Women’s Events Preview: World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025

Posted by: Watch Athletics

Thursday, 11 September 2025

From September 13 to 21, the world’s finest female athletes will gather in Tokyo for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, aiming to etch their names in history across track, field, and road disciplines. Featuring Olympic champions, reigning world titleholders, and emerging talents, the women’s competition promises fierce rivalries, record-breaking potential, and unforgettable drama on the sport’s grandest stage. This event-by-event preview spotlights the key athletes and storylines to watch in Tokyo.

100m meters:

Melissa Jefferson Wooden ran five of the six fastest times in the world this year. Jefferson Wooden won the 100 metres US title in Eugene last August in a PB of 10.65, three Diamond League races in Eugene in 10.75 beating Julien Alfred into a headwind of -1.5 /s, in Chorzow in 10.66 and in Brussels in 10.76 and two Grand Slam Track races in Miami in a wind-assisted 10.75 and Philadelphia in 10.73m.

Jefferson Wooden will take on Olympic champion Julien Alfred and Sha’Carri Richardson in a re-match of last year’s Olympic final. Alfred won the gold medal in the French capital in a lifetime best of 10.72, ahead of Richardson and Jefferson Wooden.

Alfred set a seasonal best of 10.77 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and won three Diamond League races in Oslo in 10.89, Stockolm in 10.75 and Monaco in 10.79.

Richardson will compete as the defending champion from Budapest 2023, where she improved her lifetime best to 10.65. Richardson set a seasonal best of 11.05 in Chorzow.

The other US qualified sprinter is Kayla White, who finished second at the US Championships in 10.84.

The star-studded Jamaican team will be formed by Tina Clayton, Shericka Jackson and Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce. Clayton, double world under 20 champion, won the Jamaican title in 10.81 and finished second in Budapest in 10.99 and Chorzow in 10.91.

Shericka Jackson finished second at the Jamaican Championships in 10.88. Jackson won the world silver medal in the previous edition of the World Championships in Budapest 2023 in 10.72 and the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 in 10.72.

Fraser Pryce has won two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012 and five world gold medals in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2022 in the 100 metres in her career. The Jamaican legend secured her qualifying spot for the World Championships in Tokyo with s third place at the National Championships in Kingston in 10.91.

Marie Josée Ta Lou is chasing her fourth world championships medal. The 37-year-old Ivorian sprinter improved her seasonal best to 10.87 at the Diamond League in Chorzow.

Dina Asher Smith, European champion in Rome 2024, placed second in Stockolm in a seasonal best of 10.93 and fourth in Zurich in 10.94.

Women’s 200 metres:

Julien Alfred won the 200 metres in 21.71 at the Diamond League meeting in London setting the world seasonal lead. Alfred moved to ninth on the world all-time list. Last year the Santa Lucian won the Olympic silver medal in Paris in 22.08.

Melissa Jefferson Wooden won the US 200 metres title in Eugene improving her lifetime best to 21.84, the second fastest time in the world this year. The US sprinter also performed well in the Grand Slam Track clocking 21.99 in Philadelphia and 22.15 in Miami.

Brittany Brown finished fourth at the US Championships in 22.20 but she secured her qualifying spot for the World Championships by winning the Diamond League Final in Zurich in 22.13. Brown also won the 200m in Lausanne in 22.23.

Anavia Battle won four consecutive 200 metres races in Xiamen in 22.41, Keqiao in 22.38, Rome in 22.53 and Paris in 22.27 and finished second at the US Championships in 22.13.

Asher Smith, world champion in the 200m in Doha 2019 and European champion in Berlin 2018 over this distance, won the British title in the 200m in Birmingham in a seasonal best of 22.14 beating Amy Hunt with the same time in a close photo-finish and finished second in London in 22.25 and at the Diamond League final in Zurich in 22.18.

Her compatriot Amy Hunt won the British 100m title in a PB of 11.02 and finished third in the London Diamond League meeting in 22.31 and fourth in Chorzow with the same time.

Shericka Jackson will defend her 200 metres world title after winning in the past two editions in Eugene in 21.45 and Budapest in 21.41 setting the second fastest time in history. Jackson returned to her best shape when she won the 200 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Chorzow in 22.17.

Women’s 400 metres:

Sydney McLaughlin Levrone has opted to focus only on the 400 metres flat distance. The US star won two 400 metres races on the Hayward Field track at the Prefontaine Classic in 49.43 and at the US Championships in 48.90. and claimed two Grand Slam win the 400m hurdles in Kingston in 52.76 and Miami in 52.07. She won two Olympic gold medals in the 400 metres hurdles in Tokyo 2021 in 51.46 and in Paris 2024 with the world record of 50.37 and the world title in Eugene 2022 in 50.68, setting world records each time.

The US team will be also represented by Aliyah Butler, NCAA champion in Eugene in 49.26. Butler finished second at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 49.86 and in Monaco in 49.09.

Olympic and world champion Marileidy Paulino will defend the world title she won in Budapest 2023 in 48.76. Paulino completed the double of major titles by winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 in a Games record of 48.17. Paulino won three Diamond League races this year in Paris in 48.81, in Monaco in 49.06 and Chorzow in 49.18 and finished second at the Diamond League Final in Zurich in 49.23.

Selwa Naser from Barhein will chase her third major medal following the gold medal in Doha in the Asian record of 48.14 and the Olympic silver medal in Pars. Naser won her third Diamond League title in Zurich breaking Jarmila Kratochvilova’s meeting record with 48.70. During the 2025 season Naser also claimed wins in Doha in 49.83 and Ostrava in 49.15 and finished second in Paris in 48.85 and Chorzow with 49.27.

