taking first place in the first four events of the day, Canadian Damian Warner did not finish the 400-meter race and fell out of the competition.
Americans Alaysha Johnson and Nia Ali are both out of the women’s 100-meter hurdles after both failing to make it through the preliminaries. Johnson, a former Oregon Duck, was a favorite to medal in the event while Ali was the world champion in 2019.
In the women’s long jump, Team USA’s Quanesha Burks finished the qualifiers with the top jump of the day: 22 feet, 6.25 inches. It’s her best jump of the season ahead of Sunday’s final.
With a kick in the final 150 meters, Kenya’s Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir grabbed the gold medal in the men’s 800 meters.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay finished second in the women’s 1,500 earlier in Oregon22. But in the 5,000, she would not be denied. She took the top spot in 14:46.29.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters took home his second straight world championship in the men’s javelin, waiting until his final throw to take the gold.
In the men’s triple jump, Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo took the gold medal with the winning jump being his first attempt. Also in the group was Oregon star Emmanuel Ihemeje, who finished among the top eight.
LOOKING AHEAD
Some things to watch Sunday at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene:
Day 2 of the decathlon: Canada’s Damian Warner pulled up with an injury in the 400 meters, the last event of Day 1. With the reigning Olympic champion out, it opens the door for midpoint leader Ayden Owens-Delerme of Puerto Rico as well as Americans Zachery Ziemek and Kyle Garland, currently third and fourth, respectively. Sunday’s events start in the morning with the 110-meter hurdles and discus, followed by the pole vault and javelin before the competition concludes with the 1,500 meters at 7:20 p.m. (TV on NBC).
Local hopefuls in men’s 5,000 meters: Grant Fisher of the United States, Mohammed Ahmed of Canada and Marc Scott of Great Britain all train in Portland with the Bowerman Track Club and are among the 15 men lining up for Sunday evening’s 5,000-meter final. Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen has said he expects to win, but it’s a stacked field with Kenya’s Jacob Krop, Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo and Joshua Cheptegei, and Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega also in the mix. The race is set for 6:05 p.m. (TV on NBC).
Rogers, Wilson look to challenge Mu: Three Americans will vie for medals in the women’s 800-meter final. Tokyo Olympics champ Athing Mu is the favorite, but former Ducks star Raevyn Rogers, who took bronze in Tokyo, and two-time worlds bronze medalist Ajeé Wilson also should be factors. Watch also for Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson. The final starts at 6:35 p.m. (TV on NBC).
Will Harrison strike gold? Kendra Harrison is the world record-holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, but she has yet to win a global gold. She was the silver medalist at the world championships in 2019 and again was runner-up last year at the Tokyo Olympics. Harrison owns the fastest time in the world this year. She likely will be challenged by reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico and fellow American Alia Armstrong. The semifinals are at 5:10 p.m. (TV on CNBC), followed by the final at 7 p.m. (TV on NBC).
Relays close out the meet: Allyson Felix returned Saturday to help the United States women advance to the final in the 4×400 relay. It’s not clear whether she will run in the final, but if so, it would be a fitting bookend to end the meet. Felix is the most decorated U.S. sprinter of all-time and is retiring after this season. Like the women, the U.S. men also were the top relay team in qualifying. The men’s final is at 7:35 p.m. (TV on NBC), followed by the women’s final at 7:50 p.m. (TV on NBC).
