Tokyo: Noah Lyles will seek to rebound from defeat in the 100 metres by safely negotiating the heats of the 200m on day five of the world championships on Wednesday, while Britain's Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman each aim for a second 1,500m title. Katie Moon will be competing for a third gold in the women's pole vault in the Tokyo stadium where she previously won Olympic gold in 2021.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the men's 1,500m event took an unexpected turn when Norway's 2021 Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen failed to advance past the heats. Ingebrigtsen, who sustained an Achilles injury after a successful world indoor season in March, found the outdoor conditions in Tokyo challenging. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Cole Hocker was disqualified in the semi-finals for jostling, and his appeal was rejected. Despite these absences, defending champion Kerr and his British teammate Wightman are strong contenders, along with competitors like Neil Gourlay, Niels Laros, Timothy and Reynold Cheruiyot, Adrien Ben, and Isaac Nader.
In the women's pole vault, American Katie Moon, a two-time defending world champion and Olympic gold medalist, will compete alongside 13 other athletes who cleared 4.60m in qualification. Notable competitors include her teammates Sandi Morris and Hana Moll. Morris, a two-time world indoor champion, expressed her motivation to perform better after an unfortunate incident in Tokyo 2021. Missing from the event will be Molly Caudery due to an ankle injury and reigning Olympic champion Nina Kennedy, who withdrew due to a leg muscle strain following surgery.
In the men and women's 200m heats, Noah Lyles begins his quest for a fourth consecutive world 200m title. In the 100m event, Lyles had to settle for bronze after Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson secured a Jamaican 1-2 finish. Lyles emphasized his focus on the 200m, viewing it as his forte. Meanwhile, Julien Alfred, the women's Olympic 100m champion, withdrew from the 200m due to a hamstring strain, prioritizing her long-term health. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who won the 100m with a record time, is optimistic about her chances in the 200m, aiming for a sprint double.