Henriette Jaeger from Norway won her first Diamond League race in Lausanne in 50.11 in rainy conditions and finished third at the Diamond League Finals in Zurich in a national record of 49.49. Jaeger claimed the European under 23 title in Bergen and won the European indoor silver medal in Apeldoorn and the world indoor bronze medal in Nanjing 2025.

Isabella Whittaker, NCAA indoor champion in 2024 in a North American record of 49.24 won two back-to-back Diamond League races in Oslo in 49.58 and Stockolm in 49.78 and finished third in 50.63 in Lausanne.

Bukowiecka is chasing another top result following the European gold medal in Rome in a Polish record of 48.98 and the Olympic bronze medal In Paris. Bukowiecka set a seasonal best of 49.72 at the Monaco Diamond League meeting.

Martina Weil from Chile, daughter of 1992 Olympic bronze medallist Ximena Restrepo and former shot putter Gert Weil, set two national records of 49.83 in Paris and 49.72 in Zurich.

Amber Anning from Great Britain will aim to reach another world final following her world indoor title in Nanjing last March. The other final candidate is Lieke Klaver from the Netherlands, European outdoor bronze medallist in Rome 2024 and European indoor champion in Apeldoorn 2025.

800 metres:

Keely Hodgkinson will aim to complete her collection of major titles after winning gold medals at the European Championships in Rome in 1:58.65 and at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1:56.72 in 2024. Hodgkinson won two world silver medals in Eugene 2022 in 1:56.38 and in Budapest 2023 in 1:56.34. The 23-year-old British athlete made a successful come-back from injury with two Diamond League wins in Chorzow in 1:54.87 and Lausanne in 1:55.69 breaking a 23-year-old meeting record held by Maria Mutola.

Audrey Werro improved her own Swiss record three times during a dream 2025 outdoor season, clocking 1:57.25 at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Bydgoszcz, 1:56.29 at the Swiss Championships in Frauenfeld and 1:55.91 at the Diamond League final in Zurich, where she won her first Diamond Trophy in front of her home fans. Werro also won the European under 23 title in 1:57.42 in Bergen and improved her PB to 51.03 in the 400 metres in her home town Fribourg.

Georgia Hunter Bell from Great Britain will chase her third major medal after finishing third in the 1500 metres at the European Championships in Rome in 3:59.84 and at the Olympic Games in Paris in 3:52.61 breaking Laura Muir’s British record. The British middle distance runner performed very well in the Diamond League clocking 3:56.00 in the 1500m in Chorzow, 1:57.55 in Lausanne and 1:55.96 in Zurich in the 800 metres.

Tsige Duguma from Ethiopia has already reached the podium at major international events by winning the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow and the Olympic silver in Paris 2024. Duguma won three 800m races in Keqiao in 1.56.64, Rabat in 1:57.41 and in Eugene in 1:57.10.

Prudence Sekgodiso from South Africa won the world indoor title in Nanjing and set a seasonal best of 1:57.16 twice in Ostrava and Eugene.

The other final contenders are Oratile Nowe from Botswana, third at the Diamond League in Chorzow in a national record of 1:56.76, Lilian Odira, second in Chorzow in 1:56.52, Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew, world indoor silver medallist in Nanjing 2025 and winner in Heusden Zolder in 1:57.01, and Raevyn Rogers, Olympic bronze medallist in Tokyo 2021 and fourth in Chorzow in a seasonal best of 1:57.52.

1500 metres:

Kenyan star Faith Kipyegon will aim for a fourth consecutive world title in the 1500 metres.

She won in the 1500m and 5000m in Budapest 2023, two more world titles in London 2017 and Eugene 2022 and four Olympic medals (gold in the 1500m in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2021, gold in the 1500m and silver in the 5000m in Paris 2024). This year Kipyegon broke her own world record in the 1500 metres clocking 3:48.68 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and won the 3000 metres in Chorzow in 8:07.04 setting the second fastest time in history, just one second shy of Wang Junxia’s world record.

Kipyegon’s compatriot Nelly Chepchirchir won five Diamond League races: one in the 1000m in Monaco in 2:29.77, four in the 1500m in Doha in 4:05.00, Rabat in 3:58.04, Paris in 3:57.02 and in Zurich in 3:56.99. She claimed the first Diamond League title.

Diribe Welteji from Ethiopa will chase her second world medal two years after finishing third at the World Championships in Budapest. Welteji set the third fastest time this year with 3:51.44 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Ethiopia will be also represented by Freweyni Hailu, two-time world indoor champion in the 1500m in Glasgow 2024 and in the 3000m in Nanjing 2025, and Birke Haylom, world under 20 champion in Cali 2022.

Jessica Hull from Australia will aim to win her second global medal following her Olympic silver in Paris 2024 in 3:52.56. Hull set the Oceanian record with 3:50.83 at the Paris Diamond League last year. She clocked seasonal best times of 3:52.67 in the 1500m in Paris and Oceanian records of 4.13.68 in the mile in London and 2:30.96 in the 1000m in Monaco.

Nikki Hiltz won her third US outdoor title in 4:03.15 and finished first at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels in 3:55.94.

5000 metres:

Beatrice Chebet will aim to win her first world gold medal in the 5000 metres after finishing second in Eugene 2022 and third in Budapest 2023. Chebet won two Olympic gold medals in the 5000m in 14:28.56 and 10000m in 30:43.25. She broke the 5000m world record at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene with 13:58.06 becoming the first athlete to break the 14 minutes barrier. In the other Diamond League races Chebet won the 5000m in Xiamen in 14:27.12, the 3000 metres in Rabat in 8:11.56, the 5000m in 14:03.69 and finished third in the 1500 metres in Chorzow in a lifetime best of 3:54.73.

Agnes Ngetich Jebet set the second fastest time this year with 14.01.29 in the 5000m in Eugene. Ngetich won the 5000 metres in 14.24.99 at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels.

Gudaf Tsegay will chase her third medal after winning world titles in the 5000m in Eugene 2022 and in the 10000m in Budapest 2023. Tsegay finished third at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 14:04.41.She set the second fastest time in the world this year with 3:50.62 in Chorzow, missing her PB by 32 hundredths of a second.

Aleshign Baweke, world under 20 champion in the 3000m, won the Diamond League Final in Zurich over this distance in 8:42.35.

Nadia Battocletti broke her own Italian record with 14.23.15 at the Golden Gala in Rome becoming the second fastest European athlete in history on the track where she won two European gold medals in the 5000m and 10000m, Battocletti also improved the Italian record in the 3000m with 8:26.27 at the Rabat Diamond League meeting and her lifetime best of 3:58.15 in the 1500m in Rovereto.

The US team will be led by Josette Andrews, who set PBs of 8:29.77 in the indoor 3000m in New York and 14:25.37 in the 5000m in Rome.

10000 metres:

Beatrice Chebet broke the world record in the 10000 metres becoming the first woman to dip under the 29 minutes barrier with 28:54.14 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 2024. Chebet won the Olympic gold medal over this distance in Paris. The Kenyan athlete finished third in the 10000m at the National Trials in Nairobi in 30.27.52.

The Kenyan Federation also named Agnes Ngetich and Janeth Chepngetich.

Ngetich set a world record in the 10 km on the road at the Adizero Race in Herzogenaurach and finished second at the Kenyan Trials.

Chepngetich won the 10000 metres at the Kenyan Trials in 30:27.02 beating Chebet and Ngetich.

Gudaf Tsegay will defend her 10000 metres title two years after her win Budapest 2023. Tsegay finished second to Chebet in Eugene Prefontaine Classic last year.

Nadia Battocletti is chasing her second global medal after finishing second to Chebet at the Olympic Games in the 10000 metres in a national record of 30:43.35.

3000 metres steeplechase:

Winfred Yavi from Barhein will chase her third global title following her gold medals at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 in 8:54.29 and at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 in 8:52.76.

Yavi missed Beatrice Chepkoech’s world record by just 0.07 when she won in 8:44.39 in Rome Golden Gala in August 2024. This year she won at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 8:45.25 and in Heusden Zolder in 8:49.59.

Yavi will renew her rivalry against Faith Cherotich, who won bronze medals at the World Championships in Budapest in 9:00.69 and at the Olympic Games in Paris. She won back-to-back Diamond League titles in Brussels 2024 in 9;02.36 and in Zurich 2025 in 8:57.24. This year she won in Paris in 8:53.37 and finished second behind Yavi in Eugene in 8:48.71.

Kenya’s Doris Lemingole will make her debut at a major global championship. Lemingole made her major breakthrough last June when she won the NCAA title in 8:58.15. She won her first Diamond League race in Lausanne in 9:16.36.

Peruth Chemutai from Uganda has a fond memory of Tokyo as she won the Olympic title in the Japanese capital in 2021 in 9:01.46. Chemutai added another medal when she finished third at the Olympic Games in Paris in 8:53.34. The Ugandan athlete set the national record of 8.48.03 in Rome in 2024 and a seasonal best of 8:51.77 in Eugene last July.

100 metres hurdles:

Masai Russell is aiming to complete her collection of major titles one year after winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris in 12.33. Russell continued her good period of form this year by clocking three of the five fastest times in the world. She improved the North American record to 12.17 at the Grand Slam Track in Miami and won at the US Championships in Eugene in 12.22 and at the Diamond League in Chorzow in 12.19.

The other members of the US team are Grace Stark and Alaysha Johnson. Stark won the first Diamond League race of her career in Paris in 12.21 and finished second at the US Championships in Eugene in 12.31 and third at the Diamond League final in Zurich in 12.34. Johnson secured her spot for the World Championships with her third place at the National Championships in 12.36.

Ackera Nugent won the Diamond League final in Zurich in 12.30 missing her Jamaican record by 0.06. Nugent also finished third in Paris in 12.30 and fourth in Lausanne in 12.57.

Nugent’s compatriot Danielle Williams will defend the world title two years after winning in Budapest 2023 in 12.43.

Ditaji Kambundji from Switzerland finished second at the Diamond League in Zurich equalling her Swiss record with 12.40. Kambundji won the European Indoor title in the 60 metres hurdles in Apeldoorn in a continental record of 7.67 and performed well during the Diamond League season finishing second in Monaco in 12.43 and third in Lausanne in 12.54.

Nadine Visser improved her Dutch record to 12.28 in Chorzow and won in Lausanne in 12.45, Visser finished second at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn setting a national record of 7.72 in the 60 metres hurdles.

Tobi Amusan will chase her second world medal three years after winning in Eugene 2022, when she broke the world record with 12.12. The Nigerian hurdler finished second in Paris in 12.24 and Eugene in 12.38 and third in Chorzow in 12.38.

Women’s 400 metres hurdles:

Femke Bol will aim to win her second consecutive world title in the 400 metres hurdles two years after her win in Budapest 2023 in 51.70, the fourth fastest time of her career. Bol also claimed two European titles in Munich 2022 in 52.67 and Rome 2024 in 52.49 and two Olympic bronze medals in Tokyo 2021 in 52.03 and in Paris in 52.15. Bol was the only specialist in the world to break the 52 seconds barrier this year when she won two Diamond League meetings in Chorzow with 51.91 and Monaco with 51,95 and ran seven of the eight fastest times of the season.

Anna Cockrell won the Olympic silver medal in Paris in a lifetime best of 51.87 and finished second at the US Championships in 52.89 this year. Cockrell performed well in the Diamond League winning in Brussels 56.66 and finishing third in Monaco in 52.91.

Dalilah Muhamad won the US title in Eugene in 52.65. She produced solid performances in the Diamond League winning in Oslo in 53.34 and finishing second in Stockolm in 52.91 and Monaco in 52.58.

The other top US contender is last year’s NCAA champion Jasmine Jones, third at the US Championships In 53.23 and second at the Diamond League meeting in London.

Savannah Sutherland will make her second appearance at the World Championships. The Canadian hurdler reached the semifinal at the previous edition of the World Championships in Budapest and finished seventh in the Olympic final in Paris in 53.88. She won the NCAA title in a national record of 52.46 in Eugene last June.

The other candidates for a spot in the final are Andrenette Knight from Jamaica, eighth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 and winner in Rome with 53.67, Gianna Woodruff, seventh in the Olympic final in Tokyo 2021 and second in Brussels in a seasonal best of 53.89, Emma Zapletalova from Slovakia, second at the Diamond League Final in Zurich in a national record of 53.18, Noemi Van de Broeck from Belgium, third in Brussels in a national record of 54.12, Ayomide Folorunso from Italy, sixth in the World Championships final in Budapest 2023 and second at this year’s Rome Diamond League in a seasonal best of 54.21, Amalie Iuel from Norway, national record holder with 54.38 in Chorzow this year, and Zeney Van der Walt from South Africa, who set a seasonal best of 54.25 in Geneva this year.

Women’s high jump:

World indoor champion Nicola Olyslagers will renew her rivalry against world record holder and Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchik.

Olyslagers has enjoyed a successful season winning her second consecutive world indoor gold medal in Nanjing last March with 1.97. The Australian jumper won her first Diamond League title in Zurich improving her Oceanian record to 2.04m and three more competitions of the circuit in Stockolm with 2.01m, Paris with 2.00m and Lausanne with 1.91m. Olyslagers is aiming to win her fourth major international medal after finishing second at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 with 2.02m and Paris 2024 with 2.00m and the world bronze medal in Budapest 2023 with 1.99m. Her compatriot Eleanor Patterson won the world title in Eugene with 2.02m, the Olympic bronze medal in Paris with 1.95m and the world indoor silver medal in Nanjing 2025 with 1.95m.

Mahuchik will defend the world title two years after winning the world title in Budapest 2023 with 1.99m. The Ukrainian jumper finished second to Olyslagers at the Diamond League in Zurich equalling her seasonal best with 2.02m. She won the Olympic gold medal in Paris with 2.00m and improved Stefka Kostadinova’s world record by one cm to 2.10m at the Paris Diamond League meeting in 2024.

Morgan Lake won at the Diamond League in London with 1.96m in front of her home fans and finished third in Zurich improving her British record by 1 cm to 2.00m and will be looking to improve on her fourth place in Budapest with 1.97m. Yulia Levchenko from Ukraine returned to her best form by finishing fourth in Zurich on countback with a seasonal best of 2.00m.

Christina Honsel from Germany improved her PB to 2.00m in Heilbronn and finished fifth at the Diamond League final in Zurich with 1.97m.

Angelina Topic from Serbia won the European under 23 gold with 1.95m adding this title to her collection which also includes the European under 18 and under 20 titles in 2022 and 2023 and the world under 20 gold medal in 2024.

Women’s pole vault:

Katie Moon will aim to win her third consecutive world outdoor title following her wins in Eugene 2022 with 4.85m and Budapest 2023 with 4.90m. Moon has a fond memory of Tokyo, where she won the Olympic gold medal with 4.90m in 2021. Moon won her second Diamond League title in Zurich this year with 4.82m and three more competitions of the circuit in Rabat and Paris with the same height of 4.73m and in Brussels with a seasonal best of 4.85m.

Sandi Morris, double world indoor champion in 2018 and 2022 and Olympic silver medallist , won two Diamond League competitions in Rome with 4.80m and Stockolm with 4.82m and the US title in Eugene with a seasonal best 4.83m and finished second in Zurich with 4.75m.

Hanna Moll will make her debut in a major championship. Moll won the NCAA title in Eugene with 4.79m and cleared 4.73m at the US Championships with 4.73m. Moll set her PB of 4.81m in Indianapolis last February.

Molly Caudery won the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow 2024 in front of her home fans. The British star cleared 4.85m twice this year at the World Indoor Tour meeting in Madrid last February and at the British Championships in Birmingham and 4.80m in the most recent competitions in Beckum and at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels.

Angelica Moser will aim at another international medal after winning titles at the European outdoor Championships in Rome 2024 with 4.78m and at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldooorn 2025 with 4.80m and the bronze at the World indoor Championships in Nanjing with 4.70m. Moser set her outdoor seasonal best of 4.80m at the Swiss Championships in Frauenfeld and cleared 4.76m in Lucerne, 4.73m in London and 4.65m in Zurich.

Slovenia’s Tina Sutej will aim at another medal after winning two silver medals at the European indoor Championships in Apeldoorn and at the World indoor Championships in Nanjing in 2025.

Women’s long jump:

Tara Davis Woodhall will aim to win her first world outdoor title two years after claiming the silver medal in Budapest 2023 behind Ivana Spanovic. Davis Woodhall won the Olympic gold medal in Paris with 7.10m beating Malaika Mihambo and the world indoor title in Glasgow 2024. This year the US star won the US title in Eugene setting a world seasonal lead of 7.12m at the US Championships in Eugene and two Diamond League in Stockolm with 7.05m and Eugene with 7.07m.

Mihambo will chase her third world gold medal after winning in Doha 2019 with her PB of 7.30m (second best German performance in history) and in Eugene 2022 with 7.12m. The German jumper won the European title in Rome with the second best performance in history of 7.22m and the Olympic silver medal with 6.98m. She won at the Diamond League meeting in London with 6.03m and finished second in Eugene with 7.01m.

Larissa Iapichino won her second Diamond League title in Zurich with 6.93m beating Mihambo by just one cm. The Italian jumper won the European silver medal in Rome 2024 with 6.94m, the European indoor gold medal with 6.94m, six Diamond League competitions and finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Claire Bryant won the world indoor gold medal in Nanjing and finished third at the US Championships with 6.97m.

Swiss combined events and long jump specialist Annik Kaelin will aim to reach a spot in the final after winning two silver medals at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn and at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing.

The other athlete to watch is Hilary Kpatcha from France, second in Chorzow with 6.83m and third in London with 6.86m and in Zurich with 6.76m.

Women’s triple jump:

Leyanis Perez Hernandez from Cuba will chase her second global medal after winning the world indoor title in Nanjing with 14.93m The Cuban athlete won three Diamond League competitions in Oslo with 14.72m, Brussels with 14.78m and the Final in Zurich with 14.91m. She set a world outdoor seasonal best of 14.92m in Brescia. She achieved five of the top six winning marks of the season.

Perez Hernandez will renew her rivalry against her compatriots Davisleidy Velazco, second in Brussels with her PB of 14.72m ,and third in Zurich with 14.65m, and Liadagmis Povea, world indoor silver medallist in Nanjing 2025 and second in Zurich with 14.72m. Povea set a seasonal best of 14.84m in Brescia last July.

Thea Lafond became the first-ever athlete from Dominica to win the Olympic gold medal when she bounded out to 15.01m in Paris 2024. Earlier last year she won the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow with a PB of 15.02m. She set a seasonal best of 14.62m and finished second in Doha and fourth in Zurich.

Shanieka Ricketts from Jamaica won silver medals at the Olympic in Paris 2024 and at two editions of the World Championships in Doha 2010 and Eugene 2022. Ricketts won two Diamond League competitions in Doha (14.72m) and Rome (14.64m) in 2025 and the NACAC Championships in Freeport with 14.29m.

Jasmine Moore won the first Diamond League competition of her career in the long jump in Chorzow with 6.85m. Moore claimed two Olympic bronze medals in the long jump and triple jump in Paris and claimed the win in the triple jump with 14.68m at the US Championships.

World record holder Yulimar Rojas will defend her title in her first triple jump competition since 2023. Rojas won her fourth world title with 15.08m in her sixth attempt, but was unable to defend her Olympic title in Paris due to an Achilles tendon. She returns to Tokyo where she won the Olympic gold medal with a world record of 15.67m. The Venezuelan triple jumper will take part in her first triple jump competition since winning the Diamond League final in Eugene 2023.

The other athletes to watch are three-time NCAA champion Ackelia Smith from Jamaica, Neja Filipic from Slovenia, Caroline Joyeux from Germany, who improved her PB to 14.45m, and Erica Giorgia Saraceni, European under 20 champion in Tampere with a PB of 14.24m.

Women’s shot put:

Double world champion Chase Jackson will aim to win her third world gold medal following her wins in Eugene 2022 with 20.49m and Budapest 2023 with 20.44m. Jackson won the US title with 20.84m and three Diamond League competitions in Keqiao with 20.54, Eugene with 20.94m missing her US record by just one cm and Brussels with 20.90m and finished second in Zurich with 20.08m.

Jessica Schilder from the Netherlands won two Diamond League competitions in Monaco with 20.39m and Zurich with 20.26m. The Dutch shot putter is aiming to win another international title after claiming the gold medal at the European Indoor Championships with 20.69m in front of her home fans.

Mitton won two world indoor gold medals in Glasgow 2024 and Nanjing 2025 and the Diamond League final in Brussels in 2024.

Yemisi Ogunleye from Germany will aim to complete her double, one year after winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 with 20.00m. The German shot putter of Nigerian origin improved her PB to 20.27m at the National Indoor Championships in Dortmund.

The line-up also features US shot putters Maggie Ewen, second at the US Championships in Eugene with 19.94m and fourth at this year’s Diamond League Final in Zurich, Jaida Ross, fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and third at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 2025 with 20.13m, and Fanny Roos from Sweden, seventh at the Olympic Games.

Women’s discus throw:

Double Olympic champion Valarie Allman will chase the first world gold medal of her career, the only big title missing in her collection. Allman won two Olympic gold medals in Tokyo 2021 with 68.98m and in Paris 2024 with 69.50m. She finished second in Eugene 2022 with 68.30m and third in Budapest 2023 with 69.23. She claimed six out of six Diamond League wins this year in Xiamen with 68.95, Keqiao with 70.08m, Rome with 69.21m, Paris with 67.56m, in Eugene with 70.68m and the final in Zurich with 69.18m claiming her fifth consecutive Diamond Trophy. She won the US title in Eugene with 71.45m and set the North American record with 73.52, the best throw in the world since 1989.

Yaimé Perez from Cuba, world champion in Doha 2019, finished third in Zurich with 66.08m and set a seasonal best of 67.25m in Fleetwood.

Sandra Elkasevic won two Olympic gold medals in London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 and two world titles in Moscow 2013 and London 2017, seven European gold medals and six Diamond League titles. The Croatian thrower set a seasonal best of 66.97m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and finished third in the Diamond League in Zurich with 65.10m.

Laulauga Tausauga will defend her world title two years after her win in Budapest 2023 with 69.43m. She finished second in Eugene with 64.86m.

Bin Feng will chase her fourth global medal after winning gold in Eugene 2022 with 69.12m and bronze in Budapest 2023 with 68.20m, and the Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024 with 67.51m.

Jorinde Van Klinken from the Netherlands will aim to win her first world medal following her second place at the Diamond League final in Zurich with 67.15m. The Dutch thrower won two European silver medals in the discus throw and in the shot put in Rome 2024 and finished fourth in both disciplines at the World Championships in Eugene.

French discus thrower Melina Robert-Michon is set to equal the record number of World Championships appearances by a woman (11). Robert Michon won two silver medals at the World Championships in Moscow 2013 and at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and a bronze at the World Championships in London 2017.

Women’s javelin throw:

Elina Tzengko from Greece is aiming to add a world gold medal to her collection that includes the European title in Munich. She crowned a successful Diamond League season by winning the final in Zurich with 64.57m after her previous victories in Xiamen (64.76m), Keqiao (64.75m) and Rabat (64.60m).

World and Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi is looking to continue her winning streak at major championships following her victories at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 and at the Olympic Games in Paris. The Japanese thrower also won two Diamond League titles in Eugene 2023 and set a seasonal best of 64.63m in Oslo.

Adriana Vilagos performed very well in major championships winning two consecutive world under 20 titles in 2021 and 2022 and two European silver medals in 2022 and 2024. The Serbian athlete improved her national record to 67.22m last April and won the Diamond League competition in Lausanne with 63.02m in rainy conditions.

The line-up features Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado (COL, world silver medallist in Budapest 2023 and South American record holder with 66.70m), Jo-Anne Du Plessis from South Africa, Olympic silver medallist in Paris 2024, Mackaenzie Little from Australia, world bronze medallist in Budapest 2023.

Hammer throw:

Canadian hammer thrower Camryn Rogers will chase her third major global title following her wins at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 with 77.22m and at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 with 76.97m. Rogers set the second best performance this year and threw twice beyond the 78 metres with 78.88m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and 78.09m in Madrid.

Brooke Andersen leads the world list with her seasonal best of 79.29m set in Tucson last May. Andersen came close to her best mark with 79.22m in Lucca. She won the world title in Eugene 2022 with 78.96m. and finished second at this year’s US Championships in Eugene with 75.14m.

DeAnna Price, world champion in Doha 2019, won the US title with 78.53m and finished third at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene with 75.35m. The US team will be also represented by Rachel Richeson, who finished third at the National Championships in Eugene with 74.57m and set a PB of 78.80m in Ramona last April.

The Finnish team will feature Krista Tervo, national record with 77.14m, and Silja Kosonen, winner at the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia with 77.07m.

Anita Wlodarczyk from Poland won three Olympic titles, four world gold medals and holds the world record with 82.38m . Wlodarczyk won the 12th Polish title of her career with 70.66m in Bydgoszcz last August.

The Chinese team will be led by Jiale Zhang, world under 20 record holder with 77.24m and world under 20 champion in Lima 2024, and Jie Zhao, Olympic bronze medallist in Paris 2024.

The other athletes to watch are Bianca Ghelber from Romania, European champion in Munich 2022 and Sara Fantini from Italy, European gold medallist in Rome 2024 and national record holder with 75.77m set in Madrid 2022, Rosa Loga from France, European bronze medallist in Rome, and Karine Koch Jacobsen, national record holder with 74.22m and second at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Nairobi with 74.21m.

Heptathlon:

Anna Hall won the heptathlon competition of the Hypo Meeting in Goetzis setting a PB of 7032 points. Hall tied Carolina Kluft as second on the world all-time list behind world record holder Jackie Joyner Kersee. Hall set PBs in the high jump with 1.95m, shot put with 14.86m, javelin throw with 46.16m and 800 metres. Her lifetime best of 2:01.23 is a world record in the 800 metres for a heptathlon competition. Hall won her second heptathlon competition of the season at last August’s US Championships in Eugene with 6889 points. Hall is aiming to reach the podium for the third consecutive edition of the World Championships after winning bronze in Eugene 2022 with 6755 points and silver in Budapest 2023 with 6720 points.

Nafissatou Thiam is chasing her third world title in the heptathlon following her wins in London 2017 with 6784 points and in Eugene with 6947 points. Thiam has become the first athlete in history to win three Olympic titles in the heptathlon in Rio de Janeiro 2016 with 6810 points, Tokyo 2021 with 6791 points and Paris 2024 with 6880 points and three European titles in Berlin 2018 with 6816 points, in Munich 2022 with 6628 and Rome 2024 with 6848 points. She set a Belgian record of 7013 points in Goetzis in 2013.

Taliyah Brooks finished third at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing 2025 in the pentathlon with a PB of 4669 points and second at both the Decastar in Talence with 6365 and the US Championships in Eugene with 6526 points. The US team will feature Michelle Atherley, winner of the 2024 World Combined Events Tour and fourth in Goetzis with 6425 points.

Katarina Johnson Thompson won two heptathlon world titles in Doha 2019 breaking Jessica Ennis Hill’s British record with 6981 points and in Budapest 2023 with 6740 points and the Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024 with 6844 points.

Saga Vanninen from Finland is bidding for a fourth title after winning gold medals in the heptathlon at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn with a European under 23 record and world lead of 4932 points, at the World indoor Championships in Nanjing with 4821 points and at the European under 23 Championships in Bergen with a national record of 6563 points.

Sofie Dokter from the Netherlands won the world indoor medal in Glasgow 2024 in the pentathlon and finished second at the Hypo Meeting in Goetzis with a PB of 6576 points. Her compatriot Emma Oosterwegel will return to the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, where she won the Olympic bronze medal with 6590 points.

Annik Kaelin from Switzerland won two silver medals in the long jump at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn with 6.90m and at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing with 6.83m. Kaelin finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris with a national record of 6639 points and fifth in Goetzis this year with 6395 points.

Colombia’s Martha Araujo finished third in Goetzis with a South American record of 6475 points and won in Talence with 6451.

Adrianna Sulek Schubert from Poland won the world indoor silver medal in Belgrade with 4851 points and broke the 5000 points barrier for the first time with 5014 when she won the European indoor silver medal in Istanbul 2023. She gave birth to her first child in February 2024 before making her come-back at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Kate O’Connor from Ireland set a national record of 6487 points to win the gold medal at the World University Games in Bochum.

The other athletes to watch are Maria Vicente from Spain, European under 20 champion in 2019 and national champion with 6295 points. Auriana Lazraq Khlass from France, European silver medallist in Rome 2024 with 6635 points, and Sveva Gerevini from Italy, sixth at the European indoor Championships in the pentathlon with 4559 points in Apeldoorn 2025.

4x100 relay:

The star-studded Jamaican team features Shericka Jackson, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and twin sisters Tia and Tina Clayton, who rank in the top five in the 100m world seasonal list. Tia Clayton injured in the final of the Jamaican Trials and did not qualify for the individual race of the World Championships in Tokyo, but she returned to her best shape by finishing second at the Diamond League final in Zurich.

Jackson and Fraser Pryce were part of the team who won the Olympic gold medal in the 4x100 relay in Tokyo 2021. Fraser Pryce led the Jamaican team to four world titles in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019.

The US team won gold medals at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest in a championship record of 41.03 and at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in 41.78.

Olympic 100m bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson Wooden, who set the fastest time in the world this year with 10.65, leads the US team, that features five sprinters ranked in the top 12: Sha’Carri Richardson, Jacious Sears, Kayla White and Twanisha Terry.

The British team featuring Dina Asher Smith, Daryil Neita and Amy Hunt won the European gold medal in Rome and finished second at the Olympic Games in Paris, and third at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Great Britain won the 4x100 relay at the Diamond League in London setting a world leading time of 41.69.

The German team led by 2022 European champion Gina Luckenkemper won the Olympic bronze medal in Paris last year and could be a medal contender this year.

4x400 relay:

The US team will aim to bounce back from the disappointment at the last edition in Budapest, where they were disqualified for passing the baton outside the takeover zone.

The members of the 4x400 US team are double 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, Aaliyah Butler, Isabella Whittaker, Alexis Holmes, Britton Wilson and Lynna Irby Jackson.

Holmes, Wilson and Irby Jackson were part of a team, who set the world seasonal lead with 3:23.24.

McLaughlin Levrone and Holmes are the only members of the team who won the Olympic gold medal in Paris.

Femke Bol anchored the Dutch team to world gold medal in Budapest ahead of Jamaica and Great Britain. The Netherlands featuring Bol and Lieke Klaver won the European Indoor gold medal in Apeldoorn in 3:24.34.

Great Britain will feature Amber Anning, Nicole Yeargin and Victoria Ohuruogu, who won the Olympic bronze medal in Paris in 3:19.72. The British team also won the European indoor silver medal in Apeldoorn.

Spain won the gold medal at the World Relays in Guangzhou setting a national record of 3:24.13 ahead of the USA.

South Africa finished third at the World Relays in Guangzhou in 3:24.84. Henriette Jaeger led Norway to a fourth place in Guangzhou in a national record of 3:25.35. Italy placed fifth in Guangzhou in 3:26.40 and could be a strong contender for a spot in the final.

Mixed 4x400 relay:

The US team won the mixed 4x400 relay by almost three seconds in a championship record of 3:09.54 at the World Relays in Guangzhou. At last year’s Olympic Games in Paris the USA set the world record in the heats but they were beaten by the Netherlands in the final.

At the past edition of the World Championships in Budapest anchor leg runner Femke Bol fell in the few metres and the USA managed to take a dramatic win.

Poland won at the European Team Championships in Madrid setting a world seasonal lead and a national record of 3:09.43. Italy and Great Britain finished second and third sharing the same time of 3:09.66 in a close finish.

Great Britain won silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest 2023 and bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris. Belgium placed fourth in Paris setting the fourth fastest time in history with 3:09.36.

The other top contenders are Australia and Kenya, who finished second and third at the World Relays in Guangzhou, Spain, and Jamaica, who won at the NACAC Championships this year.

Marathon:

Former world record holder Tigist Assefa leads the field in the women’s marathon. Assefa won two editions of the Berlin Marathon in 2022 in 2:15:37 and in 2023 in a former world record of 2:11:53 and the 2025 edition of the London Marathon in 2:15:50. The 28-year-old Ethiopian athlete finished second to Sifan Hassan after a shoulder-to-shoulder battle at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Assefa will face her compatriot Sutume Assefa Kebede, who won the past two editions of the Tokyo Marathon. Kebede holds the Japanese all-comers record of 2:15:55 in Tokyo in 2024. This year she won the World Marathon Major race in the Japanese capital setting the second fastest time in the world with 2.16:31.

Three-time world half marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir returns to Japan where she won the Olympic gold medal in 2021. Jepchirchir won World Marathon Major races in New York in 2021 in 2:22:39, in Boston in 2022 in 2:21:01, in London in 2024 in 2:16:16 and the Valencia Marathon in 2.17:16 in 2020.

Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema won the Dubai Marathon in 2:16:07 on her debut over this distance last year. The former 800 metres runner finished seventh in London and won the Berlin Marathon in 2:16:42 in 2024.

Magdalyne Masai from Kenya set a lifetime best of 2:18:58 when she finished second at the Frankfurt Marathon last October. Masai, younger sister of former world championships medallists Linet and Moses Masai, finished fourth at this year’s Tokyo Marathon in 2:19:28.

Kenya will be represented by former 3000 metres steeplechase specialist Jackline Cherono, who won at the Rotterdam Marathon last April in 2:21:14.

The strong Japanese team will be represented by Sayako Sato, second at the Nagoya Marathon in 2:20:59 last March, Kana Kobayashi, winner in Osaka last January, Yuka Ando, winner at the 2024 Nagoya Marathon.

Lonah Salpeter from Israel won the world bronze medal in Eugene 2022 and finished fourth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 and eighth at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Salpeter set her PB of 2:20:45 in Tokyo in 2020.

Stella Chesang from Uganda finished seventh at the Olympic Games in Paris and improved her PB to 2:18:26 in Valencia. Chesang finished sixth at the London Marathon in 2025 in 2:22:45.

Barhein also features Shiteye Eshete and Eunice Chumba, who set a PB of 2:20:42 in Hamburg in 2025, and Eunice Chumba, seventh at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021.

The Chinese team will be led by Zhang Deshun, who finished 11th at the World Championships and set a PB of 2:20.53 at the Tokyo Marathon in 2025.

20 km walking race:

Spain’s Maria Perez will defend both her world 20 km and 35 km titles. Perez also won the 20 km Olympic silver medal behind world record holder Yang Jiayu from China. The Spanish walker won the 20 km race In La Coruna last June setting the second fastest time in the world this year with 1:27:22.

Kimberly Garcia from Peru won two world gold medals in the 20 and 35 km in Eugene 2022. Garcia won silver medal in the 35 km and finished fourth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023.

Antonella Palmisano returns to Japan with a fond memory four years after winning the Olympic 20 km gold medal in 2021. The 34-year-old also claimed the world bronze medal in Budapest 2023 and the European gold medal over this distance in Rome in 2024. She set a seasonal best of 1:28.29 in La Coruna last June. The other Italian walker to watch is Alexandrina Mihai, European under 23 champion in Bergen last July.

Japan’s Nanako Fuji set the fastest time among the entrants with 1:26:33 in Kobe last February. Fuji finished seventh at the World Championships in Doha 2019 and won the silver medal at the 2022 Asian Championships.

Yang Jiayu will aim to win her second world title eight years after her triumph in London 2017. The Chinese team will be also represented by Ma Li and Peng Li, who are ranked fifth and seventh in the field with 1:27:28 and 1:27:45.

Alegna Gonzales from Mexico is the fourth fastest walker on this season’s times with 1:27:32.

The other medal candidates are Paula Torres, who set a PB of 1:28:29 this year, and Vivina Lyra from Brazil, who holds a PB of 1:27:13.

35 km walking race:

Olympic 20 km silver medallist Maria Perez set the fastest time in the world with 2:38:59 when she won the 35 km walking race at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Podebrady.

Perez will take on Peru’s Kimberly Garcia, who claimed the world double title in the 20 km and 35 km in Eugene 2022 and the 35 world silver in Budapest 2023. Garcia is 14th in the world seasonal list, but she holds a PB of 2:37:44 and has the potential to fight for another medal.

Antonella Palmisano set the second fastest time in the world this year with her Italian record of 2:39:35 when she finished second at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Podebrady. The Italian team will also feature Nicole Colombi, fourth fastest walker in the entry list with 2:41:47, and Eleonora Giorgi, world bronze medallist in the 35 km in Doha and winner in the 35 km race in Antalya with 2:41:35 last February.

Asian silver medallist Ma Li from China set a PB of 2:40:49 last March and is the third fastest entrant. Her compatriot Yi Hang will make her second appearance at the World Championships eight years after winning the silver medal over the 50 km distance in London 2017. Yin Hang holds a seasonal best of 2:42:34.

Mexico’s Alegna Gonzales set a North American record of 2:44:28 this year. Gonzales finished fifth over the 20 km distance at the past two editions of the Olympic Games and at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

The other athletes to watch are Katarzyna Zdzieblo, double world silver medallist in the 20 and 35 km in Eugene 2022, and Paula Torres from Ecuador, who set a PB of 2:44:26 in 2025.